Esther 2:12

12 And when the time of all the damsels by order was come, that they should go in to the king, and when all things were fulfilled that pertained to women's attire, the twelfth month was turned (about); so only that they were anointed with the oil of myrrh by six months, and by (an)other six months they used some pigments and sweet-smelling ointments. (And when the twelfth month had come; that is, after the young women had been anointed with the oil of myrrh for six months, and then they had used some pigments and sweet-smelling ointments, or perfume, for another six months, and all things were fulfilled that pertained to women's attire; then the time had come, for all the young women, each in her turn, to go in to the king.)

Esther 2:12 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 2:12

Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to King
Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the
manner of women
That were prepared in the house of the women to be presented to the king for his liking; for it seems that these virgins came in turns to him, according to the time they had been in the house; as did the wives of the kings of Persia, as Herodotus relates ^F16:

for so were the days of their purifications accomplished;
that is, in the space of twelve months, which were thus divided: to wit,

six months with oil of myrrh;
which Ben Melech interprets of musk:

and six month's with sweet odours;
the former was used to make the skin smooth and soft, and these to remove all ill scents through sweat, or any other cause:

and with other things for the purifying of women:
by bathing, rubbing, &c. and such a space of time was observed not only for the thorough purification of them, but partly was of state and grandeur, and partly that it might be a clear case they were not with child by another, before they came to the king.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 Thalia, sive, l. 3. c. 69.

Esther 2:12 In-Context

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.)

12 And when the time of all the damsels by order was come, that they should go in to the king, and when all things were fulfilled that pertained to women's attire, the twelfth month was turned (about); so only that they were anointed with the oil of myrrh by six months, and by (an)other six months they used some pigments and sweet-smelling ointments. (And when the twelfth month had come; that is, after the young women had been anointed with the oil of myrrh for six months, and then they had used some pigments and sweet-smelling ointments, or perfume, for another six months, and all things were fulfilled that pertained to women's attire; then the time had come, for all the young women, each in her turn, to go in to the king.)

13 And they entered to the king, and whatever thing pertaining to their ornament(s) (that) they asked (for), they took it with them; and they were arrayed as it pleased to them, and then they passed forth from the chamber of women to the king's bed. (And so they went in to the king, taking with them whatever things pertaining to their adornment that they had asked for; and arrayed as it pleased them, they passed forth from the house for the women to the king's bed.)

14 And she that had entered in the eventide, went out in the morrowtide; and from thence they were led forth into the second houses, that were under the hand of Shaashgaz, honest servant and chaste (the honest and chaste servant), that was governor of the king's concubines; and she had not power to go again more to the king, no but the king would, and had commanded her to come by name. (And she who entered in the evening, went out in the morning; and from there they were led forth to the second house for the women, that was under the hand of the eunuch Shaashgaz, who was the overseer of the king's concubines; and from that point on, she had no power to go again to the king, unless the king desired to see her, and had commanded her to come by name.)