⁷ Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther,^(A) had a lovely figure^(B) and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.

¹⁰ Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so.^(A)