This verse is taken from the Book of Esther in the Bible. It describes a pivotal moment in the story where King Ahasuerus (also known as Xerxes) of Persia is searching for a new queen after his previous queen, Vashti, was banished for disobeying him.

Here's a breakdown of the verse:

"Let the woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti." - This is the decree that guides the selection process. The king's advisors suggest a beauty contest where the most beautiful and appealing women in the kingdom are gathered. The woman who most captivates the king's attention and favor will become the new queen, replacing the banished Vashti. This highlights the king's absolute power and the objectification of women in the court.

"This thing pleased the king; and he did so." - This indicates that the king found the suggestion to hold a beauty contest agreeable. He liked the idea and authorized the implementation of the plan. This demonstrates his willingness to follow the advice of his advisors, particularly when it catered to his desires. The "doing so" refers to initiating the process of gathering beautiful women from across the kingdom to present themselves to the king.

In essence, this verse sets the stage for Esther's story. It shows the context of how Esther, a Jewish woman, comes to be in the position to become queen and ultimately save her people from annihilation.