⁷ Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther,^(A) had a lovely figure^(B) and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.

⁹ She pleased him and won his favor.^(A) Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food.^(B) He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem.