Esther 2:9-17

Esther 2:9-17

[9] And the maiden  pleased  him, and she obtained  kindness  of him;  and he speedily  gave  her her things for purification,  with such things as belonged  to her, and seven  maidens,  which were meet  to be given  her, out of the king's  house:  and he preferred  her and her maids  unto the best  place of the house  of the women.  [10] Esther  had not shewed  her people  nor her kindred:  for Mordecai  had charged  her that she should not shew  [11] And Mordecai  walked  every day  before  the court  of the women's  house,  to know  how Esther  did,  and what should become  of her. [12] Now when every maid's  turn  was come  to go in  to king  Ahasuerus,  after  that she had been twelve  months,  according to the manner  of the women,  (for so were the days  of their purifications  accomplished,  to wit, six  months  with oil  of myrrh,  and six  months  with sweet odours,  and with other things for the purifying  of the women;)  [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.