You can appoint officials in every province of the empire and have them bring all these beautiful young women to your harem here in Susa, the capital city. Put them in the care of Hegai, the eunuch who is in charge of your women, and let them be given a beauty treatment.

Then take the young woman you like best and make her queen in Vashti's place." The king thought this was good advice, so he followed it.

During the time that Mordecai held office in the palace, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the palace eunuchs who guarded the entrance to the king's rooms, became hostile to King Xerxes and plotted to assassinate him.

The king ordered all the officials in his service to show their respect for Haman by kneeling and bowing to him. They all did so, except for Mordecai, who refused to do it.

The other officials in the royal service asked him why he was disobeying the king's command;

But none of this means a thing to me as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the entrance of the palace."