Esther 2:8

So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and decree was heard ,.... In the several provinces of his kingdom:

and when many maidens were gathered unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai ; Josephus F15 Ibid. (Antiqu. l. 11. c. 6. sect. 2.) says, there were gathered to the number of four hundred:

that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, the keeper of the women : by force, as Aben Ezra and the former Targum, and so the word is sometimes used.