² Then the king’s personal attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king.

⁴ Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it.

¹⁷ Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen^(A) instead of Vashti.