Esther 2:12-14

C. Season of Preparation

TEXT: Esther 2:12-14

12

Now when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that it had been done to her according to the law for the women twelve months, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors and with the things for the purifying of the women,)

13

then in this wise came the maiden unto the king: whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.

14

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, who kept the concubines; she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and she were called by name.

Today's English Version, Esther 2:12-14

The regular beauty treatment for the women lasted a yearmassages with oil of myrrh for six months and with oil of balsam for six more. After that, each girl would be taken in turn to King Xerxes. When she went from the harem to the palace, she could wear whatever she wanted. She would go there in the evening, and the next morning she would be taken to another harem and put in the care of Shaashgaz, the eunuch in charge of the king's concubines. She would not go to the king again unless he liked her enough to ask for her by name.

COMMENTS

Esther 2:12 Purification: We have already discussed the reasons for the purification process (cf. Esther 2:3). Some presume another reason for such rites stems from the idea that Persian emperors considered themselves divine. They believed that such deity was resident in them that even pure maidens had to be purified ceremonially before approaching their emperor. We do not think it had anything to do with religion at all. It probably had to do with training in Persian customs. Daniel spent his quarantine in Babylon becoming learned in all the wisdom and laws of Babylon. This may have been one of the purposes of the purifications for these maidens. The law for the women is the word dath already discussed (Esther 1:13-15).

Myrrh is from the Hebrew word mor. It is from a small tree growing in Arabia; the gum resin exudes in small tear-like drops which dry to a rich brown or reddish-yellow, brittle substance, with a faint though agreeable smell and a warm, bitter taste. The Hebrew word mor means a bitter weeping, or drops of bitterness. Oil of myrrh was probably used as a cosmetic in this Persian law for purification. It may have even been used medicinally, for it was used that way at other times (it was offered to Jesus at His crucifixion as an anesthesia). It is quite likely that some of the fair young maidens there at that time had come from homes that were none too clean or sanitary. The time period for the purifications consisted first of six months application or oil of myrrh plus six months application of sweet odors. The Hebrew text has two interesting words here; the first is basam which refers to the balsam-tree or is translated spice in Song of Solomon 5:1; the second word comes from the Hebrew root maraq and means, cleansing or rubbing with precious perfumes. For one whole year there was a process of cosmetic, medicinal and dietary preparation of every young girl brought into the emperor's harem.

Esther 2:13-14 Presentation: After a full year of preparation, each maiden was granted the opportunity to make her own presentation before the emperor as favorable as she was able. Whatsoever she desired was given her probably means she could wear any dress in the harem wardrobes, and adorn herself with any of the jewelry available there. The emperor wished each maiden to appear as alluring and as desirable as possible.

Each maiden, in the turn appointed her, presented herself before the emperor in the evening, stayed with the emperor that night, and returned on the next day to the second house of the women. The Persian emperor's harem was apparently divided into three houses: (1) a royal residence for the queen; (2) a house for the women (secondary wives or concubines); and (3) a house for the virgins. On returning from her first visit to the emperor's chambers, a girl ordinarily returned to the second house because she was no longer a virgin. It must be assumed that the emperor's purpose in keeping these virgins over night in his chambers was sexual intercourse. The second house was under the supervision of Shaashgaz, another of the emperor's eunuchs. Once a maiden had been granted her night with the emperor, she was never permitted to be in his royal chambers again unless the emperor called for her by name. If a young virgin was not chosen as queen, she returned to the harem of concubines for the rest of her life. They were virtual prisoners. They would never be allowed to return to the world outside the palace and marry after consorting with the emperor for that would be degrading to the sovereignty and glory of the emperor.