Esther 2:2
2:2 The king’s servants who attended him said, “Let a search be conducted in the king’s behalf for attractive young women. 1
Esther 3:3
3:3 Then the servants of the king who were at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why are you violating the king’s commandment?”
Esther 4:2
4:2 But he went no further than the king’s gate, for no one was permitted to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.
1 tn Heb “young women, virgins, good of form.” The same phrase also occurs in v. 3.