PDF  MSWord
And let the king appoint overseers in all the provinces of his kingdom so that they can gather together all the beautiful young virgins to the palace-fortress of Susa, to the house of the women, to the custody of Hegai, the king’s eunuch who is in charge of the women. Let cosmetics be given them, Bible see other translations

“palace-fortress.” See commentary on Esther 1:2.

“house of the women.” This was in keeping with the custom of keeping women’s quarters separate from where men lived and worked. The “house of the women” is the harem (the word “harem” was used both for the place where the wives lived and also for the wives themselves).

Commentary for: Esther 2:3

 
;