Online Bible

Book of Esther, Chapter 2

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Esther 2 NASB - New American Standard BibleEsther 2 NASB - New American Standard Bible

Chapter 2 of Esther—New American Standard Bible (NASB)

  1. ¶ After these things 1when the anger of King Ahasuerus had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and 2what had been decreed against her.
  2. Then the king’s attendants, who served him, said, “3Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king.
  3. Let the king appoint overseers in 4all the provinces of his kingdom that they may gather every beautiful young virgin to the citadel of Susa, to the harem, into the custody of 5Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and 6let their cosmetics be given them.
  4. Then let the young lady who pleases the king be queen in place of Vashti.” And the matter pleased the king, and he did accordingly.
  5. Now there was at the citadel in Susa a Jew whose name was 7Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,
  6. 8who had been taken into exile from Jerusalem with the captives who had been exiled with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had exiled.
  7. He was bringing up Hadassah, that is 9Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had no father or mother. Now the young lady was beautiful of form and [a]face, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.
  8. ¶ So it came about when the command and decree of the king were heard and 10many young ladies were gathered to the citadel of Susa into the custody of 11Hegai, that Esther was taken to the king’s [b]palace into the custody of Hegai, who was in charge of the women.
  9. Now the young lady pleased him and found favor with him. So he quickly provided her with her 12cosmetics and [c]food, gave her seven choice maids from the king’s palace and transferred her and her maids to the best place in the harem.
  10. 13Esther did not make known her people or her kindred, for Mordecai had instructed her that she should not make them known.
  11. Every day Mordecai walked back and forth in front of the court of the harem to learn how Esther was and how she fared.
  12. ¶ Now when the turn of each young lady came to go in to King Ahasuerus, after the end of her twelve months under the regulations for the women—for the days of their beautification were completed as follows: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and the cosmetics for women—
  13. the young lady would go in to the king in this way: anything that she [d]desired was given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace.
  14. In the evening she would go in and in the morning she would return to the second harem, to the [e]custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not again go in to the king unless the king delighted in her and she was summoned by name.
  15. ¶ Now when the turn of Esther, 14the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai who had taken her as his daughter, came to go in to the king, she did not request anything except what 15Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the women, [f]advised. And Esther found favor in the eyes of all who saw her.
  16. So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus to his royal palace in the tenth month which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
  17. ¶ The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found favor and kindness with him more than all the virgins, so that 16he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
  18. Then 17the king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his princes and his servants; he also made a holiday for the provinces and gave gifts 18according to the king’s bounty.
  19. 19When the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai 20was sitting at the king’s gate.
  20. 21Esther had not yet made known her kindred or her people, even as Mordecai had commanded her; for Esther did [g]what Mordecai told her as she had done 22when under his care.
  21. ¶ In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, 23Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s officials from those who guarded the door, became angry and sought to [h]lay hands on King Ahasuerus.
  22. But the [i]plot became known to Mordecai and 24he told Queen Esther, and Esther [j]informed the king in Mordecai’s name.
  23. Now when the plot was investigated and found to be so, they were both hanged on a [k]gallows; and it was written in 25the Book of the Chronicles in the king’s presence.

FOOTNOTES

  1. ^ Lit good of appearance
  2. ^ Lit house
  3. ^ Lit portions
  4. ^ Lit said
  5. ^ Lit hand
  6. ^ Lit said
  7. ^ Lit the word of Mordecai
  8. ^ Lit send a hand against
  9. ^ Lit matter, so also v 23
  10. ^ Lit told
  11. ^ Lit tree

REFERENCES

  1. ^ Es 7:10
  2. ^ Es 1:19, 20
  3. ^ 1Ki 1:2
  4. ^ Es 1:1, 2
  5. ^ Es 2:8, 15
  6. ^ Es 2:9, 12
  7. ^ Es 3:2
  8. ^ 2Ki 24:14, 15; 2Ch 36:10
  9. ^ Es 2:15
  10. ^ Es 2:3
  11. ^ Es 2:3, 15
  12. ^ Es 2:3, 12
  13. ^ Es 2:20
  14. ^ Es 2:7; 9:29
  15. ^ Es 2:3, 8
  16. ^ Es 1:11
  17. ^ Es 1:3
  18. ^ Es 1:7
  19. ^ Es 2:3, 4
  20. ^ Es 2:21; 3:2
  21. ^ Es 2:10
  22. ^ Es 2:7
  23. ^ Es 6:2
  24. ^ Es 6:1, 2
  25. ^ Es 10:2

Read Esther Chapter 2 in other Bible versions:

Comments

  1. Kiamia DoelKiamia Doel
    Jan 9, 2025 23:00 GMT

    The NWT adds words to the text that are not in the greek Manuscripts to fit it's own doctrinal position for example

    Compare the wording of the NWT and the NKJV at Colossians 1:15-17

    NKJV says

    15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

    NWT says

    15 He is the image of the invisible God,the firstborn OF all creation;16 because by means of him all OTHER things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible,whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All OTHER things have been created through him and for him. 17 Also, he is before all OTHER things,and by means of him all OTHER things were made to exist,

    The word “other” is not in the Greek but they add it Why? So they can decieve their followers into thinking that Christ was created by the Father and that he then created other things, that is not what the Greek says.

    1. SmeSme
      Feb 27, 2025 11:17 GMT

      Truth is from God and those that follow him. As for lies? John8:44

      Kiamia, I noticed you used a modern version of kjv to make your point about the nwt.

      Why didn’t you use the original kjv of col1:15?

