Rashi on the Prophets and Writings

he remembered Vashti her beauty, and he became sad.

And let the king appoint commissioners since each commissioner is familiar with the beautiful women in his province.
their ointments These are things that cleanse, like (Lev. 6:21): “it shall be scoured (וּמֹרַק) and rinsed.” [This includes] perfumed oil, various ingredients and spices that cleanse and smoothen the skin.

a Judean man because he was exiled with the exile of Judah; all those who were exiled with the kings of Judah were called יְהוּדִים [Judeans, Jews] among the nations, even if they were from another tribe.
a Benjamite He was from Benjamin. That is the simple meaning, but our Sages explained what they explained.

for a daughter Heb. לְבַת. Our Sages explained: לבית, for a house, meaning for a wife.

and he hastened her ointments He was more diligent and quicker with bringing her [ointments] than those of all of them.
fitting to give to her to serve her, and so they would do for all of them; and our Sages explained what they explained.

not to reveal so that they should say that she was from an ignoble family and dismiss her, for if they knew that she was of the family of King Saul, they would detain her.

and what would be done to her He was one of two righteous men to whom a hint of salvation was given: David and Mordecai. David—as it is said (I Sam. 17:36): “Both the lion and the bear has your bondsman smote.” He said [to himself], “This incident happened to me only to teach me to have faith that I can battle with this one [Goliath].” Likewise, Mordecai said [to himself], “The only reason that this righteous woman was taken to the bed of a gentile was because she is destined to arise and save Israel.” He therefore went around to find out what would be her fate.

turn Heb. תֹּר, her time.

whatever she would request any entertainment or types of music.

to the second house of the women Heb. שֵּׁנִי [Like the usual form] הַשֵּׁנִי.

in the tenth month the cold season, when one body enjoys [the warmth of] another body. The Holy One, blessed be He, designated that cold season in order to endear her to him.

more than all the women Those he had lived with, for he had also gathered all the women he had lived with.

and he granted a release In her honor, he released them from the tax that was [levied] upon them.
and gave gifts He sent them gifts, and everything was in order to entice her, perhaps she would tell her nationality. But nevertheless—Esther would not tell.

Esther would not tell her lineage because Mordecai was sitting in the king’s gate; he was encouraging her and hinting to her about it.

to lay a hand to give him poison to drink.

And the matter became known to Mordecai For they were discussing their affairs before him in the Tarsean language, and they did not know that Mordecai was familiar with seventy languages, for he was one of those who sat in the Chamber of Hewn Stone.

and it was written in the diary the favor that Mordecai did for the king.