Esther 2:13-23

Esther 2:13-23

[13] Then thus came  every maiden  unto the king;  whatsoever she desired  was given  her to go  with her out of the house  of the women  unto the king's  house.  [14] In the evening  she went,  and on the morrow  she returned  into the second  house  of the women,  to the custody  of Shaashgaz,  the king's  chamberlain,  which kept  the concubines:  she came in  unto the king  delighted  in her, and that she were called  by name.  [15] Now when the turn  of Esther,  the daughter  of Abihail  the uncle  of Mordecai,  who had taken  her for his daughter,  was come  to go in  unto the king,  she required  nothing  but what Hegai  the king's  chamberlain,  the keeper  of the women,  appointed.  And Esther  obtained  favour  in the sight  of all them that looked  upon her. [16] So Esther  was taken  unto king  Ahasuerus  into his house  royal  in the tenth  month,  Tebeth,  in the seventh  year  of his reign.  [17] And the king  loved  Esther  above all the women,  and she obtained  grace  and favour  in his sight  more than all the virgins;  so that he set  the royal  crown  upon her head,  and made her queen  instead of Vashti.  [18] Then the king  made  a great  feast  unto all his princes  and his servants,  even Esther's  feast;  and he made  a release  to the provinces,  and gave  gifts,  according to the state  of the king.  [19] And when the virgins  were gathered together  the second time,  then Mordecai  sat  in the king's  gate.  [20] Esther  had not yet shewed  her kindred  nor her people;  as Mordecai  had charged  her: for Esther  did  the commandment  of Mordecai,  like as when she was brought up  with him. [21] In those days,  while Mordecai  sat  in the king's  gate,  two  of the king's  chamberlains,  Bigthan  and Teresh,  of those which kept  the door,  were wroth,  and sought  to lay  hand  on the king  Ahasuerus.  [22] And the thing  was known  to Mordecai,  who told  it unto Esther  the queen;  and Esther  certified  the king  thereof in Mordecai's  name.  [23] And when inquisition  was made of the matter,  it was found out;  therefore they were both  hanged  on a tree:  and it was written  in the book  of the chronicles  before  the king.