“IN THE THIRD YEAR OF HIS REIGN, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:” Esther 1:3 (KJV) [Emphasis mine]
The king was three years on the throne, when he had the feast that led to the dismissal of Vashti. Few weeks/months after this event, the king missed his divorced wife greatly, and a beauty contest was thus organised to choose another queen. Many virgins gathered from various places and were brought into the hand of Hegai, the king’s chamberlain in charge of the women. The Bible says:
“NOW WHEN EVERY MAID’S TURN WAS TO COME TO GO IN TO THE 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;)” Esther 2:12 (KJV) [Emphasis mine]
It means each maid must spend twelve months, at least, in the hands of the beautician called Hegai, before she could meet the king for a night.
“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…”
“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.” Est. 2:13-16 [Emphasis mine]
It did not come to Esther’s turn until the seventh year of the reign of king Ahasuerus. The implication of this is that, Esther spent three extra years, after the expiration of the mandatory one year treatment, before she could meet the king for a night. It was a long nerve-shattering and hope-dimming waiting! But Esther held on! She did not falter. Her hope remained bright for those years!
However, those three extra years of waiting, exposed her to extra lessons from Hegai, that won her the crown!
Though the other maidens, whose turn came immediately after their mandatory one year purification exercise, were also prepared by the same Hegai, but the difference is that they were not as fully prepared for the king, as Esther was! Do you think you are wasting away by waiting for your turn to come? NO!!! However, learn all the lessons you need to learn while you are waiting!
Remember that there was none of those who went ahead of Esther that got the crown! Nobody can take your place! Relax!
Shalom!
In HIS grip,
Segun Ariyo.
Segun Ariyo.
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