When the king had issued his new proclamation and many young women were being brought to Susa, Esther was among them. She too was put in the royal palace in the care of Hegai, who had charge of the harem. Hegai liked Esther, and she won his favor.
May I find favor in the eyes of others one day, Father. But more than anything, may I find favor with you.
The regular beauty treatment for the women lasted a year—massages with oil of myrrh for six months and with oil of balsam for six more.
Incredible. The lengths we go to for something so transitory (Proverbs 31:30). Thank you, Lord, that the process you put us through lasts a lifetime (Colossians 1:28).
After that, each woman would be taken in turn to King Xerxes. …She would go there in the evening, and the next morning she would be taken to another harem…
Where she would remain for the rest of her days, I imagine. Thinking about a harem, it strikes me that it resembles a bit like a stable of cattle…
The time came for Esther to go to the king.
A day unlike the others. The investment of an entire year and it would all play out in one night.
Esther—admired by everyone who saw her.
How that is not my case. May that change one day, Lord.
The king liked her more than any of the other women, and more than any of the others she won his favor and affection. He placed the royal crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti.
Vashti would have the rest of her life with her pride and the “what if” – much like Roboam (1 Kings 12:12-19). Hanoun, on the other hand, was spared those years (2 Samuel 12:29)… 😁