Discovery BoxEsther 2:3 
Context2:3 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
Context2:9 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
Context2:12 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 –
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.”
