² They came with Zerubbabel,^(A) Jeshua,^(B) Nehemiah, Seraiah,^(C) Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.

The number of the Israelite men included:^[a]

Esther Becomes Queen

¹⁵ Esther was the daughter of Abihail,^(A) the uncle of Mordecai who had adopted her as his own daughter. When her turn came to go to the king, she did not ask for anything except what Hegai, the king’s trusted official in charge of the harem, suggested. Esther won approval in the sight of everyone who saw her.^(B)

² The entire royal staff at the King’s Gate^(A) bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded this to be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage.^(B)