John Gill
INTRODUCTION TO Esther 2 By the advice of the ministers of King Ahasuerus, fair virgins were sought for throughout his dominions, and brought to his chamberlain, the keeper of the women, among whom was Esther, a Jewish virgin, Es 2:1, who found favour with the chamberlain, and afterwards with the king, who made her queen instead of Vashti, and a feast on that account, Es 2:9. Mordecai, to whom...
John Gill
And the maiden pleased him,.... Not the king, into whose presence she was not yet introduced, but the chamberlain; her beauty and her behaviour recommended her to him, and he concluded within himself that she was the person that of all would be acceptable to the king: and she obtained kindness of him: had favours shown others had not: and he speedily gave her things for purification; as oil,...
Matthew Henry
Two things are recorded in this chapter, which were working towards the deliverance of the Jews from Haman's conspiracy:—I. The advancement of Esther to be queen instead of Vashti. Many others were candidates for the honour (ver. 1-4); but Esther, an orphan, a captive-Jewess (ver. 5-7), recommended herself to the king's chamberlain first (ver. 8-11) and then to the king (ver. 12-17), who made her...