What do we learn from "uva'Zeh ha'Na'arah Ba'ah El ha'Melech"?
Vilna Gaon: If for six months he casts off all excess desires, and does good deeds, and for six months engages in Mitzvos Aseh and Lavim, then he can come to the King on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kipur to request. They will not mention his prior sins at all.
Malbim: The king did not request any attribute from the girl, only beauty and health. She comes after Yemei Merukeha, for then it is known that she is healthy. Also refer to 2:13:2:2.
What would women request and receive?
Rashi: All frivolity and kinds of song.
Alshich: She can request any pleasures or honor to accompany her to the king, e.g. girls to accompany her for her honor.
Vilna Gaon: Hashem always fulfills the desire of Tzadikim. He guards them, but not for this world. R. Chanina ben Dosa was a great Tzadik and Chasid; even so, he had to eat only in the world to come 1 . Also after death, immediately he goes from this world to the world to come, and many evil prosecutors stand on the way. Also, one must pass through Gehinom, even a total Tzadik! However, if he did like said above, they guard him so [the prosecutors] will not strike him - "Kol Asher Tomar
In this world he had only a Kav (the volume of 24 eggs) of carobs from Shabbos night to Shabbos night (Brachos 17b).
Would not most girls go willingly, for the chance be chosen to be queen?! Perhaps initially they did. However, Achashverosh chose Esther in his seventh year (16), four years after his party. Perhaps about 1,000 girls went before her. All were 'incarcerated' in Beis ha'Nashim (14; also refer to 2:14:3:1), and most were never called again. Surely, many would not want to risk this for a tiny chance that the king will pick her over all the others! (PF)
What do "Beis ha'Nashim" and "Beis ha'Melech" represent?
Vilna Gaon: They refer to this world and the world to come, respectively.
