2:9-22E sther147women, was brought to the king’s harem at the fortress of Susa and placedin Hegai’s care. Hegai was very impressed with Esther and treated herkindly. He quickly ordered a special menu for her and provided her withbeauty treatments. He also assigned her seven maids specially chosen fromthe king’s palace, and he moved her and her maids into the best place inthe harem.Esther had not told anyone of her nationality and family background,because Mordecai had directed her not to do so. Every day Mordecaiwould take a walk near the courtyard of the harem to find out about Estherand what was happening to her.Before each young woman was taken to the king’s bed, she was giventhe prescribed twelve months of beauty treatments—six months with oilof myrrh, followed by six months with special perfumes and ointments.When it was time for her to go to the king’s palace, she was given herchoice of whatever clothing or jewelry she wanted to take from the harem.That evening she was taken to the king’s private rooms, and the next morning she was brought to the second harem, where the king’s wives lived.There she would be under the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch incharge of the concubines. She would never go to the king again unless hehad especially enjoyed her and requested her by name.Esther was the daughter of Abihail, who was Mordecai’s uncle. (Mordecai had adopted his younger cousin Esther.) When it was Esther’s turn togo to the king, she accepted the advice of Hegai, the eunuch in charge ofthe harem. She asked for nothing except what he suggested, and she wasadmired by everyone who saw her.Esther was taken to King Xerxes at the royal palace in early winter of theseventh year of his reign. And the king loved Esther more than any of theother young women. He was so delighted with her that he set the royalcrown on her head and declared her queen instead of Vashti. To celebratethe occasion, he gave a great banquet in Esther’s honor for all his noblesand officials, declaring a public holiday for the provinces and giving generous gifts to everyone.Even after all the young women had been transferred to the secondharem and Mordecai had become a palace official, Esther continued tokeep her family background and nationality a secret. She was still following Mordecai’s directions, just as she did when she lived in his home.One day as Mordecai was on duty at the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthana and Teresh—who were guards at the door of the king’sprivate quarters—became angry at King Xerxes and plotted to assassinate him. But Mordecai heard about the plot and gave the information toQueen Esther. She then told the king about it and gave Mordecai creditImmerseChronicles_NLT.indd 1476/21/2017 10:01:39 AM
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