Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 3. Hege the king's chamberlain] űlmh syrs agh Hege seris hammelech, "Hege, the king's eunuch;" so the Septuagint, Vulgate, Targum, and Syriac. In the Eastern countries the women are intrusted to the care of the eunuchs only.
Let their things for purification be given them] hyqrmt tamrukeyhen, their cosmetics. What these were we are told in ver. 12; oil of myrrh, and sweet odours. The myrrh was employed for six months, and the odours for six months more, after which the person was brought to the king. This space was sufficient to show whether the young woman had been chaste; whether she were with child or not, that the king might not be imposed on, and be obliged to father a spurious offspring, which might have been the case had not this precaution been used.
Instead of the oil or myrrh, the Targum says it was the oil of unripe olives which caused the hair to fall off, and rendered the skin delicate.
John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom , etc.] 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 f77 : and let their things for purification be given them ; such as oil of myrrh, spices, etc. to remove all impurity and ill scent from them, and make them look smooth and beautiful.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-20 - We see to what absurd practices those came, who were destitute of Divine revelation, and what need there was of the gospel of Christ, to purify men from the lusts of the flesh, and to bring them back to the original institution of marriage. Esther was preferred as queen. Thos who suggest that Esther committed sin to come at this dignity, do no consider the custom of those times and countries. Every one that the king took was married to him, and was his wife, though of a lower rank But how low is human nature sunk, when such as these are the leadin pursuits and highest worldly happiness of men! Disappointment an vexation must follow; and he most wisely consults his enjoyment, eve in this present life, who most exactly obeys the precepts of the Divin law. But let us turn to consider the wise and merciful providence of God, carrying on his deep but holy designs in the midst of all this And let no change in our condition be a pretext for forgetting ou duties to parents, or the friends who have stood in their place.
Original Hebrew ויפקד6485 המלך4428 פקידים6496 בכל3605 מדינות4082 מלכותו4438 ויקבצו6908 את853 כל3605 נערה5291 בתולה1330 טובת2896 מראה4758 אל413 שׁושׁן7800 הבירה1002 אל413 בית1004 הנשׁים802 אל413 יד3027 הגא1896 סריס5631 המלך4428 שׁמר8104 הנשׁים802 ונתון5414 תמרקיהן׃8562
