וַיְהִ֗י בְּהִשָּׁמַ֤ע דְּבַר־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְדָת֔וֹ וּֽבְהִקָּבֵ֞ץ נְעָר֥וֹת רַבּ֛וֹת אֶל־שׁוּשַׁ֥ן הַבִּירָ֖ה אֶל־יַ֣ד הֵגָ֑י וַתִּלָּקַ֤ח אֶסְתֵּר֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֶל־יַ֥ד הֵגַ֖י שֹׁמֵ֥ר הַנָּשִֽׁים׃
At nangyari, nang maipahayag ang utos ng hari at ang kanyang batas, at nang matipon ang maraming dalaga sa Susan na kuta sa pangangalaga ni Hegai, si Ester ay kinuha sa bahay ng hari, sa pangangalaga ni Hegai na tagapag-ingat ng mga babae.
Tze'enah Ure'enah
“Esther was taken to the royal palace” [2:8]. One can ask about the verse. Why does it need to say that many maidens were taken to Shushan? Esther was taken under the supervision of Hege. We know very well that many maidens were taken. The explanation is that the Scroll shows us that Esther had hidden herself, so that she should not be taken to the king. However, they heard that all the beautiful maidens should be brought and none should be left out. Esther was afraid and therefore it says in Scripture, “and Esther was taken” [2:8]. She was forcibly taken to the house of Hege.25Yalkut Shimoni, Esther, Remez, 1053.