Mordecai Discovers a Plot

19 Now when the virgins were gathered together (A)the second time, Mordecai was sitting (B)at the king's gate. 20 (C)Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just (D)as when she was brought up by him. 21 In those days, as Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate, (E)Bigthan and (F)Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 22 And this came to the knowledge of Mordecai, (G)and he told it to Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai. 23 When the affair was investigated and found to be so, the men were both hanged on the gallows.[a] And it was recorded in (H)the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.

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Footnotes

  1. Esther 2:23 Or wooden beam or stake; Hebrew tree or wood. This Persian execution practice involved affixing or impaling a person on a stake or pole (compare Ezra 6:11)

Mordecai Discovers a Plot

19 When the virgins were being gathered together,[a] Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. 20 Now Esther had not revealed her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had charged her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him.(A) 21 In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the threshold, became angry and conspired to kill[b] King Ahasuerus.(B) 22 But the matter came to the knowledge of Mordecai, and he told it to Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai.(C) 23 When the affair was investigated and found to be so, both men were hung on the pole. It was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. 2.19 Heb adds a second time
  2. 2.21 Heb to lay hands on