The maiden who pleased Hegai is Esther (see Good News Translation). The sense seems to be that Esther pleased Hegai more than the other virgins pleased him. Consistent with his style, the writer expresses the same idea two different ways, first saying that she was “pleasing [good] in his eyes,” and secondly that she “won favor [chesed] before him” (compare Dan 1.9). The first probably emphasizes the fact that Hegai liked her; the second, that he acted kindly toward her.
On her ointments see comments on 2.3.
Portion of food: literally “her portions,” which in this context means the food that was especially prepared for her (see also comments on 9.19). Good News Translation, using contemporary language, says “special diet” (compare Traduction œcuménique de la Bible: “her diet”). Another way of expressing this idea may be to say “her own food,” or perhaps “food cooked for her.”
Seven chosen maids: the number seven occurs frequently in the book of Esther (see comment on 1.5). The Hebrew says literally “with the seven maids selected to give to her from the king’s palace.” The presence of the definite article with seven maids may suggest that each of the virgins was assigned seven maids to care for her. If this interpretation is correct, then the addition of the word “specially” before the word “chosen” in Good News Translation is misleading (see also New Jerusalem Bible and Revised English Bible). The New Jerusalem Bible translation is preferable: “as well as with the seven maids who were her due from the king’s palace.”
The best place in the harem: literally “the good of the house of the women.” The meaning is most likely that they were given the best place to live. La Bible du Semeur says “the best apartment of the harem,” understanding the Hebrew as a reference to physical location within the building. Revised English Bible, however, says “favourable treatment in the women’s quarters,” taking the words as a reference to how Esther and her maids were treated (see comments on Septuagint at ESG 2.9). In many languages the superlative idea is expressed by implied exclusiveness; for example, “the very good one of the places of the women,” while in other languages it is stated explicitly, “the place that is the good one surpass all the other places of the women.”
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Noss, Philip A. A Handbook on Esther (The Hebrew Text). (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .