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Esther 2:12

in Esther 2

In the twelve months before her turn to go to King Xerxes, the harem regulation required each young woman to receive beauty treatments with oil of myrrh for six months, and then with perfumes and cosmetics for another six months.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

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),

KJV

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;)

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This verse in Esther 2

Commentary

5 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

Six months with oil of myrrh - See on Est 2:3 (note). 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.

This site's exposition

according to the manner of the women

on Esther 2:12-14

The chapter slows to describe the machine Esther must pass through, twelve months of purification, six with oil of myrrh and six with sweet odours, before a single night with the king that ends, for most of the virgins, in Shaashgaz’s house of the concubines, called again only if the king delighted in her by name. Adeney reads the detail as the book’s honest picture of a harem system rather than a romance, an institution the text describes without praising. No woman leaves this process a queen except by the king’s later choice, and the text withholds any comment on whether the system itself was just.

The record, by era

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Rabanus Maurus

Commentary on Esther · Written before 856.

proposed

Now, why is it that the girls who were to be brought into the king's bedchamber were prepared for twelve months with oil and scent, i.e. for six months they were anointed with oil of myrrh (which is known to have a pleasant odor) and …

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

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,....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus--A whole year was spent in preparation for the intended honor. 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.

How the passage was read

What the Jewish commentators add

On the verses either side of this one

And what would be done with her. He [Mordechai] was one of two righteous men to whom a hint of salvation was given; Dovid and Mordechai. Dovid as it is stated, “Even the lion and the bear has your servant slain.” 12 I Shmuel:36.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on Esther 2:11:1, via Sefaria, The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
Whatever she requested. Any entertainment and types of music.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on Esther 2:13:1, via Sefaria, The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001

This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.

Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.

The words behind it

30 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וּבְהַגִּ֡יעַand when arrived

    uvehagia'H5060 →150 times

  • תֹּר֩[the] turn of

    torH8447 →

  • נַעֲרָ֨הa young woman

    naarahH5291 →63 times

  • וְנַעֲרָ֜הand a young woman

    venaarahH5291 →63 times

  • לָב֣וֹא׀to go

    lavo'H935 →2568 times

  • אֶל־to

    ʾel-H413 →5510 times

  • הַמֶּ֣לֶךְthe king

    hamelekhH4428 →2525 times

  • אֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁAhasuerus

    ʾachashverooshH325 →31 times

  • מִקֵּץ֩from [the] end

    miketzH7093 →

  • הֱי֨וֹתto be

    heyotH1961 →3559 times

  • לָ֜הּfor <the> her

    lah

  • כְּדָ֤תaccording to [the] regulation of

    kedatH1881 →22 times

  • הַנָּשִׁים֙the women

    hanashimH802 →781 times

  • שְׁנֵ֣יםtwo [plus]

    sheneimH8147 →768 times

  • עָשָׂ֣רten

    ʾasarH6240 →338 times

  • חֹ֔דֶשׁmonth[s]

    chodeshH2320 →284 times

  • כִּ֛יfor

    kiH3588 →4482 times

  • כֵּ֥ןthus

    kenH3651 →771 times

  • יִמְלְא֖וּthey were completed

    yimleuH4390 →249 times

  • יְמֵ֣י[the] days of

    yemeiH3117 →2304 times

  • מְרוּקֵיהֶ֑ןrubbings their

    merukeihenH4795 →

  • שִׁשָּׁ֤הsix

    shishahH8337 →

  • חֳדָשִׁים֙months

    chodashimH2320 →284 times

  • בְּשֶׁ֣מֶןwith [the] oil of

    beshemenH8081 →

  • הַמֹּ֔ר<the> myrrh

    hamorH4753 →

  • וְשִׁשָּׁ֤הand six

    veshishahH8337 →

  • חֳדָשִׁים֙months

    chodashimH2320 →284 times

  • בַּבְּשָׂמִ֔יםwith <the> balsam oil

    babesamimH1314 →

  • וּבְתַמְרוּקֵ֖יand with [the] rubbings of

    uvetamrukeiH8562 →4 times

  • הַנָּשִֽׁים׃<the> women

    hanashimH802 →781 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

8 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Esther 2:9And the young woman pleased him and obtained his favor, so he quickly provided her with beauty treatments and the special diet. He assigned to her seven select maidservants from the palace and transferred her with them to the best place in the harem.8 worksProverbs 7:17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, with aloes, and with cinnamon.5 works1 Thessalonians 4:4–5each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,5 worksIsaiah 57:9You went to Molech with oil and multiplied your perfumes. You have sent your envoys a great distance; you have descended even to Sheol itself.4 worksIsaiah 3:24Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, shame.4 worksSong of Solomon 3:6Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, scented with myrrh and frankincense from all the spices of the merchant?2 works
The other 2 cross-references, with their words ▾
Luke 7:37–38When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume.2 worksEzekiel 23:40Furthermore, you sisters sent messengers for men who came from afar; and behold, when they arrived, you bathed for them, painted your eyes, and adorned yourself with jewelry.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Song of Solomon 3:6

    Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, scented with myrrh and frankincense from all the spices of the merchant?

    it leads to

    • Song of Solomon 8:5

      Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? I roused you under the apple tree; there your mother conceived you; there she travailed and brought you forth.

    • Song of Solomon 1:13

      My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts.

    • Song of Solomon 4:6

      Before the day breaks and the shadows flee, I will make my way to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense.

    • Revelation 12:14

      But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle to fly from the presence of the serpent to her place in the wilderness, where she was nourished for a time, and times,…

    • Song of Solomon 1:3

      The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens adore you.

  • Through

    Proverbs 7:17

    I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, with aloes, and with cinnamon.

    it leads to

    • Psalms 45:8

      All your garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces of ivory the harps make you glad.

    • Isaiah 57:7–9

      On a high and lofty hill you have made your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifices.

  • Through

    Isaiah 57:9

    You went to Molech with oil and multiplied your perfumes. You have sent your envoys a great distance; you have descended even to Sheol itself.

    it leads to

    • Ezekiel 23:16

      At the sight of them, she lusted for them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea.

Where this verse is studied

On this page

Studies1

About Esther

Esther Before the King, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Esther Before the King, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Esther: the study guide →Read Esther 2 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Esther and W. F. Adeney, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther (Expositor's Bible).

Read on in Esther 2 →