Esther 2:8

8 And when the king’s ordinance was noised abroad, and according to his commandment many beautiful virgins were brought to Susan, and were delivered to Egeus the eunuch: Esther also among the rest of the maidens was delivered to him to be kept in the number 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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Esther 2:8 In-Context

6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem at the time that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon carried away Jechonias king of Juda,

7 And he had brought up his brother’s daughter Edissa, who by another name was called Esther: now she had lost both her parents: and was exceeding fair and beautiful. And her father and mother being dead, Mardochai adopted her for his daughter.

8 And when the king’s ordinance was noised abroad, and according to his commandment many beautiful virgins were brought to Susan, and were delivered to Egeus the eunuch: Esther also among the rest of the maidens was delivered to him to be kept in the number of the women.

9 And she pleased him, and found favour in his sight. And he commanded the eunuch to hasten the women’s ornaments, and to deliver to her her part, and seven of the most beautiful maidens of the king’s house, and to adorn and deck out both her and her waiting maids.

10 And she would not tell him her people nor her country. For Mardochai had charged her to say nothing at all of that: