John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 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 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 F16 Thalia, sive, l. 3. c. 69. : for so were the days of their purifications accomplished ... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Esther 2:1-20
How God put down one that was high and mighty from her seat we read in the chapter before, and are now to be told how he exalted one of low degree, as the virgin Mary observes in her song (Luke 1:52) and Hannah before her, 1 Sam. 2:4-8. Vashti being humbled for her height, Esther is advanced for her humility. Observe, I. The extravagant course that was taken to please the king with another wife instead of Vashti. Josephus says that when his anger was over he was exceedingly grieved that the... read more