Esther 2:3

3 Appoint some officials in every territory in your kingdom. Have them bring all of those beautiful virgins into the safest place in Susa. Put them in the special place where the virgins stay. Then put Hegai in charge of them. He's the eunuch who serves you. He's in charge of the virgins. Let beauty care be given to the new group of virgins.

Esther 2:3 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 2:3

And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his
kingdom
Who best knew where beautiful virgins might be found in their respective provinces, in which they dwelt: that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan
the palace;
the metropolis of the kingdom, where was the royal palace: to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's
chamberlain, the keeper of the women;
in which house it seems were two apartments, one for the virgins before they were introduced to the king, the other for them when they were become his concubines, which had a keeper also; but this Hege seems to have been over the whole house, ( Esther 2:14 ) . It was not only usual with the eastern people, as with the Turks now, for great personages to have keepers of their wives and concubines, but with the Romans also ^F4: and let their things for purification be given them;
such as oil of myrrh, spices to remove all impurity and ill scent from them, and make them look smooth and beautiful.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 "Pone seram, cohibe" Juvenal. Satyr. 6. ver. 346, 347.

Esther 2:3 In-Context

1 Later, the anger of King Xerxes calmed down. Then he remembered Vashti and what she had done. He also remembered the royal order he had sent out concerning her.

2 At that time the king's personal attendants made a suggestion. They said, "King Xerxes, let a search be made for some beautiful young virgins for you.

3 Appoint some officials in every territory in your kingdom. Have them bring all of those beautiful virgins into the safest place in Susa. Put them in the special place where the virgins stay. Then put Hegai in charge of them. He's the eunuch who serves you. He's in charge of the virgins. Let beauty care be given to the new group of virgins.

4 Then let the one who pleases you the most become queen in Vashti's place." The king liked that advice. So he followed it.

5 There was a Jew living in the safest place in Susa. He was from the tribe of Benjamin. His name was Mordecai. He was the son of Jair. Jair was the son of Shimei. Shimei was the son of Kish.