Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Esther 2:9

And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, [which were] meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best [place] of the house of the women.

9. she obtained kindness of him ] This or a synonymous expression is a favourite one with the author ( Est 2:15 ; Est 2:17, Est 5:2).

speedily ] In order that the prescribed period of twelve months’ preparation (see Est 2:12) might be accomplished as soon as possible in Esther’s case, Hegai gave her precedence over others in its commencement.

her things for purification ] See on Est 2:3.

with her portions ] A.V. has more vaguely, with such things as belonged to her. The reference is not to unguents of any kind, but to special food given as part of the preparation of those who were to be admitted to the king. So Nebuchadnezzar appointed for the youths who were to ‘stand before the king’ (Dan 1:5) a daily portion of the king’s dainties and of the wine which he drank.

and the seven maidens ] The article (wrongly omitted in the A.V.) indicates that it was the custom to assign seven attendants or maids of honour to persons in Esther’s position as candidates for the king’s favour.

which were meet to be given her ] suitable to her exceptional claims on the ground of her beauty.

and he removed etc. ] A.V. has and he preferred etc. In this sense, viz. to advance, promote, the verb (occurring also in A.V. of Dan 6:3; Joh 1:15; Joh 1:27) is now but little used, although the substantive preferment has held its ground in common parlance. The Heb. verb simply denotes change, and it is the remainder of the clause which expresses the fact that the change was for the better.

and her maidens ] The word in the LXX. ( ) is employed to denote female attendants of the choicer kind, like the French fille d’honneur. If it be an actual Greek word, it properly means graceful, delicate, but in the sense in which it is here used, it may be of foreign origin. Elsewhere it is used of the attendants upon Pharaoh’s daughter (Exo 2:5), also of Judith’s maid (Jdg 8:33), and again in this Book (Est 4:4; Est 4:16) and so in the apocryphal Additions (Esther 15:2, 7).

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 9. The maiden pleased him] He conceived a partiality for her above the rest, probably because of the propriety of her deportment, and her engaging though unassuming manners.

Seven maidens] These were to attend her to the bath, to anoint and adorn her, and be her servants in general.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

The maiden pleased him; partly because she was very beautiful, and therefore he supposed she would be very acceptable to the king, which would be his advantage; and partly by the Divine Power, which moveth the hearts of men which way he pleaseth.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

And the maiden pleased him,…. Not the king, into whose presence she was not yet introduced, but the chamberlain; her beauty and her behaviour recommended her to him, and he concluded within himself that she was the person that of all would be acceptable to the king:

and she obtained kindness of him: had favours shown others had not:

and he speedily gave her things for purification; as oil, spices, c. that she might be the sooner fitted to be had into the king’s presence:

with such things as belonged to her food and drink from the king’s table; the Targum interprets it gifts, as chains and royal apparel:

and seven maidens, which were given her, out of the king’s house; to wait upon her the seven days of the week, as the same Targum:

and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women; removed her and them to it, which was the most splendid, had large, airy, and pleasant rooms.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(9) Obtained kindness of him.This is the same phrase as that which is rendered obtained favour in his sight in Est. 2:17.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

9. Such things as belonged to her Hebrew, her portions, that is, proper allowances of food.

Seven maidens meet to be given her Each of the virgins probably had seven maids appointed to attend her, but Esther’s seven were selected with special care, (meet, , looked up, searched out, from , to see, to look after,) and Hegai’s further partiality for her was shown in his preferring, or changing, her and her maids to the choice apartments of the harem.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Est 2:9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, [which were] meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best [place] of the house of the women.

Ver. 9. And the maiden pleased him ] Hegai cast his favour upon her; not because she was the fairest, noblest, most industrious, most courtly, &c., but because God wrought his heart to it; as he did Potiphar’s and Pharaoh’s to Joseph, Jonathan’s to David, Darius’s to Daniel, &c. It is the Lord that gives favour, and fashioneth men’s opinions of us. He gave Solomon honour; and Paul prays to him that his service may be accepted of the saints, Rom 15:31 .

And she obtained kindness of him ] His favour was not empty favour, professional only, as that of courtiers.

And he speedily gave her, &c. ] As resolving shortly to recommend her to the king, who, he knew, would be much ruled by him in his choice. Here were shadows of many excellent virtues in a blind ethnic; who may in some sort teach true kindness, and doth condemn those that boast of false liberality. He dealt not basely, but bountifully, with Esther.

Her things for purification ] See Est 2:3 ; Est 2:12 .

With such things as belonged to her ] Heb. Her portions or allowances of food, raiment, &c., which this faithful officer interverted not for his own private gain, but rather enlarged himself in the true bestowing thereof.

And seven maidens ] When he might have put her off with one; he enlargeth himself, and even stretcheth his authority, that he might, by these maids of honour attending her, set her forth as a queen beforehand.

Which were meet to be given her ] Or, which were very comely, speciosae, vel spectatae.

And he preferred ] Heb. He changed her, sc. for the better, as God doth his people, when he taketh them to heaven, where they change place, but not company (as that good man, Dr Preston, saith upon his death bed), and are brought from the jaws of death to the joys of eternal life; from shadows to substances, from misery to majesty, &c., a greater change than that of Queen Elizabeth, from a prisoner to a princess; or that of our Henry IV, who was crowned the very same day that the year before he had been banished the realm. The Latins call prosperous things Res secundas, secondary things, because they are to be had hereafter; they are not the first things.

Unto the best place of the house of the women ] Or, Unto the best condition. God’s best children shall have the best of the best, fat things full of marrow, wines on the lees well refined, Isa 25:6 . Jacob and his family had the best of the land of Egypt, that granary of the world, as one calleth it. His posterity had a land that flowed with milk and honey. What countries comparable to those that profess the gospel? “Godliness is profitable to all things,” having the promises of both lives, &c.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

obtained = won.

preferred = promoted. Probably influenced by Mor-deoai.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

she obtained: Gen 39:21, 1Ki 8:50, Ezr 7:6, Neh 2:8, Psa 106:46, Pro 16:7, Dan 1:9, Act 7:10

her her things: Est 2:3, Est 2:12

such things: Heb. her portions

preferred her: Heb. changed her.

Reciprocal: Gen 12:15 – taken

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Est 2:9. The maiden pleased him Because she was very beautiful, therefore he supposed she would be acceptable to the king; and by the divine power, which moveth the hearts of men which way he pleaseth.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments