Esther 2:15

2:15 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 ¹ ) to go to the king, she did not request anything except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who was overseer of the women, had recommended. Yet Esther met with the approval of all who saw her.

Esther 2:17

2:17 And the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she met with his loving approval ²  more than all the other young women. ³  So he placed the royal high turban on her head and appointed her queen ⁴  in place of Vashti.

Esther 4:4

4:4 When Esther’s female attendants and her eunuchs came and informed her about Mordecai’s behavior, ⁵  the queen was overcome with anguish. Although she sent garments for Mordecai to put on so that he could remove his sackcloth, he would not accept them.

Esther 4:8

4:8 He also gave him a written copy of the law that had been disseminated ⁶  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.

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¹ tn Heb “who had taken her to him as a daughter”; NRSV “who had adopted her as his own daughter.”

² tn Heb “grace and loyal love.” The expression is probably a hendiadys.

³ tc The LXX does not include the words “more than all the other young women.”

⁴ tn Heb “caused her to rule.”

⁵ tn The words “about Mordecai’s behavior” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in translation for the sake of clarity. Cf. NIV, NLT “about Mordecai”; TEV, CEV “what Mordecai was doing.”

⁶ tn Heb “given” (so KJV); NASB, NRSV, TEV, NLT “issued”; NIV “published”; NAB “promulgated.”