Ester 2:8-11

2:8 It so happened that when the king’s edict and his law became known ¹  many young women were taken to Susa the citadel to be placed under the authority of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the royal palace ²  to be under the authority of Hegai, who was overseeing the women. 2:9 This young woman pleased him, ³  and she found favor with him. He quickly provided her with her cosmetics and her rations; he also provided her with the seven specially chosen ⁴  young women who were from the palace. He then transferred her and her young women to the best quarters in the harem. ⁵ 

2:10 Now Esther had not disclosed her people or her lineage, ⁶  for Mordecai had instructed her not to do so. ⁷  2:11 And day after day Mordecai used to walk back and forth in front of the court of the harem in order to learn how Esther was doing ⁸  and what might happen to her.

[2:8]  ¹ tn Heb “were heard” (so NASB); NRSV “were (had been NIV) proclaimed.”

[2:8]  ² tn Heb “the house of the king.” So also in vv. 9, 13. Cf. NLT “the king’s harem.”

[2:9]  ³ tn Heb “was good in his eyes”; NLT “Hegai was very impressed with Esther.”

[2:9]  ⁴ tn Heb “being looked at (with favor).”

[2:9]  ⁵ tn Heb “of the house of the women” (so KJV, ASV). So also in vv. 11, 13, 14.

[2:10]  ⁶ tn Cf. v. 20, where the same phrase occurs but with the word order reversed.

[2:10]  ⁷ tn Heb “that she not tell” (NRSV similar); NASB “that she should not make them known.”

[2:11]  ⁸ tn Heb “to know the peace of Esther.”