Esther 2:3

And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given [them]:

And let the king {H4428} appoint {H6485} officers {H6496} in all the provinces {H4082} of his kingdom {H4438}, that they may gather together {H6908} all the fair {H2896}{H4758} young {H5291} virgins {H1330} unto Shushan {H7800} the palace {H1002}, to the house {H1004} of the women {H802}, unto the custody {H3027} of Hege {H1896} the king's {H4428} chamberlain {H5631}, keeper {H8104} of the women {H802}; and let their things for purification {H8562} be given {H5414} them:

The king should appoint officials in all the provinces of the kingdom to gather all the young, good-looking virgins to the house for the harem, in Shushan the capital. They should be put under the care of Hegai the king's officer in charge of the women, and he should give them the cosmetics they require.

and let the king appoint commissioners in each province of his kingdom to assemble all the beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge of the women, and let them be given beauty treatments.

and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hegai the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them;

Commentary

Esther 2:3 describes the initial step in King Ahasuerus's search for a new queen following the dethronement of Queen Vashti. This verse details the royal decree initiated by the king's advisors, outlining a systematic process to gather beautiful young women from across the vast Persian Empire.

Context

After King Ahasuerus's public humiliation by Queen Vashti's refusal to appear before him (Esther 1:12) and her subsequent dethronement (Esther 1:19), his servants suggested a plan to find a replacement. This verse lays out the specifics of that plan: a kingdom-wide search for "fair young virgins" to be brought to the capital, Shushan (Susa), for a royal selection process. This was not merely a casual search but a formal, state-sponsored initiative, reflecting the absolute authority of the Persian king.

Key Themes

  • Absolute Royal Authority: The king's word is law, and his decrees are immediately acted upon throughout his extensive kingdom. This highlights the immense power held by Ahasuerus.
  • Human Selection & Preparation: The process is entirely human-driven, focusing on physical beauty and an elaborate preparation regimen. The women were to undergo a lengthy period of "purification," which involved cosmetic treatments, oils, and perfumes, as further detailed in Esther 2:12.
  • Centralization of Power: All eligible women were to be gathered to "Shushan the palace," the administrative and royal center of the Persian Empire. This centralization underscores the king's control.
  • Foreboding & Vulnerability: For the young women, this summons was likely a mix of potential opportunity and profound uncertainty, as they were taken from their homes into the custody of "Hege the king's chamberlain," a eunuch responsible for the royal harem.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Shushan the palace" refers to Susa, one of the capital cities of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. The term "chamberlain" (Hebrew: saris) often refers to a eunuch, a common practice in ancient Near Eastern royal courts for those entrusted with guarding the king's concubines and harem, ensuring loyalty and preventing succession challenges. The "things for purification" (Hebrew: tamruq) indicates a prescribed regimen of beauty treatments and anointing oils, essential for preparing the women for presentation to the king, emphasizing the cultural importance of appearance and hygiene in this context.

Practical Application

While this verse describes an ancient cultural practice, it serves as a foundational moment in the book of Esther, setting the stage for God's providential work. Although the selection process was based on human criteria and royal decree, it was ultimately through this very system that Esther, a Jewish orphan, would be brought into the palace and positioned to save her people (Esther 4:14). This reminds us that God can use even seemingly secular or worldly circumstances, and human plans, to achieve His divine purposes, often working behind the scenes in ways we may not immediately perceive.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Esther 1:1

    ¶ Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this [is] Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, [over] an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)

  • Esther 1:2

    [That] in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which [was] in Shushan the palace,

  • Isaiah 3:18

    In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of [their] tinkling ornaments [about their feet], and [their] cauls, and [their] round tires like the moon,

  • Isaiah 3:23

    The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.

  • Esther 2:8

    So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

  • Esther 2:9

    And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, [which were] meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best [place] of the house of the women.

  • Esther 2:12

    Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, [to wit], six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with [other] things for the purifying of the women;)
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