⁵ Now there was a Jew in the ·palace [citadel; fortress; 1:2] of Susa whose name was Mordecai son of Jair. Jair was the son of Shimei, the son of Kish [^Cthese are relatives of Saul, showing that Mordecai was his descendant; 1 Sam. 9:1–3; 2 Sam. 16:5]. Mordecai was from the tribe of Benjamin, ⁶ which had been taken ·captive [into exile] from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. They were part of the group taken into ·captivity [exile] with Jehoiachin king of Judah [^C597 bc; 2 Kin. 24:8–17]. ⁷ Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, who had no father or mother, so Mordecai ·took care of her [was her guardian; brought her up]. Hadassah was also called Esther, and she ·had a very pretty figure and face [^Lwas beautiful of form]. Mordecai had ·adopted [raised; taken] her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.

⁸ When the king’s command and ·order [decree; edict] had been ·heard [proclaimed], many ·girls [young women] had been brought to the ·palace [citadel; fortress; 1:2] in Susa and put under the ·care [custody; authority] of Hegai. Esther was also taken to the king’s ·palace [^Lhouse] and put under the ·care [custody; authority] of Hegai, who was in charge of the women. ⁹ Esther ·pleased [impressed; ^Lwas good in his eyes] Hegai, and ·he liked her [^Lfound favor with him]. So Hegai quickly began giving Esther her ·beauty treatments [cosmetics; ^Lointments] and special food. He gave her seven ·servant girls [maids; attendants] chosen from the king’s ·palace [^Lhouse]. Then he ·moved [transferred] her and her ·seven servant girls [maids; attendants] to the best part of the ·women’s quarters [harem; ^Lhouse of the women].

¹⁰ Esther did not tell anyone about her ·family [people; nationality] or ·who her people were [her kindred/lineage], because Mordecai had ·told [instructed] her not to. ¹¹ Every day Mordecai walked back and forth ·near [in front of] the courtyard ·where the king’s women lived [of the harem] to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.