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.
So when the king's command and order was announced, and many young women were brought together to the palace in Shushan under Hegai's care, Esther was also taken to the king's house and placed under Hegai's supervision, since he was in charge of the women.
This verse shows how Esther was swept up in the king's search for a new queen and brought to the palace along with many other young women.
📚 Historical Context
This takes place in the Persian Empire under King Ahasuerus (likely Xerxes I) around 480-470 BC. After Queen Vashti was deposed, the king ordered a kingdom-wide search for beautiful young women to find a replacement queen. Hegai was a eunuch who served as the keeper of the royal harem.
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