But Queen Vashti refused<n id="1" /> to come at the king&#8217;s bidding<n id="2" /> conveyed through the eunuchs. Then the king became extremely angry, and his rage consumed<n id="3" /> him.p>

the woman would go to the king in the following way: Whatever she asked for would be provided for her to take with her from the harem to the royal palace.

But he went no further than the king&#8217;s gate, for no one was permitted to enter the king&#8217;s gate clothed in sackcloth.

<p class="bodytext">At the end of the twelve months that were required for the women,<n id="1" /> when the turn of each young woman arrived to go to King Ahasuerus &#8211; for in this way they had to fulfill their time of cosmetic treatment: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfume and various ointments used by women &#8211;

He also gave him a written copy of the law that had been disseminated<n id="1" /> in Susa for their destruction so that he could show it to Esther and talk to her about it. He also gave instructions that she should go to the king to implore him and petition him on behalf of her people.

<p class="bodytext">When it became the turn of Esther daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai (who had raised her as if she were his own daughter<n id="1" />) to go to the king, she did not request anything except what Hegai the king&#8217;s eunuch, who was overseer of the women, had recommended. Yet Esther met with the approval of all who saw her.

&#8220;All the servants of the king and the people of the king&#8217;s provinces know that there is only one law applicable<n id="1" /> to any man or woman who comes uninvited to the king in the inner court &#8211; that person will be put to death, unless the king extends to him the gold scepter, permitting him to be spared.<n id="2" /> Now I have not been invited to come to the king for some thirty days!&#8221;p>