Esther 2:3

3 And let the king appoint local governors in all the provinces of his kingdom, and let them select fair chaste young damsels to the city Susa, into the women's apartment, and let them be consigned to the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women; and let things for purification and other attendance be given .

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 And after this the king's anger was pacified, and he no more mentioned Astin, bearing in mind what she had said, and how he had condemned her.

2 Then the servants of the king said, Let there be sought for the king chaste beautiful young virgins.

3 And let the king appoint local governors in all the provinces of his kingdom, and let them select fair chaste young damsels to the city Susa, into the women's apartment, and let them be consigned to the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women; and let things for purification and other attendance be given .

4 And let the woman who shall please the king be queen instead of Astin. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.

5 Now there was a Jew in the city Susa, and his name was Mardochaeus, the of Jairus, of Semeias, of Cisaeus, of the tribe of Benjamin;