Esther 2:9

she obtained kindness of him This or a synonymous expression is a favourite one with the author (Esther 2:15; Esther 2:17, Esther 5:2).

speedily In order that the prescribed period of twelve months" preparation (see Esther 2:12) might be accomplished as soon as possible in Esther's case, Hegai gave her precedence over others in its commencement.

her things for purification See on Esther 2:3.

with her portions A.V. has more vaguely, with such things as belonged to her. The reference is not to unguents of any kind, but to special food given as part of the preparation of those who were to be admitted to the king. So Nebuchadnezzar appointed for the youths who were to -stand before the king" (Daniel 1:5) a daily portion of the king's dainties and of the wine which he drank.

and the seven maidens The article (wrongly omitted in the A.V.) indicates that it was the custom to assign seven attendants or maids of honour to persons in Esther's position as candidates for the king's favour.

which were meet to be given her suitable to her exceptional claims on the ground of her beauty.

and he removed etc. A.V. has and he preferred etc.In this sense, viz. to advance, promote, the verb (occurring also in A.V. of Daniel 6:3; John 1:15; John 1:27) is now but little used, although the substantive prefermenthas held its ground in common parlance. The Heb. verb simply denotes change, and it is the remainder of the clause which expresses the fact that the change was for the better.

and her maidens The word in the LXX. (ἅβρα) is employed to denote female attendants of the choicer kind, like the French fille d'honneur. If it be an actual Greek word, it properly means graceful, delicate, but in the sense in which it is here used, it may be of foreign origin. Elsewhere it is used of the attendants upon Pharaoh's daughter (Exodus 2:5), also of Judith's maid (Judges 8:33), and again in this Book (Esther 4:4; Esther 4:16) and so in the apocryphal Additions (Esther 15:2, 7).