Esther 2:12

_NOW WHEN EVERY MAID'S TURN WAS COME TO GO IN TO KING AHASUERUS, AFTER THAT SHE HAD BEEN TWELVE MONTHS, ACCORDING TO THE MANNER OF THE WOMEN, (FOR SO WERE THE DAYS OF THEIR PURIFICATIONS ACCOMPLISHED, TO WIT, SIX MONTHS WITH OIL OF MYRRH, AND SIX MONTHS WITH SWEET ODOURS, AND WITH OTHER THINGS FOR THE PURIFYING OF THE WOMEN;)_ Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus. A whole year was spent in preparation for the intended honour. Considering that this took place in a palace, the long period prescribed, together with the profusion of costly and fragrant cosmetics employed, was probably required by state etiquette. At the same time, at is said that from the dirty and neglected way in which the girls of Georgia and Circassia are brought up in their humble homes, a long process of purification is absolutely necessary before these celebrated beauties are fit for being b...

1-20 We see to what absurd practices those came, who were destitute of Divine revelation, and what need there was of the gospel of Christ, to purify men from the lusts of the flesh, and to bring them back to the original institution of marriage. Esther was preferred as queen. Those who suggest that Esther committed sin to come at this dignity, do not consider the custom of those times and countries. Every one that the king took was married to him, and was his wife, though of a lower rank. But how low is human nature sunk, when such as these are the leading pursuits and highest worldly happiness of men! Disappointment and vexation must follow; and he most wisely consults his enjoyment, even in this present life, who most exactly obeys the precepts of the Divine law. But let us turn to consider the wise and merciful providence of God, carrying on his deep but holy designs in the midst of...

Verse 12. _SIX MONTHS WITH OIL OF MYRRH_] See on Esther 2:3. The reason of this purification seems not to be apprehended by any writer I have seen. The most beautiful of all the young virgins of all the provinces of Babylon were to be selected; and these were taken out of all _classes_ of the people, indiscriminately; consequently there must have been many who were brought up in low life. Now we know that those who feed on coarse strong food, which is not easily digested, have generally a copious perspiration, which is strongly odorous; and in many, though in every respect amiable, and even beautiful, this odour is far from being pleasant. Pure, wholesome, easily digested, and nourishing aliment, with the frequent use of the _hot bath_, continued for twelve months. the body frequently rubbed with _olive oil_, will in almost every case remove all that is disagreeable of this ki...

EXPOSITION THE QUEST FOR MAIDENS, AND THE CHOICE OF ESTHER TO BE QUEEN IN VASHTI'S PLACE (Esther 2:1). Vashti having ceased to be queen, Ahasuerus appears to have been in no haste to assign her dignity to any one else. Probably there was no one among his other (secondary) wives of whom he was specially fond, or who seemed to him pre-eminent above the rest. And he may even have begun to relent in Vashti's favour (as seems to be somewhat obscurely intimated in Esther 2:1), and to wish to take her back. Under these circumstances the officers of his cour

NOW WHEN EVERY MAID'S TURN WAS COME TO GO IN TO KING AHASUERUS, AFTER THAT SHE HAD BEEN TWELVE MONTHS, ACCORDING TO THE MANNER OF WOMEN,.... That were prepared in the house of the women to be presented to the king for his liking; for it seems that these virgins came in turns to him, according to the time they had been in the house; as did the wives of the kings of Persia, as Herodotus relates p: FOR SO WERE THE DAYS OF THEIR PURIFICATIONS ACCOMPLISHED; that is, in the space of twelve months, which were thus divided: to wit, SIX MONTHS WITH OIL OF MYRRH; which Ben Melech interprets of musk: AND SIX MONTH'S WITH SWEET ODOURS; the former was used to make the skin smooth and soft, and these to remove all ill scents through sweat, or any other cause: AND WITH OTHER THINGS FOR THE PURIFYING OF WOMEN: by bathing, rubbing, c. and such a space of time was observed not only for the thorough pu...

ESTHER CHOSEN QUEEN. Ere long Ahasuerus longs for his lost queen's comradeship. He is moved to issue a summons throughout all his territories, commanding all fair maidens to appear as candidates for the queenship. This command removes the fancy that a Jewess had no right to come. She had to come. Among the assembled fair ones was the cousin and ward of Mordecai, called Hadassah, _i.e._ Myrtle. Let us notice that this name is the same as that of the place Adasah in Judah where, on Adar 13th, 161 B.C., the Maccabees defeated Nicanor, the general of the armies of Syria (p. 607). That final victory set Judah free from foreign rule, so that the throne of David was established again after its destruction about 600 B.C. (see 1Ma_7:39 ff.). The maiden seems intended by our writer as a symbol of that victory. She surpasses all her rivals, and is chosen by Ahasuerus as his queen; and now she recei...

FOR. Another _Parenthesis_. App-6. See note on Esther 1:7....

_after that it had been done to her according to the law for the women, twelve months_ More accurate than A.V. _after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women_. _sweet odours spices_or _balsam_. The Hebrew and English words for myrrh (_môr_) and balsam (_bôsem_) are etymologically identical. These spices came to us from the East, and retained their Eastern names in European languages. _the things for the purifying_ a general designation including the two items just mentioned. The A.V. less accurately has _other things for the purifying_....

C. Season of Preparation TEXT: Esther 2:12-14 12 Now when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that it had been done to her according to the law for the women twelve months, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors and with the things for the purifying of the women,) 13 then in this wise came the maiden unto the king: whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house. 14 In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, who kept the concubines; she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and she were called by name. Today's English Version,...

2:12 manner (h-25) Lit.'law.'...