Nehemiah Prays for the Sons of Israel

1 The words of ^(A)Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.

Now it happened in ^(B)the month Chislev, ^(C)in the twentieth year—and I was in ^(D)Susa the ^[a]capitol—

² in those days as King Ahasuerus ^(A)sat on his royal throne which was at the citadel in ^(B)Susa,

Esther Advances in Favor

⁸ Now it happened that when the word and law of the king were heard and ^(A)many young ladies were gathered to the citadel of Susa into the hand of ^(B)Hegai, that Esther was taken to the king’s ^[a]house into the hand of Hegai, who kept charge of the women.