Esther 9:3

9:3 All the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and those who performed the king’s business were assisting the Jews, for the dread of Mordecai had fallen on them.

Esther 2:9

2:9 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 2:17

2:17 And the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she met with his loving approval ⁴  more than all the other young women. ⁵  So he placed the royal high turban on her head and appointed her queen ⁶  in place of Vashti.

Esther 3:1

Haman Conspires to Destroy the Jews

3:1 Some time later ⁷  King Ahasuerus promoted ⁸  Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, exalting him and setting his position ⁹  above that of all the officials who were with him.

Esther 5:2

5:2 When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she met with his approval. ¹⁰  The king extended to Esther the gold scepter that was in his hand, and Esther approached and touched the end of the scepter.

Esther 5:11

5:11 Haman then recounted to them his fabulous wealth, ¹¹  his many sons, ¹²  and how the king had magnified him and exalted him over the king’s other officials and servants.

Esther 2:15

2:15 When it became the turn of Esther daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai (who had raised her as if she were his own daughter ¹³ ) to go to the king, she did not request anything except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who was overseer of the women, had recommended. Yet Esther met with the approval of all who saw her.

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.

¹ tn Heb “grace and loyal love.” The expression is probably a hendiadys.

² tc The LXX does not include the words “more than all the other young women.”

³ tn Heb “caused her to rule.”

¹ tn Heb “after these things” (so KJV, ASV); NAB, NASB, NIV “After these events.”

² tn Heb “made great”; NAB “raised…to high rank”; NIV “honored.”

³ tn Heb “chair”; KJV, NRSV “seat”; NASB “established his authority.”

¹ tn Heb “she obtained grace in his eyes”; NASB “she obtained favor in his sight”; NIV “he was pleased with her”; NLT “he welcomed her.”

¹ tn Heb “the glory of his riches” (so KJV, NASB); NRSV “the splendor of his riches.”

² sn According to Esth 9:10 Haman had ten sons.

¹ tn Heb “who had taken her to him as a daughter”; NRSV “who had adopted her as his own daughter.”