Esther 2:16-18

Good News Translation

¹⁶ So in Xerxes' seventh year as king, in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, Esther was brought to King Xerxes in the royal palace. ¹⁷ The king liked her more than any of the other women, and more than any of the others she won his favor and affection. He placed the royal crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti. ¹⁸ Then the king gave a great banquet in Esther's honor and invited all his officials and administrators. He proclaimed a holiday^[a] for the whole empire and distributed gifts worthy of a king.