So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and decree was
 heard
 In the several provinces of his kingdom: 
 and when many maidens were gathered unto Shushan the palace, to the
 custody of Hegai;
 Josephus F15 says, there were gathered to the number of four hundred: 
 that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of
 Hegai, the keeper of the women:
 by force, as Aben Ezra and the former Targum, and so the word is sometimes used.