John Gill's Exposition on Esther 2:3

A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.

Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.

And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, etc.] Who best knew where beautiful virgins might be found in their respective provinces, in which they dwelt: that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace; the metropolis of the kingdom, where was the royal palace: to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women; in which house it seems were two apartments, one for the virgins before they were introduced to the king, the other for them when they were become his concubines, which had a keeper also; but this Hege seems to have been over the whole house, (<170214>Esther 2:14). It was not only usual with the eastern people, as with the Turks now, for great personages to have keepers of their wives and concubines, but with the Romans also f77: and let their things for purification be given them; such as oil of myrrh, spices, etc. to remove all impurity and ill scent from them, and make them look smooth and beautiful.

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