We are not told how many girls were brought to the palace, only that they were many.
Among them was Esther. For a Jewish girl with knowledge of God’s law (see Deuteronomy 17:17), this must have been a terrible situation. Whether Ahasuerus chose her as his queen or not, she would forever belong to his harem. Thus, she would live the rest of her life in a godless environment where she would have no choice but to obey orders.
8 So when the king’s order and his edict were proclaimed, and when many young women were gathered in Susa the citadel in custody of Hegai, Esther also was taken into the king’s palace and put in custody of Hegai, who had charge of the women.