and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather all the beautiful young virgins to Shushan the palace, into the women's house, under the hand of Hegai the king's official, custodian of the women. And let cosmetics be given to them.

in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,

Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's house, across from the king's house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, in front of the gate of the house.

And all the king's servants who were in the king's gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow nor pay homage.

Now it happened, when they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's words would stand; for Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew.

But it was contemptible in his eyes to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Therefore, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus; the people of Mordecai.

For Mordecai the Jew was second to King Ahasuerus, and was great among the Jews and accepted by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the welfare of his people and speaking peace to all his seed.

Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.

And when King David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came.