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The maidens who were chosen were to be brought to the winter palace of the king of Persia. A place called Shushan, meaning lily, indicating that it was a city of lilies. The beauty of the lilies enhanced the city and their fragrance perfumed it. In the lily we find a symbol of true love, the agape love as found only in the Lord. Jesus is the lily of the valleys. Song 2:1 A flower noted for its whiteness (purity) and for its fragrance. Where does one become better acquainted with the Lord Jesus than when going through the valley of difficulties. His bride, His loved one also is likened to the lily for she must bear His likeness and character. How much more is her beauty enhanced as she is pictured among the thorns, the wicked and unrighteous of this world. Song 2:2.
They were gathered to the palace, to the house of the women. There were three chambers in the palace, one for the queen, one for the concubines and the room for the virgins, to which were gathered at the very least one hundred and twenty young women. They were to be under the watchful care of Hege, the eunuch, who was to be the guide and guard of the virgins. It was to be his responsibility to over see the preparation and purification of the young women. Est. 2:3 They were being prepared for marriage with the king. Do we do an injustice if we see in him a type of the Holy Spirit who is responsible for the enlightenment and purification of the bride of Christ? The Holy Spirit is the great teacher of all truth. John 14:26 He is also the manifestation of the purifying fire of the Lord. Luke 3:16 The process of purification according to the meaning of the word as found in Strongís dictionary is, scouring with soap or perfumery, figuratively, a detergent. That would make it to be a process of many washings and that with strong soap and perfumes. The Hebrew word comes from a root meaning to polish, by implication, to sharpen, rinse, to be bright, to scour. They went through a process of many days of washings. The bride of Christ will go through sanctification and cleansing by the Word of the Lord. Eph. 5:26.