Esther 2:9

9 And she pleased him, and found grace in his sight, so that he hasted to take to her the ornament(s) of women, and he betook to Esther her parts of all (the) things needful to her, and (also) seven (of) the fairest damsels of the king's house; and Hegai adorned and arrayed both her and those damsels following her feet. (And Esther pleased, or impressed, Hegai, and she found favour before him, so that he hastened to give to her women's ornaments, or adornments, and anything else that she needed, as well as seven of the most beautiful young women of the king's house; and so Hegai adorned and arrayed both her, and those young women who followed her feet, that is, who served her.)

Esther 2:9 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 2:9

And the maiden pleased him
Not the king, into whose presence she was not yet introduced, but the chamberlain; her beauty and her behaviour recommended her to him, and he concluded within himself that she was the person that of all would be acceptable to the king:

and she obtained kindness of him:
had favours shown others had not:

and he speedily gave her things for purification;
as oil, spices, &c. that she might be the sooner fitted to be had into the king's presence:

with such things as belonged to her;
food and drink from the king's table; the Targum interprets it gifts, as chains and royal apparel:

and seven maidens, which were given her, out of the king's house;
to wait upon her the seven days of the week, as the same Targum:

and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of
the women;
removed her and them to it, which was the most splendid, had large, airy, and pleasant rooms.

Esther 2:9 In-Context

7 the which Mordecai was the nourisher of Hadassah, the daughter of his brother, which daughter was called Esther by another name, and she had lost both (her) father and mother; and she was full fair, and seemly of face; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her to him, and he made her his daughter. (and this Mordecai was the foster-father of Hadassah, his uncle's daughter, who was called Esther by another name, and who had lost both her father and her mother; and she was very beautiful, and comely of face; and after the death of her father and her mother, Mordecai took her unto himself, and made her his daughter.)
8 And when the commandment of the king was oft published, and by his behest many fair virgins were brought to Susa, and were betaken to Hegai, the honest servant and chaste (the honest and chaste servant), also Esther among other damsels was betaken to him, that she should be kept in the number of those women. (And after the king's command was widely published, and by his order many beautiful virgins were brought to Susa, and taken to Hegai, the eunuch, also Esther, among other young women, was brought to him, to be kept in his care along with those other women.)
9 And she pleased him, and found grace in his sight, so that he hasted to take to her the ornament(s) of women, and he betook to Esther her parts of all (the) things needful to her, and (also) seven (of) the fairest damsels of the king's house; and Hegai adorned and arrayed both her and those damsels following her feet. (And Esther pleased, or impressed, Hegai, and she found favour before him, so that he hastened to give to her women's ornaments, or adornments, and anything else that she needed, as well as seven of the most beautiful young women of the king's house; and so Hegai adorned and arrayed both her, and those young women who followed her feet, that is, who served her.)
10 And Esther would not show to Hegai her people, neither her country; for Mordecai had commanded her, that in all manner she should be still of this thing. (And Esther did not tell Hegai about her people, or her kindred; for Mordecai had commanded her, that she should not say anything about these matters/for Mordecai had commanded her, that she should hold her peace.)
11 And Mordecai walked each day before the porch of the door, in which the chosen virgins were kept, and he did the care of the health of Esther, and would know, what befelled to her. (And each day Mordecai walked before the courtyard of the house, in which the chosen virgins were kept, for he was concerned about her, and wanted to know what would happen to her.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.