Esther 2:13
when the young woman went in to the king in this way, she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It's easy to focus on the extravagance, but notice the text says whatever she desired was given. This implies the king's court was essentially offering her anything she thought would best present her to him, highlighting the immense pressure and competition of this process. This wasn't just about beauty, but about strategic self-presentation in a high-stakes game for favor.
Esther, after a year of purification and preparation within the harem, is finally presented to King Ahasuerus. This verse highlights the extravagant customs surrounding these royal presentations, where each young woman was given whatever she desired in terms of adornments or attendants to enhance her appeal before meeting the king. This lavish ritual sets the stage for Esther's interaction with the monarch, occurring within the broader context of the king seeking a new queen after Vashti's banishment.
Imagine walking into a royal palace, and being told you can have anything you want to prepare for your meeting with the king. What would you choose?
This verse reveals the incredible luxury and freedom afforded to the women chosen to meet King Ahasuerus. It wasn't just a simple meeting; it was a lavish affair.
A Spectacle of Wealth
The text states, 'whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her.' This wasn't about basic needs. Commentaries suggest this included the finest jewels, the most exquisite clothing, and opulent adornments. It was a display of the king's immense wealth and his desire to impress and, frankly, to indulge.
Strategic Provision
This wasn't random gifting. It was a calculated part of the process, designed to enhance the appeal of each young woman. The king wanted them to look their absolute best, using all the resources of the empire to do so. It underscores the king's perspective – these women were to be presented as prizes, adorned to perfection.
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Esther's journey to the king wasn't just about a beauty pageant. What was the real political and social standing of these women?
While the verse focuses on the immediate preparations, the context provided by commentators sheds light on the serious implications of meeting the king.
Beyond a Single Audience
It's crucial to understand that being 'taken to the king' wasn't a one-time event or a simple audience. As Benson and Wesley point out, 'every one whom the king took to his bed was his wife of a lower rank.' This practice was common in ancient Near Eastern royal courts.
Esther's Dignity Intact
This detail is vital for understanding Esther's situation. Commentators like Henry and Wesley emphasize that this arrangement meant Esther was not compromising her honor, even if she wasn't initially made queen. She was entering into a recognized, albeit lower-tier, marital status. This is important because it counters any suggestion that Esther was forced into a dishonorable or sinful situation simply by participating in this royal custom.
The process described in Esther 2:13 wasn't just about appearance; it was a critical part of the Persian court's protocol for selecting a queen, highlighting the blend of political maneuvering and personal selection within the empire.
c. 486 BC
Reign of Xerxes I Begins
Xerxes I, also known as Ahasuerus in the Book of Esther, ascended the throne of the Persian Empire after his father Darius the Great died. His reign would last for over two decades and would include the events described in the book.
c. 483 BC
Vashti's Refusal and Deposition
King Ahasuerus hosted a lavish banquet and, in a drunken state, ordered Queen Vashti to appear before his guests. When she refused, she was deposed as queen, setting the stage for a search for a new one.
c. 479 BC— this verse
Esther Chosen as New Queen
Following Vashti's deposition, the king ordered a search throughout the empire for beautiful young virgins to be brought to his palace. Esther, a Jewish orphan raised by Mordecai, was among those chosen and ultimately selected by the king to be his new queen.
c. 478 BC - 465 BC
Esther's Reign as Queen
Esther lived in the king's palace for several years before revealing her Jewish identity and her relationship to Mordecai. Her position as queen would prove crucial in saving her people from Haman's genocidal plot.
c. 465 BC
Reign of Artaxerxes I Begins
Xerxes I was assassinated, and his son Artaxerxes I ascended to the Persian throne. Esther and Mordecai's influence likely continued during this transition, though the book of Esther primarily focuses on Xerxes' reign.
This passage shows a similar provision of gifts and resources for Rebekah as she was brought to Isaac, highlighting a pattern of generosity accompanying important unions.
Song of Solomon 1:10-11The adornment and praise for the beloved's beauty in this song echo the lavish preparations and desires granted to the maidens, emphasizing the pursuit of beauty and favor.
1 Corinthians 7:34While contrasting with the worldly pursuits here, this verse speaks of undivided devotion to the Lord, offering a spiritual perspective on how our desires and focus should be directed.
Proverbs 31:31This verse celebrates the 'reward' of a virtuous woman, drawing a parallel to the positive outcomes and recognition granted to women who presented themselves well, though in Esther's case, it was in a very different context.
bensonEsther 2:13: "Then thus came every 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."
Esther 2:13 . Thus came every maiden unto the king — Thus purified and prepared, and thus furnished and attended, as it follows. Whatsoever she desired was given her — For ornament, or by way of attendance. And it should be observed, that every one whom the king took to his bed was his wife of a lower rank, as Hagar was Abraham’s; so…
clarkeEsther 2:13: "Then thus came every 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."
Whatsoever she desired - When any of the young women were called to go to the king, it appears that it was an ordinance that whatever kind of dress stuff, color, jewels, etc., they thought best to set off their persons, and render them more engaging, should be given them.
It's easy to focus on the extravagance, but notice the text says whatever she desired was given. This implies the king's court was essentially offering her anything she thought would best present her to him, highlighting the immense pressure and competition of this process. This wasn't just about beauty, but about strategic self-presentation in a high-stakes game for favor.
Esther, after a year of purification and preparation within the harem, is finally presented to King Ahasuerus. This verse highlights the extravagant customs surrounding these royal presentations, where each young woman was given whatever she desired in terms of adornments or attendants to enhance her appeal before meeting the king. This lavish ritual sets the stage for Esther's interaction with the monarch, occurring within the broader context of the king seeking a new queen after Vashti's banishment.
Esther, after a year of purification and preparation within the harem, is finally presented to King Ahasuerus. This verse highlights the extravagant customs surrounding these royal presentations, where each young woman was given whatever she desired in terms of adornments or attendants to enhance her appeal before meeting the king. This lavish ritual sets the stage for Esther's interaction with the monarch, occurring within the broader context of the king seeking a new queen after Vashti's banishment.
"when the young woman went in to the king in this way, she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace." — It's easy to focus on the extravagance, but notice the text says whatever she desired was given. This implies the king's court was essentially offering her anything she thought would best present h…
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