The Bible In Paintings, #166: ESTHER - IN THE HAREM, IN THE BED

Bing Images ^ | c.2200 BC - c.95 AD | by the Father, Son & Holy Spirit

[Hebrews 11:6]

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ESTHER:

IN THE

HAREM

& THE BED

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ESTHER
2
New International Version, emphases added
Abrdgd: the complete text is in your Bible


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C L I C K :

To read ESTHER 2 in full
To hear MAX McLEAN reading it
To hear a DRAMATIZATION of it
HIGHLY recommended by Maudeen!
To see an ANIMATION of Esther

4 8 3
B. C.

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CHAPTER 2

1 Later when King Xerxes’ fury had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what he had decreed about her. 2 Then the king’s personal attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king. 3 Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them. 4 Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it.

5 Now there was in the citadel of Susa a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai, 6 who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, among those taken captive with Jehoiachin king of Judah. 7 Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.

8 When the king’s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem. 9 She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem.

10 Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so. 11 Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.

12 Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. 13 And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace. 14 In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name.

15 When the turn came for Esther (the young woman Mordecai had adopted) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. 16 She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

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1 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by DORIEL MACKAY FELKER
"Queen Esther, a Hebrew Israelite Handmaiden"

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2 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
"Esther's Toilet in the Harem of Ahasuerus"

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3 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by THÉODORE CHASSÉRIAU
"The Toilette of Esther"

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4 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by JACQUES DE TROY
"La Toilette d'Esther" – Tapestry

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5 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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6 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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7 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by ARTHUR SZYK
"Esther in the King’s Harem"

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8 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by HERMANN ANSCHUTZ
"Esther"

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9 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by JEAN-FRANÇOIS PORTAELS, 1869
"Esther"

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10 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by EDWIN LONG, 1878
"Queen Esther"

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11 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by FRANÇOIS-LÉON BENOUVILLE, 1844
"Esther"

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12 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by LILIAN BROCA
"Queen Esther"

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13 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by RADBOD COMMANDEUR
The Dormition Church, Jerusalem, Israel
"Esther"

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14 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
at Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois, Paris, France

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15 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
at Cathédrale Saint-Front, Dordogne, France
"Esther"

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16 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
at Cathedral of Saint Mary of the
Immaculate Conception, Peoria, Illinois
"Esther"

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17 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by VIKTOR ALEXEEVICH BOBROV
"Esther"

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18 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by RAE CHICHILNITSKY
"Queen Esther"

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19 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by BRACHA LAVEE
"Esther"

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20 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by EGBERT MODDERMAN
"Esther"

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21 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by KATE GARDINER HASTINGS
"Esther"

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22 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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23mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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24mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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25mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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26mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source
by JOHN FREDERICK LEWIS
"The Reception"

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→ a n d…. f i n a l l y ←

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27 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Image Source

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֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎
֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎

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Preview of
COMING
ATTRACTIONS

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SNEAK PEEK: Next time,
ESTHER, THE
NEW QUEEN

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֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎
֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎ ֎

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R E S O U R C E S

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If you'd like to see for yourself the Bing page
which yielded most of the works above, here is the link:

Esther in the Harem

Image Sources are provided for most individual works.
Where no attribution appears below a work,
the source did not provide the artist's name.
Works are numbered to facilitate your commenting.

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Links to three masters who painted Biblical scenes prolifically:

REMBRANDT HARMENSZOON van RIJN

GUSTAV DORÉ
241 wood engravings for
La Grande Bible de Tours

JAMES TISSOT
180 watercolors depicting Bible scenes

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Links to two Bibles with comprehensive illustrations:

The Art Bible (1896)

The Maciejowski-Morgan Bible (c.1245)

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This series keeps moving from one Bible passage to another,
so here is a fascinating and enjoyable link to assist in following along:
BIBLE TIMELINE

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Here are links to the
PREVIOUS 165 POSTS IN THIS SERIES
with descriptive titles to assist you in finding those which interest you

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Finally, what God did to initiate The Bible In Paintings:
HOW GOD STARTED THIS SERIES
BY SHOWING ME JUST ONE PICTURE

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SPECIAL THANKS
to FReeper left that other site,
who allowed God to make her His conduit
for incomparable enthusiasm, encouragement,
education, advice and technical assistance!

