Esther 2:17

17 The king loved Esther more than all the other women; she had won his love and his favor more than all the others. He placed the royal crown on her head and made her ruler in place of Vashti.

Esther 2:17 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 2:17

And the king loved Esther above all the women
The virgins he made his concubines, as next explained; though Jarchi interprets it of married women, for such he supposes were gathered and brought to him, as well as virgins:

and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the
virgins;
who had been purified, and in their turns brought to him:

so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen
instead of Vashti;
declared her queen, and gave her all the ensigns of royalty: so it was usual with the eastern kings to put a crown or diadem on the heads of their wives at the time of marriage, and declare them queens ^F19.

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 Vid. Paschalium de Coronis, l. 10. c. 8. p. 689.

Esther 2:17 In-Context

15 Soon the moment came for Esther daughter of Mordecai's uncle Abihail, whom Mordecai had taken as his own daughter, to go to the king. But she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king's eunuch in charge of the women told her. (Esther kept winning the favor of everyone who saw her.)

16 Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, to his own palace, in the tenth month (that is, the month of Tevet) in the seventh year of his rule.

17 The king loved Esther more than all the other women; she had won his love and his favor more than all the others. He placed the royal crown on her head and made her ruler in place of Vashti.

18 The king held a magnificent, lavish feast, "the feast of Esther," for all his officials and courtiers. He declared a public holiday for the provinces and gave out gifts with royal generosity.

19 When they gathered the young women to the second women's house, Mordecai was working for the king at the King's Gate.