⁵ In ^[a]Shushan the ^[b]citadel there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of ^(A)Kish, a Benjamite.

Shimei Curses David

⁵ Now when King David came to ^(A)Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was ^(B)Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came.

³ For Mordecai the Jew was ^(A)second to King Ahasuerus, and was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, ^(B)seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his ^[a]countrymen.

Esther’s Banquet

5 Now it happened ^(A)on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in ^(B)the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the ^[a]house.

² And all the king’s servants who were ^(A)within the king’s gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai ^(B)would not bow or pay homage. ³ Then the king’s servants who were within the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the ^(C)king’s command?” ⁴ Now it happened, when they spoke to him daily and he would not listen to them, that they told it to Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand; for Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew. ⁵ When Haman saw that Mordecai ^(D)did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was ^(E)filled with wrath. ⁶ But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman ^(F)sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus—the people of Mordecai.

³ and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather all the beautiful young virgins to ^[a]Shushan the ^[b]citadel, into the women’s quarters, under the custody of ^[c]Hegai the king’s eunuch, custodian of the women. And let beauty preparations be given them.

² in those days when King Ahasuerus ^(A)sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in ^(B)Shushan^[a] the ^[b]citadel,

Saul Chosen to Be King

9 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was ^(A)Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of ^[a]power.