Esther 2:12

“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;)”

Esther 2:12 is a verse from the Book of Esther in the Old Testament. The Book of Esther tells the story of a Jewish girl named Esther who becomes the queen of Persia and ultimately plays a crucial role in saving her people from destruction.

In this particular verse, we find ourselves in the midst of a royal selection process to find a new queen for King Ahasuerus (also known as King Xerxes). The verse describes the process that the maidens had to undergo before they could go in to the king.

Time of Preparation:Each maiden had to wait for her turn to go before the king. It says, “Now when every maid’s turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months.” This indicates that the selection process took a significant amount of time, involving a year of preparation.

Days of Purification:During this waiting period, the maidens underwent a process of purification. The verse states, “according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished).” The purpose of this purification period was to prepare the maidens for their encounter with the king.

Purification Rituals:The verse further elaborates on the purification process, stating, “to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women.” The maidens went through a six-month period of using oil of myrrh and another six-month period with various sweet odors and other purification practices.

The significance of these purification rituals is not explicitly mentioned in this verse. However, in the context of the story, it can be understood that these preparations were done to enhance the beauty and fragrance of the maidens before their presentation to the king.

Esther’s story highlights her exceptional beauty and her selection as queen, which ultimately leads to her opportunity to save her people from a plot to destroy them. This verse provides insight into the process that Esther and the other maidens went through in order to be considered for this role.

Overall, Esther 2:12 gives us a glimpse into the elaborate selection process and the importance placed on purification and preparation in the Persian court during the time of King Ahasuerus.