Ester 2:9

2:9 This young woman pleased him, ¹  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 ²  young women who were from the palace. He then transferred her and her young women to the best quarters in the harem. ³ 

Ester 2:17

2:17 And the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she met with his loving approval ⁴  more than all the other young women. ⁵  So he placed the royal high turban on her head and appointed her queen ⁶  in place of Vashti.

Ester 9:27

9:27 Therefore, because of the account found in this letter and what they had faced in this regard and what had happened to them, the Jews established as binding on themselves, their descendants, and all who joined their company that they should observe these two days without fail, just as written and at the appropriate time on an annual basis.

[2:9]  ¹ tn Heb “was good in his eyes”; NLT “Hegai was very impressed with Esther.”

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

[2:9]  ³ tn Heb “of the house of the women” (so KJV, ASV). So also in vv. 11, 13, 14.

[2:17]  ⁴ tn Heb “grace and loyal love.” The expression is probably a hendiadys.

[2:17]  ⁵ tc The LXX does not include the words “more than all the other young women.”

[2:17]  ⁶ tn Heb “caused her to rule.”