“After these things, the anger of King Artaxerxes abated. He remembered Queen Vashti. He remembered what she had done, and what had been decreed against her. Then the king’s servants said.

‘Let beautiful and virtuous girls be sought out for the king.

Let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom.

They shall select beautiful young virgins.

Let them be brought to the harem in Susa the capital.

Let them be entrusted to the king’s eunuch.

He is in charge of the women.

Let ointments be given them.

Let whatever else they need be given to them.

Let the woman who pleases the king

Let her be queen instead of Queen Vashti.’

This pleased the king. Thus he did so.”

Now we get to the practical problem. King Artaxerxes is no longer upset. He had condemned Queen Vashti, without saying what her punishment was. King Henry VIII of England started beheading his queens that he did not like. Nothing is mentioned here by way of punishment except that she will be dethroned. The king’s servants or advisors came up with an idea. Like Donald Trump, they would have a Miss Universe pageant. He appointed officers in all the provinces to select beautiful young women to send to the capital city of Susa. They would then be in the king’s harem, under the supervision of a eunuch, a castrated man. There they would be given perfume and whatever else they needed. Finally, the king would be a panel of one, like “The Bachelor” to decide who should take the place of Queen Vashti. The king as usual said that this was a good idea.