The Story - Chapter 20 - Esther 2

This is a disturbing chapter, especially if you are the parent of a girl.  This chapter also reveals just how lowly a female was regarded.  When the king sobered up and realized what he had done (it took him 4 years), he decided it was time to look for a new queen.

Esther 2:2-4 (NIV)
"Then the king's personal attendants proposed, "Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king. Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful girls into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king's eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them. Then let the girl who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti." This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it." 

It seems there are always people waiting to give advice to a king.  One would think that if they were in a kingly position they could make a few wise decisions on their own, but not true.  Maybe there is a reason for this; perhaps the kings wanted to be sure there was a scapegoat should their decisions and choices prove wrong.

Imagine the horror the families of these young girls, who were commandeered for the king, experienced.  Their little girls were hauled off to the palace to serve at the pleasure of the king.  If the king wasn't pleased, the girls were cast aside.  Doesn't this remind you of sex trafficking? If we are outraged when reading this chapter in Esther, should we be even more so when we hear of such happenings in society today?


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Read Esther 2 here

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