⁷ Mordecai was the legal guardian of his cousin^[a] Hadassah (that is, Esther), because she had no father or mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was extremely good-looking. When her father and mother died, Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter.^(A)

Esther Becomes Queen

¹⁵ Esther was the daughter of Abihail,^(A) the uncle of Mordecai who had adopted her as his own daughter. When her turn came to go to the king, she did not ask for anything except what Hegai, the king’s eunuch, keeper of the women, suggested. Esther gained favour in the eyes of everyone who saw her.^(B)