Now this was the time for a virgin to go into the king, when she had completed twelve months; for so are the days of purification fulfilled, six months while they are anointing themselves with oil of myrrh, and six months with spices and women’s purifications.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 12. Turn. This was rigidly observed, in that country, where polygamy prevailed. Genesis 30:16. Herod. iii. 69.—The wives were “shut up in separate apartments,” (Just. i. 9.) in the remotest parts of the palace. Calmet.—Twelfth. A full year elapsed before they could be admitted.—A sweet. Prot. “other things for the purifying of the women.” Bible.—It would be difficult to form an adequate idea of the luxury of the Persians, if the Scripture had not informed us. The kings were not satisfied with one wife. Assuerus had 400; (Josephus) and Darius Codomannus carried 360 with him, in his expeditions. Curt. iii.—Parmenio took an incredible number of his concubines, at Damascus. Athen. xiii. 9.—They were not all treated alike, but all were very sumptuously adorned. Cities were allotted to furnish one with sandals, another with girdles, and so forth Cic. in Verrem. v. Calmet.