Jo’s Place

1098 -  Esther Becomes Queen Before each young woman was taken, to the king’s bed, she was given the prescribed …twelve months, of beauty treatments—six months, with oil of myrrh, followed by six months, with special perfumes and ointments.  When it was time, for her, to go, to the king’s palace, she was given her choice, of whatever clothing, or jewelry, she wanted to take, from the harem.  That evening, she was taken to the king’s private rooms, and the next morning, she was brought, to the second harem, where the king’s wives lived.  There, she would be under the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch, in charge of the concubines.  She would never go, to the king, again, unless he had especially enjoyed her, and requested her, by name. Esther was the daughter of Abihail, the Benjamite, who was Mordecai’s uncle.  (Mordecai had adopted his younger cousin Esther, when her parents died.)  When it was Esther’s turn, to go to the king, she accepted the advi...

Esther is Chosen by God After Xerxes’ anger had subsided, he began thinking about Vashti, and what she had done, and the decree he had made, to banish her, and he was sad because she was very beautiful.  So, his personal attendants suggested,  “Let us search the empire, to find beautiful young virgins, for the king.  Let the king appoint agents, in each province, to bring these beautiful young women, into the royal harem, at the fortress of Susa.  Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the harem, will see that they are all given beauty treatments.  After that, the young woman, who most pleases the king, will be made queen instead of Vashti.”  This advice was very appealing, to the king, so he put the plan into effect. At that time, there was a Jewish man, in the fortress of Susa, whose name was Mordecai, son of Jair.  He was from the tribe of Benjamin, and was a descendant, of Kish and Shimei.  His family had been among those, who, with Kin...

Queen Vashti lost her crown and was vanished On the seventh day of the feast, when King Xerxes was in high spirits, because of the wine, he told the seven eunuchs, who attended him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas—to bring Queen Vashti, to him, with the royal crown on her head.  He wanted the nobles, and all the other men, to gaze on her beauty, for she was a very beautiful woman.  But, when they conveyed the king’s order, to Queen Vashti, she refused to come.  This made the king furious, and he burned with anger. He immediately consulted, with his wise advisers, who knew all the Persian laws and customs, for he always asked their advice.  The names of these men were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan—seven nobles, of Persia and Media.  They met, with the king, regularly, and held the highest positions, in the empire. “What must be done to Queen Vashti?” the king demanded.  “What penalty does the l...

The King’s Banquet These events happened, in the days of King Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces, stretching from India to Ethiopia.  At that time, Xerxes ruled his empire, from his royal throne, at the fortress of Susa.  In the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet, for all his nobles and officials.  He invited all the military officers, of Persia and Media, as well as the princes and nobles, of all the provinces.  The celebration lasted 180 days—a tremendous display, of the opulent wealth, of his empire, and the pomp and splendor, of his majesty. When it was all over, the king gave a banquet, for all the people, from the greatest to the least, …who were in the fortress of Susa.  It lasted for seven days, and was held in the courtyard, of the palace garden.  The courtyard was beautifully decorated, with white cotton curtains and blue hangings, which were fastened, with white linen cords and purple ribbons, to silver rings, embedded in marble pilla...