Esther 2:3

2:3 And let the king appoint officers throughout all the provinces of his kingdom to gather all the attractive young women to Susa the citadel, to the harem ¹  under the authority of Hegai, the king’s eunuch who oversees the women, and let him provide whatever cosmetics they desire. ² 

Esther 2:9

2:9 This young woman pleased him, ³  and she found favor with him. He quickly provided her with her cosmetics and her rations; he also provided her with the seven specially chosen ⁴  young women who were from the palace. He then transferred her and her young women to the best quarters in the harem. ⁵ 

Esther 2:12

2:12 At the end of the twelve months that were required for the women, ⁶  when the turn of each young woman arrived to go to King Ahasuerus – 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 –

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¹ tn Heb “the house of the women” (so KJV, ASV). So also in vv. 9, 11, 13, and 14.

² tn Heb “their ointments”; cf. NIV, CEV, NLT “beauty treatments.”

³ tn Heb “was good in his eyes”; NLT “Hegai was very impressed with Esther.”

⁴ tn Heb “being looked at (with favor).”

⁵ tn Heb “of the house of the women” (so KJV, ASV). So also in vv. 11, 13, 14.

⁶ tc The LXX does not include the words “that were required for the women.”

tn Heb “to be to her according to the law of the women”; NASB “under the regulations for the women.”