Mordecai Discovers a Plot

19 When virgins were gathered together a second time, Mordecai sat within the king’s gate.

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Mordecai Uncovers a Conspiracy

19 When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate.(A)

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21 In those days, while Mordecai sat within the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, [a]Bigthan and Teresh, doorkeepers, became furious and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.

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Footnotes

  1. Esther 2:21 Bigthana, Esth. 6:2

21 During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana[a] and Teresh, two of the king’s officers(A) who guarded the doorway, became angry(B) and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.

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Footnotes

  1. Esther 2:21 Hebrew Bigthan, a variant of Bigthana

and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather all the beautiful young virgins to [a]Shushan the [b]citadel, into the women’s quarters, under the custody of [c]Hegai the king’s eunuch, custodian of the women. And let beauty preparations be given them. Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.”

This thing pleased the king, and he did so.

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Footnotes

  1. Esther 2:3 Or Susa
  2. Esther 2:3 palace
  3. Esther 2:3 Heb. Hege

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. Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it.

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13 Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”

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13 But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.(A)

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And all the king’s servants who were (A)within the king’s gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai (B)would not bow or pay homage. Then the king’s servants who were within the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the (C)king’s command?”

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All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.

Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?”(A)

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