¹¹ ‘All the royal officials and the people of the royal provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner courtyard^(A) and who has not been summoned – the death penalty^(B) –  unless the king extends the gold sceptre, allowing that person to live.^(C) I have not been summoned to appear before the king^(D) for the last^[a] thirty days.’

² As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, she gained favour with him. The king extended the gold sceptre in his hand towards Esther, and she approached and touched the tip of the sceptre.^(A)