Post date: Feb 22, 2011 2:3:46 AM
וַיִּיטַב הַדָּבָר בְּעֵינֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיַּעַשׂ כֵּן
Vayitav hadava b’einei hamelech vaya’as kein
(2:4)
Under the guidance of his advisors, Achashveirosh sent messengers throughout his empire to gather the most eligible maidens to take part in his "queen pageant." The prospect of becoming queen might be something that would make many people excited. However, the ramifications of not being selected (a sentence of loneliness for the rest of the girl’s life) caused many people to do their best to avoid cooperating.
The Me’am Loez tells us that there was an initial wave of messengers who simply compiled lists of the girls in each area. They told no one about the nature of their business other than that they were taking down names. They did not want to alarm anyone about the nature of their business, and sought to do so in a most inconspicuous manner. Then, a second wave of messengers rounded up the girls using the lists from the first messengers.
The king knew that it would be difficult to convince these girls to come to Shushan on their own volition. This was a pageant that few, if any, wanted to win. He also knew that even an obligatory draft had to be planned methodically, and carried out carefully lest the maidens go into hiding before they could be apprehended by the messengers.
Such was the pitiful circumstance of Achashveirosh as he sought to replace Vashti.
(Artscroll Megillah)