9 Because the young lady appeared pleasing to him and had gained favor in his sight, he quickly gave her the ointments and cosmetics, her allotted food, and seven young chosen women from the king’s palace. He also transferred her and her young women to the best place of the harem.
10 Esther had not disclosed her people or her lineage because Mordecai had charged her not to disclose it.
11 Every day Mordecai walked around the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther fared and what might be done with her.
12 The turn came for each young woman to go in to King Ahasuerus, after being twelve months under the regulations for the women, since this was the regular period of their beautifying, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and ointments for women.
13 When the young woman went in to the king in this way, she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the harem to take to the king’s palace.
14 In the evening she went in, and in the morning she returned to the second harem in custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch, who was in charge of the concubines. She did not go in to the king again unless the king delighted in her and called for her by name.
15 When the turn came for Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in tothe king, she asked for nothing except what theking’s eunuch Hegai, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her.