Esther 2:12-14

Expanded Bible

¹² Before a girl could take her turn ·with [to go to] King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus], she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments ·that were ordered [prescribed; required] for the women. For six months she was treated with oil ·and [or of] myrrh and for six months with ·perfumes [spices] and ·cosmetics [ointments]. ¹³ Then she ·was ready to go [would go in this way] to the king. Anything she ·asked for [desired] was given to her to take with her from the ·women’s quarters [harem; ^Lhouse of the women] to the king’s ·palace [^Lhouse]. ¹⁴ In the evening she would go to the king’s ·palace [^Lhouse], and in the morning she would return ·to another part of the [or to a second; or again to the] ·women’s quarters [harem; ^Lhouse of the women]. There she would be placed under the ·care [custody; authority] of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch in charge of the ·slave women [concubines; ^Csecondary wives]. The girl would not go back to the king again unless he was pleased with her and ·asked for [summoned; requested] her by name.