Esther 2:16

2:16 Then Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus at his royal residence in the tenth ¹  month (that is, the month of Tebeth) in the seventh ²  year of his reign.

Esther 2:8

2:8 It so happened that when the king’s edict and his law became known ³  many young women were taken to Susa the citadel to be placed under the authority of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the royal palace ⁴  to be under the authority of Hegai, who was overseeing the women.

¹ tc The Greek MSS Codex Alexandrinus (A) and Codex Vaticanus (B) read “twelfth” here.

² tc The Syriac Peshitta reads “fourth” here.

³ tn Heb “were heard” (so NASB); NRSV “were (had been NIV) proclaimed.”

⁴ tn Heb “the house of the king.” So also in vv. 9, 13. Cf. NLT “the king’s harem.”