In the history of our fallen world, it is impossible to know how many women had fallen victim to the oppression and tyranny of kings like Ahasuerus. Esther could easily have become just another forgotten concubine in his harem.
But in God’s providence, Esther drew the attention of Hegai the eunuch. Being in charge of the harem, Hegai knew better than anyone else what kind of girl the king would be looking for.
Realizing that Esther would suit Ahasuerus’ taste, Hegai ensured that she started with her twelve months of beauty treatment immediately (see Esther 2:12). In this way, she would not meet the king when he had already set his heart on someone else. He also supplied Esther with seven maids. Whether he did this out of fondness for her or so that she would reward him for his favours when she became queen, we are not told.
9 And the young woman pleased him and won his favor. And he quickly provided her with her cosmetics and her portion of food, and with seven chosen young women from the king’s palace, and advanced her and her young women to the best place in the harem.