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NOTES ON MY SELECTION CRITERIA

A r t Q u a l i t y

The Bible and its Author are my focus, not the art: this is The Bible in Paintings, not "Great Paintings" nor even "Good Paintings." So, works need not be masterpieces to qualify for inclusion here—they don't need to be housed at the Louvre nor auctioned by Sotheby's. They only need to illustrate successfully some aspect of the Biblical text or, frankly, just tickle my fancy, which I'm always asking the Holy Spirit to guide.

Often, artists misrepresent the Scripture, but unless the error is material, licentious or heretical I usually include the artwork, trusting that the Spirit is perfectly capable of defending Himself. So, with such forgiving filters, it means that you're seeing practically everything I'm finding.

T e x t S e q u e n c i n g

The Protestant Canon does not (for several reasons) follow a strictly chronological sequence. There are many examples where, for God's good purposes, stories are told out-of-order. Nevertheless, for the sake of simplicity, clarity, and my sanity, I have chosen to proceed linearly and methodically from Genesis onward, illustrating each Bible passage as we come to it. Where two passages cover the same incident I omit the second telling, excepting the four Gospels which I will treat synoptically. Now, onward!

P a c i n g

The pace here may seem appallingly snail-like to those eager to see their favorite events illustrated. My commission is to search for art on each Bible passage in sequence: if I find enough, then it becomes the next installment, even if undramatic (but where there is little or no art, that Bible passage goes untold here).

Then, there is the human element: this is not actually a daily series, because I can only research, compose, edit and post five or six of these installments weekly. And because I only get to do this series once, I'm taking my time, chiefly by posting everything; if I find lots of art, I don't cherry-pick some and discard the rest. Rather, I line up all of them and then sort them into manageable bunches, often resulting in multiple days' episodes of the same story. Obviously, I like being thorough. Were you in a big hurry?

The Bible is a thick book, as you know; but we'll get there eventually, Lord willing—this is His project, after all. And always remember:
love, joy, peace, patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control is a fruit of the Spirit!

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Art is merely the Toy Department of Bible study,
so I'm just having fun here—I hope you are, too!
Thank you for your understanding.

Hebrews 11:6
Dan Lewis
DodgerDan
'55 '59 '63 '65 '81 '88 '20

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[Hebrews 11:6]

At the Holy Spirit's prompting, I am surveying "Bible art" to give God glory, as many of these artists have done, and for my own amusement and learning; and I thought others might enjoy it and be blessed by it, too. My plan is to proceed methodically from left-to-right, Genesis to Revelation, as the Lord wills. Back soon with another.

The Bible encourages us to meditate on it (Ps. 1:1-3, 119:11-16, etc.); these artists have done so, and their works can assist us and enrich our own thoughts about biblical characters, incidents and concepts, and increase our faith in He who is behind it all. As you encounter and consider these images and the related Scriptures and the Spirit enlightens your understanding, please share it with us!

But it is not only oil-on-canvas that can so help us; I refer to the astonishing video series The Chosen, which strolls through the four Gospels at the most leisurely pace. The eight episodes of Season 1 are finished, and the second of a planned seven seasons is being filmed right now. I say "leisurely" because after an entire year's viewing Jesus still has only seven of the apostles (although He's preparing to call up Thomas from the minor leagues--but Thomas is skeptical, of course). Anticipating a canvas of fifty-plus hours instead of a movie's paltry two hours, The Chosen turns the characters (especially including Jesus!) into three-dimensional humans and brings the Gospels alive--you have never seen anything even remotely like it! Here is the Official Trailer.

Here is a link for free viewing of The Chosen: "Works with your phone, tablet, and you can cast to your Roku or Chromecast." Last fall I paid $34.98 for DVDs and ongoing internet access—best 35 bucks I've ever spent (I don't recall how much our marriage license cost, but then it was 43 years ago).

[Hebrews 11:6]

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P r e s e n t e d . . F o r . . Y o u r

CONSIDERATION

ENJOYMENT

& BLESSING

[Red Badger]

[Hebrews 11:6]

From the sublime to the ridiculous....

