Esther

Esther Rabbah 6:5, 9

5. He fostered Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother, and the girl was fair and beautiful; and with the death of her father and her mother Mordecai took her for his own daughter (Esther 2:7).

He fostered Hadassah—Just as myrtle [hadassah] has a sweet fragrance and a bitter taste, so was Esther sweet to Mordecai and bitter to Haman. [ . . . ]

9. With the arrival of the turn of Esther, daughter of Abihail uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, to go to the king, she did not request anything except that which Hegai, the king’s official, guardian of the women, said; and Esther found favor in the eyes of everyone who saw her (Esther 2:15).

With the arrival of the turn of Esther [ . . . ] Esther found favor in the eyes of everyone who saw her. R. Yuda says: Like that portrait that a thousand people look at and it is beautiful to them all. R. Nehemiah says: They positioned Median women on one side and Persian women on the other side, and Esther was more beautiful than them all. The rabbis said: And Esther found favor in the eyes of everyone who saw her—in the eyes of the higher beings [angels] and of the lower [humans]; that is what is written: And you shall find favor and good grace in the eyes of God and man (Proverbs 3:4).