Esther 2:15

Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.

Ver. 15. Now when the turn of Esther, &c.] Then, and not till then. So when Joseph was sufficiently humbled, the king sent and loosed him; the ruler of the people let him go free, Psalms 105:20. When David was become weaned from the world, as a child from the breasts, when his heart was not haughty, nor his eyes lofty, &c., then was he advanced to the kingdom, Psa 131:1 He that believeth maketh not haste. God's time is best; and as he seldom cometh at our time, so he never faileth at his own.

The daughter of Abihail] The seed of the righteous, and so an heiress of that precious promise: His seed shall be mighty upon earth, Psa 112:2 She was also a daughter of Israel, and therefore God's firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth, Psalms 89:27 .

Who had taken her for his daughter] This good work was so well pleasing to God, that it is once again recited, and honourably mentioned. What shall the Lord Christ then do at the last day for his people who are full of mercy and good fruits? If now he doth not only make mention of us, but mediation for us at the throne of glory; surely then he will much more make our faith, which worketh by love, to be "found unto praise and honour and glory," 1 Peter 1:7 .

She required nothing] As other maids had done to set out their beauty, but contenting herself with her native comeliness, and that wisdom that made her face to shine; she humbly taketh what Hegai directed her to, and wholly resteth upon the Divine providence.

And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all] By her comely countenance and gracious deportment. Plutarch speaks of a Spartan woman, that when her neighbours were showing their apparel and jewels, she brought out her children virtuous and well taught, saying, These are my ornaments and accoutrements. Esther did the like by her virtues, which drew all hearts unto her; like as fair flowers in the spring do the passengers eyes. She had decked herself with the white of simplicity, with the red of modesty, with the silk of piety, with the satin of sanctity, with the purple of chastity, as Tertullian expresseth it; taliter pigmentatae Deum habebitis amatorem, saith he, and being thus adorned and beautified, women shall have God himself to be their suitor, and all godly men their admirers (Tert. de Cult. Foem.). Whereas on the other side (Plant. Mastcll. Act. i., Scen. 3),

Nequaquam ornata est bene, quae morata est male.

Pulchrum ornatum turpes mores peius coeno collinunt.