Bible Strands
Esther 2:3
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The king’s attendants propose a royal decree to Xerxes, instructing him to appoint provincial commissioners to gather beautiful young women into Susa’s harem. This occurs immediately after the removal of Queen Vashti and follows the king’s acceptance of the proposal to find a replacement.
The words — וְ/יַפְקֵ֨ד (ve./yaf.Ked) translates as “and let him appoint,” establishing the king’s authoritative command. פְּקִידִים֮ (pe.ki.Dim) means “appointees” or “commissioners,” denoting the administrative officials tasked with executing the edict.
The thread — The decree’s implementation echoes the kingdom’s vast geography in Esther 1:1, while the gathering of women and their subsequent beauty regimens are recorded in Esther 2:8 and 2:12.
Why it lands — The text records a cold, bureaucratic process for selecting a queen, demanding the reader observe how royal power operates through administrative machinery rather than divine intervention. It asks the reader to track the human systems that shape the narrative’s trajectory.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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:
Cross-references
- Esther 1:1 This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush.
- Esther 2:8 When the king’s command and edict had been proclaimed, many young women gathered at the citadel of Susa under the care of Hegai. Esther was also taken to the palace and placed under the care of Hegai, the custodian of the women.
- Esther 2:12 In the twelve months before her turn to go to King Xerxes, the harem regulation required each young woman to receive beauty treatments with oil of myrrh for six months, and then with perfumes and cosmetics for another six months.
- Isaiah 3:18 In that day the Lord will take away their finery: their anklets and headbands and crescents;