      Is it because it disproves your point? It proves the opposite of what you wrote?

      Here is kjv col1:15 ¶” Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn OF every creature:“

      Now I appeal to your Christian nature to correct your mistake as God is watching each of us, and let us bless the God of Jesus his father.

      Kjv 1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ….

  2. YanekYanek
    Dec 24, 2024 22:18 GMT

    Joshua, Jehovah’s Witnesses have never denied the deity of the Messiah in his prehuman existence. While on Earth he was fully 100% human. I do not mean he was a mere human, he was not affected by Adam’s unfaithful behavior, he was sinless.

  3. David yakubuDavid yakubu
    Oct 29, 2022 08:05 GMT

    When i do read some comments and seeing that its the same people that are supposed to be called believers but are talking ill of other denominations, it hurts. Let us all remember that We should judge not

    1. jonas smithjonas smith
      Apr 23, 2023 02:57 GMT

      The bible tells us to test the spirits. Satan disguises himself as angel of light. So yes some denomination are not teaching the truth. You are responsible for judging which ones are not. You have to judge the truth at all times. this is what the bible teaches

  4. THTH
    Apr 7, 2021 00:20 GMT

    The NWT is a very good translation. Dr. Jason David BeDuhn PhD attests to that in his book Truth in Translation. drive.google.com/...5p16melHzg8/view

    1. James LernerJames Lerner
      Jul 20, 2024 09:48 GMT

      The NWT is Satanic filth to its very core.

      The JW Cult is Satanic to its very core.

      Praise Yahweh I will never be a victim of JW brainwashing. If I burn in Hell for eternity or I am ultimately annihilated so be it

      May Yahweh's curse rest on the Watchtower Society and its Satanic leadership

    2. jim mcleodjim mcleod
      Aug 22, 2021 06:16 GMT

      NWT is a false translation that takes away from the deity of Jesus !

  5. SlightlyChaoticSlightlyChaotic
    Jan 30, 2021 16:33 GMT

    Thank you for taking the time to provide this service. I like seeing the NASB on your web page in the same format as I read on paper. On other sites, the text area is smaller, and so I have to keep scrolling down to read and sometimes I lose the context. So I really appreciate the format.

    As far as the NWT, you are certainly free to do whatever you think best with your own web pages. I'd suggest that you make a note anytime you have a translation that is associated with only one denomination or church, for example:
    New World Translation (Jehovah's Witness version).

    In Jesus' parable of the wheat and the tares. the main idea seems to be that you can't easily distinguish between God's people and not-God's people on this earth, so our Lord's response is to wait until they are shown to be the kind of people they are inside. But the NWT seems like false teaching to me. So I think the warning passages from Jesus' apostles are more applicable, as in 2 Peter 3:15-16, when he talks about Paul's writings:
    "There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures."
    And we also have the positive exhortations, as in 2 Timothy 2:15:
    "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

    1. BroderickBroderick
      Jan 31, 2021 00:57 GMT

      Your suggestion regarding the denominational flagging is duly noted. But I can’t help but wonder, wouldn’t a Catholic also want “Protestant versions” marked as well?

      As for the parable, I’m pretty sure the slaves were convinced in their own minds that they could tell the tares from the wheat. After all, aren’t they the ones who identified the problem in the first place? But the master obviously thought otherwise.

      Furthermore, even at the time when Jesus himself was walking the earth, not everybody who claimed fellowship actually followed him causing John to inquire at Mark 9:39, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him . . . for he who is not against us is for us.”

  6. Joshua HarderJoshua Harder
    Dec 11, 2020 17:48 GMT

    Hello, question.. why have you included the NWT with other legitimate bible translations? Or why have you not atleast included a warning to readers? Don't you fear that someone could be influenced by the Watchtower's intentional heresies? Thank you.

    1. KevinKevin
      Jul 11, 2021 17:45 GMT

      en.m.wikipedia.org/..._Holy_Scriptures

      See the section critical review

    2. ChrisChris
      Jan 8, 2021 07:15 GMT

      Please site these intentional heresies. I am well versed in the watch tower outline and agree they are in many ways incorrect but i also bet i can point many out from EVERY established or main denomination. There is much to learn from them all as one who drinks milk?

      Judge not lest ye be judged, that is not to pass judgement on you either brother.

      I debate with scripture. I don't hold it to be true that Michael is Y'Shua HaMeshiach but I also firmly hold it to be true that our G-d and Heavenly Father are not the word encarnate and only begotten son.

      I love not seeing "lord" which i relate to baal. I feel the catholic church is a satanic establishment and I am aware a freemason started the hovies but there are evil in high places and our fight is also with principalities.

      What i'm saying is that in my darkest hours, those two were some of if not the only ones who would bring a Bible and eucharist and pray with me.

      We all fall short of the glory of G-d.

      Don't forget the NWT was recognized as the most accurate translation on Jeopardy.

      Lastly, this is different I noted than the NWT i have read and am very familiar with. Pull up the watchtower page and compare. I truly look forward to getting this one!

  7. julietjuliet
    Aug 17, 2022 09:36 GMT

    the sky is blue

  8. mercymercy
    Aug 12, 2022 21:23 GMT

    i am Mercy, the sky is blue what else do you need

    1. mercymercy
      Aug 12, 2022 21:25 GMT

      i am so sorry, it was a big mistake

  9. God is able to do all thingsGod is able to do all things
    May 17, 2021 17:59 GMT

    Jesus how much love calling yo name

  10. EmpiralEmpiral
    Jul 4, 2025 19:06 GMT

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