And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were fitting to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.
Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it. And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.
Now when every maid’s turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;) 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. In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.
Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her. So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
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Your comments and questions are welcome, even the critical ones. You can submit comments without specifying an email address (despite the fact that it indicates that an email is required). If you do, I ask that you use a fairly anonymous (benign) username. However, if there is something amiss with your anonymously submitted comment, I will not have any way of telling you what is wrong.
Bee,
When I found the photo of this young woman that I used for this image, I nearly fell out of my chair. It was exactly what I had hoped to find. Actually, it was exceedingly better than anything I had hoped to find.
I do very much hope that you see the same thing that I see when I look at the picture of this young woman. She has a striking resemblance to a special individual that I know, especially her eyes. I admit that she is not quite as fair to look upon as that special person that you and I both know, but I doubt that it is possible to find a photo of anyone that is so lovely in appearance.
Regardless, it is the countenance and the disposition of this young woman that is what I was hoping to find and is the most important aspect of the picture. This photo speaks far more than a thousand words. It reminds me of her incredible perception, her unpretentious manner, her unfaltering search for the truth, her appreciation for those things in life that are truly beautiful, her tender caring heart, her graciousness, and a thousand or more other amazing and blessed traits. When I think about her, I am reminded of how beautiful our creator is. It is only by the unmatched beauty of such a creator that He could make so remarkably beautiful a spirit and soul as hers.
I hope and pray that when she looks in the mirror that she sees all of those wonderful things that I see.
Love Always,
Dale 😊