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

Mordecai Uncovers a Conspiracy

19 When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate.(A) 20 But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.(B)

21 During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana[a] and Teresh, two of the king’s officers(C) who guarded the doorway, became angry(D) and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 22 But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. 23 And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled(E) on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals(F) in the presence of the king.(G)

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Footnotes

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