[CharlesOConnell]

Why do you post salacious material? Queen Esther was a Saint.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Assuming your reference is to the pictures of her toilette, rather than to her presence in the harem generally, which itself violates the Seventh Commandment and is an integral part of a "salacious" biblical narrative with which this "saint" cooperated fully, Esther is singled out in the text for her physical attributes ("had a lovely figure and was beautiful") which contributed substantially to her selection to the harem in the first place and ultimately by the king as his new queen. I merely illustrated the text.

You will be glad to learn, I expect, that this constitutes the entirety of my illustration of Esther's sexual conquest of Ahasuerus and that no pictures follow illustrating their conjugal sexual relationship.

[left that other site]

Aunt Esther registers her disapproval of some of today’s paintings! LOL.

[etabeta]

Thank you for that beautiful mosaic at #13 and for the stained glass windows.

[Hebrews 11:6]

I agree with Aunt Esther’s disapproval but felt called to post them regardless.

[Hebrews 11:6]

If you click “Image Source” on #12, you’ll find her interesting series of mosaics on Esther.

[left that other site]

LOL! :-)

[ibheath]

Please add me to your ping list.

Thank you,
Ibheath

[left that other site]

In nursing, we have an acronym for “Activities Of Daily Living”, called “ADL’s”. This includes bathing, teeth-brushing, dressing, hair care, and general grooming.

Unfortunately the French word for ADL’s is “Toilette” from which we get the English word “Toilet”, the famous bathroom fixture that goes by more rude names because of its function.

Unfortunately Victorian Artists still used the word “Toilet” to mean “ADL’s”, thus creating hilarity among art students to this very day.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Very pleased to add you, ibheath! Please note that this is not actually a daily series—I can only manage five or six posts weekly—so don't take it amiss when a day goes by with no ping.

My hope for these threads is that the Lord will use them to bring every viewer closer to Him, through His Word and the art.

On three occasions I have solicited help from all the Ping-Listers: once for a brief survey of their recommendations, again for advice, and most recently for prayer over a new challenge I was facing. I expect I’ll need to do that again, so this is fair warning.

Finally, please feel free to join our discussion, as the Holy Spirit prompts you. As you can see on today's thread, we are frank and forthright.

Dan

[Hebrews 11:6]

Art students are easily amused, it seems, perhaps part of what appears to be a general lowering of standards, if their predilection for soft-porn is any indication (seems like Alba complained about that recently, or perhaps Pat or Debbie). A libertine bunch...but don’t take that personally!

[left that other site]

Well I’m not an art student anymore, so no offense taken.

I am, however, an Art Teacher, and we’re even WORSE! :-)

[Hebrews 11:6]

Thanks for the warning. And here you’d seemed so innocuous! But forewarned is forearmed: I’ll keep my guard up and move continuously. You can’t hit what you can’t catch.

[left that other site]

LOL!

[etabeta]

Never complained about anything you post, Dan. I take the good, the mediocre, the bad, without judgement. If you want me to verbally express my disgust for art just name that monstrosity Pope Frankie had the audacity to put in St. Peter’s square as the official Vatican Nativity. Never seen anything so inappropriate and disgusting for that sacred and wondrous moment for Christianity.

[Hebrews 11:6]

If pressed to name my favorite picture on this post, and essentially I have been, it would indeed be #3, Chassériau's nude of Esther. She literally slept her way, à la Kamala, to the Queenship as part of the debauched king's demonic lottery.

The point is: SHE DID NOT NEED TO COOPERATE! Like Bathsheba, like Rahab, like Sarah in offering her servant, she willingly acceded to, and thus promoted, man's basest drive. Yes, it was a patriarchal culture, but God transcends culture. That picture, in my view, forces us to focus on this otherwise-unstated issue.

As it does so often when relating these real-life stories, the Bible leaves it to us to ponder on God's truths. Why, when the Gentile Ruth was so desperate, didn't she simply offer herself to the fieldhands? Now there is a woman who earned her crown in Jesus' ancestry. Rahab came around, and she's in it, too.

Esther finally shaped up, too, so we have her story, and some now call her "saint." But let's not forget how it began.