In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.
In the evening she would go to the king, and the next morning she would return to the second women's quarters, under the care of Shaashgaz, the king's official who was in charge of the concubines. She would never go back to the king again unless he was especially pleased with her and specifically asked for her by name.
This verse describes how women who spent one night with the king would then live separately as concubines, only returning if the king specifically chose them again.
📚 Historical Context
This passage describes the Persian royal court's system during King Xerxes' reign (around 486-465 BC). Young women from across the empire were brought to the palace for a year of preparation, after which they would spend one night with the king as part of his search for a new queen to replace Vashti. This reflects the ancient Near Eastern practice where kings maintained large harems of wives and concubines as symbols of power and for political alliances.
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