Esther 2:14 - In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second women’s house, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch, who kept the concubines. She came in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and she was called by name.
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What does "Esther 2:14" mean?
This verse describes the process a woman underwent after her one night with the king in the story of Esther. Let's break it down:
"In the evening she went...": This refers to the end of her one night with King Ahasuerus.
"...and on the next day she returned into the second women’s house...": After spending the night with the king, the woman didn't just go home. Instead, she was moved to another, less prestigious "house" designated for secondary wives or concubines. This indicates that even if she had slept with the king, she wasn't automatically made queen.
"...to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch, who kept the concubines.": Shaashgaz was a high-ranking servant responsible for overseeing the women in this secondary house. The fact that he was a eunuch would have been considered essential for this role, as it would negate temptation.
"She came in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and she was called by name.": This is the key point. After her initial encounter, the woman would only be summoned to the king again if he specifically requested her by name. This highlights the king's absolute power and the woman's lack of control over her fate. Being "called by name" was the only way she could return to his presence.
In essence, the verse illustrates the fate of most of the women who participated in the beauty pageant. They were taken into the king's harem as secondary wives, and their chances of seeing him again depended solely on his whim. It demonstrates the power imbalance and the women's position as objects of the king's pleasure rather than autonomous individuals. It also sets the stage for understanding Esther's unique position once she becomes queen.
Esther 2:14 - In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second women’s house, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch, who kept the concubines. She came in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and she was called by name.
What does "Esther 2:14" mean?
This verse describes the process a woman underwent after her one night with the king in the story of Esther. Let's break it down:
"In the evening she went...": This refers to the end of her one night with King Ahasuerus.
"...and on the next day she returned into the second women’s house...": After spending the night with the king, the woman didn't just go home. Instead, she was moved to another, less prestigious "house" designated for secondary wives or concubines. This indicates that even if she had slept with the king, she wasn't automatically made queen.
"...to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch, who kept the concubines.": Shaashgaz was a high-ranking servant responsible for overseeing the women in this secondary house. The fact that he was a eunuch would have been considered essential for this role, as it would negate temptation.
"She came in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and she was called by name.": This is the key point. After her initial encounter, the woman would only be summoned to the king again if he specifically requested her by name. This highlights the king's absolute power and the woman's lack of control over her fate. Being "called by name" was the only way she could return to his presence.
In essence, the verse illustrates the fate of most of the women who participated in the beauty pageant. They were taken into the king's harem as secondary wives, and their chances of seeing him again depended solely on his whim. It demonstrates the power imbalance and the women's position as objects of the king's pleasure rather than autonomous individuals. It also sets the stage for understanding Esther's unique position once she becomes queen.