Esther 2:7-9

Lexham English Bible

⁷ He^[a] was raising Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle’s daughter,^[b] for she did not have a father or a mother; the young woman had a beautiful figure and was very attractive. When her father and mother died, Mordecai had taken her as his daughter. ⁸ And it happened, at the proclaiming of the edict of the king and his law, when many young women were being gathered to the citadel of Susa under Hegai’s care,^[c] Esther was taken to the king’s palace^[d] under the care of^[e] Hegai who was in charge of the women. ⁹ The young woman pleased him^[f] and she won favor in his presence, and he quickly provided for her beauty treatment and her portion of food, with seven chosen maids to give to her from the king’s palace,^[g] and he advanced her and her maids to the best part of the harem.^[h]