Esther 2:4

4 And whichever damsel among all them pleaseth most the eyes of the king, reign she for Vashti. And this word pleased the king; and he commanded (it) to be done so, as they counselled. (And then whichever young woman among all of them most pleaseth the king's eyes, let her reign in the place of Vashti. And this idea pleased the king; and he commanded that it be done, as they had so counselled.)

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.


FOOTNOTES:

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

Esther 2:4 In-Context

2 And then the servants and the ministers of the king said to him, Fair damsels and virgins, be sought to the king; (And then the king's servants and his ministers said to him, Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king;)
3 and be there men sent forth, which should behold by all provinces damsels (who be) fair and virgins; and bring they them to the city of Susa, and betake they them into the house of women, under the keeping of Hegai, the honest servant and chaste (the honest and chaste servant), the which is the sovereign and keeper of the king's women; and take (to) those damsels ornament(s) of women, and other things needful to their uses. (and let men be sent forth, who shall look through all the provinces for these beautiful young virgins; and then bring they them to the capital city of Susa, and take they them to the house for the women, under the keeping of Hegai, the eunuch, who is the overseer and the keeper of the king's women; and give he to those young women women's ornaments, or adornments, and the other things that they need.)
4 And whichever damsel among all them pleaseth most the eyes of the king, reign she for Vashti. And this word pleased the king; and he commanded (it) to be done so, as they counselled. (And then whichever young woman among all of them most pleaseth the king's eyes, let her reign in the place of Vashti. And this idea pleased the king; and he commanded that it be done, as they had so counselled.)
5 And a man, a Jew, was in the city of Susa, Mordecai by name, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, of the generation of Benjamin; (And there was a man in the capital city of Susa, a Jew named Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin;)
6 that was translated from Jerusalem in that time, in which Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had translated Jeconiah, king of Judah; (who had been taken away from Jerusalem into captivity, at that time when Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had taken away Jeconiah, the king of Judah;)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.