Esther’s Background

⁵ In Susa the capital there was a Jewish man from the tribe of Benjamin, Jair’s son Mordecai, who was a descendant of Kish’s son Shimei the descendant of Benjamin. ⁶ He had been taken into captivity from Jerusalem along with the exiles who had been deported with Jeconiah, king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon had taken into exile.^{[a] 7} Mordecai^[b] had raised his cousin^[c] Hadassah, or Esther,^[d] because she had no father or mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was very attractive. After her mother and father died, Mordecai had taken her as his daughter.

⁸ The king’s order and edict was proclaimed, and many young women were brought to Susa the capital under the care of Hegai. Esther was taken to the palace into the care of Hegai, who was in charge of the women. ⁹ The young woman pleased him and gained his favor. He quickly provided her beauty treatments and gave her portions of food to her. He also assigned her seven suitable young women from the palace and transferred her and her young women to the best place in the harem. ¹⁰ Esther did not make known her people or heritage^[e] because Mordecai had instructed her not to make it known. ¹¹ Every day Mordecai would walk back and forth in front of the court of the harem to find out about Esther’s well-being and what was happening to her.