1. Later, King Xerxes was not so angry. Then he remembered Vashti and what she had done. And he remembered his order about her.
2. Then the king’s personal servants had a suggestion. They said, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king.
3. Let the king choose supervisors in every area of his kingdom. Let them bring every beautiful young virgin to the palace at Susa. These women should be taken to the women’s quarters and put under the care of Hegai. He is the king’s eunuch in charge of the women. And let beauty treatments be given to them.
4. Then let the girl who most pleases the king become queen in place of Vashti.” The king liked this advice. So he did as they said.
5. Now there was a Jewish man in the palace of Susa. His name was Mordecai son of Jair. Jair was the son of Shimei. And Shimei was the son of Kish. Mordecai was from the tribe of Benjamin.
6. Mordecai had been taken captive from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. Mordecai was part of the group taken into captivity with Jehoiachin king of Judah.
7. Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, who had no father or mother. So Mordecai took care of her. Hadassah was also called Esther, and she had a very pretty figure and face. Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.