Discovery BoxEsther 2:9 
Context2:9 This young woman pleased him, 1 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 2 young women who were from the palace. He then transferred her and her young women to the best quarters in the harem. 3
Esther 4:16
Context4:16 “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa and fast in my behalf. Don’t eat and don’t drink for three days, night or day. My female attendants and I 4 will also fast in the same way. Afterward I will go to the king, even though it violates the law. 5 If I perish, I perish!”
Esther 5:8
Context5:8 If I have found favor in the king’s sight and if the king is inclined 6 to grant my request and perform my petition, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet that I will prepare for them. At that time 7 I will do as the king wishes. 8
Esther 9:27
Context9:27 Therefore, because of the account found in this letter and what they had faced in this regard and what had happened to them, the Jews established as binding on themselves, their descendants, and all who joined their company that they should observe these two days without fail, just as written and at the appropriate time on an annual basis.
1 tn Heb “was good in his eyes”; NLT “Hegai was very impressed with Esther.”
2 tn Heb “being looked at (with favor).”
3 tn Heb “of the house of the women” (so KJV, ASV). So also in vv. 11, 13, 14.
4 tn Heb “I and my female attendants.” The translation reverses the order for stylistic reasons.
5 tn Heb “which is not according to the law” (so KJV, NASB); NAB “contrary to the law.”
6 tn Heb “if upon the king it is good.” Cf. the similar expression in v. 4, which also occurs in 7:3; 8:5; 9:13.
7 tn Heb “and tomorrow” (so NASB); NAB, NRSV “and then.”
8 tn Heb “I will do according to the word of the king,” i.e., answer the question that he has posed. Cf. NCV “Then I will answer your question about what I want.”
