Esther 2:4

4 Then, the girl who seems best to the king should become queen instead of Vashti."This proposal pleased the king, so he acted accordingly.

Esther 2:4 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 2:4

And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead
of Vashti
Have the royal estate, that was taken from Vashti, given to her, the crown royal set on her head and the thing pleased the king, and he did so;
appointed officers in all his provinces to seek out the most beautiful virgins, and bring them to his palace; so with the Chinese now, the king never marries with any of his kindred, though ever so remote; but there is sought throughout his kingdom a damsel of twelve or fourteen years, of perfect beauty, good natural parts, and well inclined to virtue; whence, for the most part, the queen is the daughter of some artisan; and in their history ^F5, mention is made of one that was the daughter of a mason.

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 Semedo's History of China, part 1. ch. 23.

Esther 2:4 In-Context

2 The king's servants attending him said, "A search should be made for young, good-looking virgins.

3 The king should appoint officials in all the provinces of the kingdom to gather all the young, good-looking virgins to the house for the harem, in Shushan the capital. They should be put under the care of Hegai the king's officer in charge of the women, and he should give them the cosmetics they require.

4 Then, the girl who seems best to the king should become queen instead of Vashti."This proposal pleased the king, so he acted accordingly.

5 There was in Shushan the capital a man who was a Jew, whose name was Mordekhai the son of Ya'ir, the son of Shim'i, the son of Kish, a Binyamini.

6 He had been exiled from Yerushalayim with the captives exiled with Y'khanyah king of Y'hudah, whom N'vukhadnetzar king of Bavel had carried off.