The king loved Esther, and she found favor beyond all the other virgins. He put the queen’s crown on her.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 17. Crown. Lit. “diadem,” ( Bible.) which was a bandage “of purple, striped with white,” by which the queen was distinguished from the other wives. Calmet.—The king wore “a four-square cidaris,” with a similar ornament. Alex. Genial. i. 27.—Only one queen was chosen from all the wives, and she was “adored” by the rest. Dion. Athen. iii. l.—Though God had forbidden marriages with infidels, ( Calmet.) at least with those of Chanaan, ( Bible.) a dispensation might be granted, (Exodus 34. Tirinus. 2 Kennicott. 3. Worthington.) for a greater good. Esther was not puffed up with her exaltation, and refrained from all forbidden meats. Calmet. 14:15. Calmet.—If she be the Artystona of Herotous, (vii. 69. Bible.) as it is most probable, ( Tirinus.) her two sons, Arsames and Gobryas, had a command in the famous expedition of Xerxes. Usher, A. 3524. Calmet.