Now when the turn of Esther the daughter of Abihail
For this was her father's name, and not Aminadab, as the Septuagint version:
the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter;
which makes it quite clear that Mordecai was not Esther's uncle, as Josephus, but her own cousin: now when her turn
was come to go in unto the king;
which the virgins under purification took by turns, ( Esther 2:14 ) ,
she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper
of the women, appointed;
what he ordered her to have, or to do, she submitted to, being in his hands, and so obeyed his orders; but more she asked not, either for ornament or attendance, being not at all solicitous whether the king liked her or not; for it was not of choice, but by constraint, she went unto him; nor needed she anything to recommend her, her virtue, modesty, and beauty, were sufficient:
and Esther obtained favour of all them that looked upon her:
when she came to court, the eyes of all were attracted to her; all admired her beauty, her innocent and modest look, and her graceful mien and deportment.