19 (A)Now when the virgins were gathered together for the second time, then Mordecai (B)was sitting at the king’s gate. 20 (C)Esther still had not revealed her relatives or her people, just as Mordecai had instructed her; for Esther did [a]what Mordecai told her just as she had (D)when under his care.

Mordecai Saves the King

21 In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, (E)Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s officials from those who guarded the door, became angry and sought to [b]attack King Ahasuerus. 22 But the [c]plot became known to Mordecai and (F)he informed Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in Mordecai’s name. 23 Then when the plot was investigated and found to be so, they were both hanged on a wooden gallows; and it was written in (G)the Book of the Chronicles in the king’s presence.

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Footnotes

  1. Esther 2:20 Lit the command of Mordecai
  2. Esther 2:21 Or kill; lit put out a hand against
  3. Esther 2:22 Lit matter, so also v 23

19 When they gathered the young women to the second women’s house,[a] Mordecai was working for the king at the King’s Gate. 20 Esther still wasn’t telling anyone her family background and race, just as Mordecai had ordered her. She continued to do what Mordecai said, just as she did when she was in his care.

Mordecai saves the king

21 At that time, as Mordecai continued to work at the King’s Gate, two royal eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, became angry with King Ahasuerus. They were among the guards protecting the doorway to the king, but they secretly planned to kill him. 22 When Mordecai got wind of it, he reported it to Queen Esther. She spoke to the king about it, saying the information came from Mordecai. 23 The matter was investigated and found to be true, so the two men were impaled on pointed poles.[b] A report about the event was written in the royal record with the king present.

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Footnotes

  1. Esther 2:19 Or to the women’s house a second time
  2. Esther 2:23 Or hanged the two men on gallows