Esther 2:4

4 Then take the young woman you like best and make her queen in Vashti's place." The king thought this was good advice, so he followed it.

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 So some of the king's advisers who were close to him suggested, "Why don't you make a search to find some beautiful young virgins?

3 You can appoint officials in every province of the empire and have them bring all these beautiful young women to your harem here in Susa, the capital city. Put them in the care of Hegai, the eunuch who is in charge of your women, and let them be given a beauty treatment.

4 Then take the young woman you like best and make her queen in Vashti's place." The king thought this was good advice, so he followed it.

5 There in Susa lived a Jew named Mordecai son of Jair; he was from the tribe of Benjamin and was a descendant of Kish and Shimei.

6 When King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took King Jehoiachin of Judah into exile from Jerusalem, along with a group of captives, Mordecai was among them.