Hegai

Hegai is the king's chamberlain in the Persian court of Ahasuerus, charged with the keeping of the women gathered to the palace at Shushan during the search that brings Esther to the throne.

Keeper of the Women

The royal commissioners are to bring "all the fair young virgins to Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, to the custody of Hegai the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women" (Esth 2:3). When the gathering takes place, "Esther was taken into the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women" (Esth 2:8).

His Counsel to Esther

When Esther's turn comes to go in to the king, she relies entirely on Hegai's judgment about what to take with her: "she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked on her" (Esth 2:15). His office places him at the practical center of the procedure that issues in Esther's favor before the king.