³ And may the king appoint overseers in ^(A)all the provinces of his kingdom, and have them ^[a]bring every beautiful young virgin to the citadel of Susa, to the harem, into the custody of ^(B)Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and ^(C)let their cosmetics be given to them.

Esther Finds Favor

⁸ So it came about, when the command and decree of the king were heard and ^(A)many young ladies were gathered to the citadel of Susa into the ^[a]custody of ^(B)Hegai, that Esther was taken to the king’s ^[b]palace into the custody of Hegai, who was in charge of the women.