7. He brought up Hadassah, that is, ESTHER, his uncle's daughter; for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.

8. So, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together to the citadel of Susa, to the custody of Hegai, ESTHER was taken into the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

9. The maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness from him. He quickly gave her cosmetics and her portions of food, and the seven choice maidens who were to be given her out of the king's house. He moved her and her maidens to the best place in the women's house.

10. ESTHER had not made known her people nor her relatives, because Mordecai had instructed her that she should not make it known.

11. Mordecai walked every day in front of the court of the women's house, to find out how ESTHER was doing, and what would become of her.

12. Each young woman's turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after her purification for twelve months (for so were the days of their purification accomplished, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet fragrances and with preparations for beautifying women).

13. The young woman then came to the king like this: whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the women's house to the king's house.

14. In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second women's house, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch, who kept the concubines. She came in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and she was 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, came to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's eunuch, the keeper of the women, advised. ESTHER obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked at her.