Esther 2:8

8 So when the king's order and his edict were proclaimed, and when many maidens were gathered in Susa the capital in custody of Hegai, Esther also was taken into the king's palace and put in custody of Hegai who had charge of the women.

Esther 2:8 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 2:8

So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and decree was
heard
In the several provinces of his kingdom:

and when many maidens were gathered unto Shushan the palace, to the
custody of Hegai;
Josephus F15 says, there were gathered to the number of four hundred:

that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of
Hegai, the keeper of the women:
by force, as Aben Ezra and the former Targum, and so the word is sometimes used.


FOOTNOTES:

F15 Ibid. (Antiqu. l. 11. c. 6. sect. 2.)

Esther 2:8 In-Context

6 who had been carried away from Jerusalem among the captives carried away with Jeconi'ah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnez'zar king of Babylon had carried away.
7 He had brought up Hadas'sah, that is Esther, the daughter of his uncle, for she had neither father nor mother; the maiden was beautiful and lovely, and when her father and her mother died, Mor'decai adopted her as his own daughter.
8 So when the king's order and his edict were proclaimed, and when many maidens were gathered in Susa the capital in custody of Hegai, Esther also was taken into the king's palace and put in custody of Hegai who had charge of the women.
9 And the maiden pleased him and won his favor; and he quickly provided her with her ointments and her portion of food, and with seven chosen maids from the king's palace, and advanced her and her maids to the best place in the harem.
10 Esther had not made known her people or kindred, for Mor'decai had charged her not to make it known.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.