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, etc.] 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 f88: 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…”

“Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus--A whole year was spent in preparation for the intended honor. Considering that this took place in a palace, the long period prescribed, together with the profusion of costly and fragrant cosmetics employed, was probably required by state etiquette.”

“2:12 The twelve months of preparation no doubt involved training in court customs as well as beauty treatments, but the focus here is on physical beauty.”

“am 3546, bc 458 to go in: Th1 4:4, Th1 4:5 six months: Pro 7:17; Sol 3:6; Isa 57:9; Luk 7:37, Luk 7:38 Esther 2:14”

“Before relating the appearance of Esther before the king, the narrator more particularly describes in Est 2:12-14 the preparations for this event, and how Esther behaved with respect to them. Est 2:12-13 "When every maid's turn came (i.e., at every time that any maid's turn came) to go in to King Ahashverosh, after the time when it had been done to her twelve months according to the law of the women - for thus were the days of their purification accomplished: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with balsam and ointments of purification for women - and the maiden came to the king, all that she desired was given her to go with her out of the women's house unto the king's house." תּור,…”