Esther 2:3

Staten Vertaling

En de koning bestelle toezieners in al de landschappen zijns koninkrijks, dat zij vergaderen alle jonge dochters, maagden, schoon van aangezicht, tot den burg Susan, tot het huis der vrouwen, onder de hand van Hegai, des konings kamerling, bewaarder der vrouwen; en men geve haar haar versierselen.

Parallel Translations

Gereviseerde Lutherse Vertaling
en de koning bestelle opzichters in alle gewesten zijns koninkrijks, om allerlei jonge, schone maagden samen te brengen op den burg Susan in het vrouwenverblijf, onder toezicht van Hegai, des konings kamerdienaar, die de vrouwen bewaart en hij geve haar hare versierselen;

Gereviseerde Leidse Vertaling
de koning stelle beambten aan in alle provincien van zijn rijk, die alle jonge maagden, schoon van uiterlijk, verzamelen moeten en naar den burg Sjusjan brengen, in het vrouwentimmer, onder de hoede van Hegai, den kamerling des konings, den bewaker der vrouwen, en men geve haar de schoonheidsmiddelen die zij behoeven.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

in all the provinces: Esther 1:1, Esther 1:2

that they may gather: This was the usual way in which the harem, or seraglio, was furnished; the finest women in the land, whether of high or low birth, were sought out and brought to the harem. They all became the king's concubines; but one was raised as chief wife, or sultana, to the throne; and her issue was especially entitled to inherit.

the custody: Heb. the hand

Hege: Esther 2:8, Hegai

the king's chamberlain: Saris hammelech, "the king's eunuch:" so the LXX, Vulgate, Targum, and Syriac.

their things: Esther 2:12-14, Isaiah 3:18-23

Reciprocal: Ezra 4:9 - Susanchites Esther 2:5 - Shushan Esther 2:9 - her her things Esther 2:16 - the seventh Esther 2:19 - the virgins Esther 8:14 - Shushan

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom,.... 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, 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 d:

and let their things for purification be given them; such as oil of myrrh, spices, &c. to remove all impurity and ill scent from them, and make them look smooth and beautiful.

d "Pone seram, cohibe", &c. Juvenal. Satyr. 6. ver. 346, 347.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The house of the women - i. e. the “gynaeceon,” or “haram” - always an essential part of an Oriental palace (Compare 1 Kings 7:8). In the Persian palaces it was very extensive, since the monarchs maintained, besides their legitimate wives, as many as 300 or 400 concubines (compare Esther 2:14).

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Esther 2:3. Hege the king's chamberlain — הגא סריס המלך Hege seris hammelech, "Hege, the king's eunuch;" so the Septuagint, Vulgate, Targum, and Syriac. In the Eastern countries the women are intrusted to the care of the eunuchs only.

Let their things for purification be given them — תמרקיהן tamrukeyhen, their cosmetics. What these were we are told in Esther 2:12; oil of myrrh, and sweet odours. The myrrh was employed for six months, and the odours for six months more, after which the person was brought to the king. This space was sufficient to show whether the young woman had been chaste; whether she were with child or not, that the king might not be imposed on, and be obliged to father a spurious offspring, which might have been the case had not this precaution been used.

Instead of the oil or myrrh, the Targum says it was the oil of unripe olives which caused the hair to fall off, and rendered the skin delicate.