Esther 2:19-23

Expanded Bible

Mordecai Discovers an Evil Plan

¹⁹ Now Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate [^Can indication he was likely a government official] when the girls were ·gathered the second time [or transferred to the second harem; or gathered again]. ²⁰ Esther still had not told anyone about ·who her people were [her kindred/lineage] or her ·family [people; nationality], just as Mordecai had ·commanded [instructed] her. She ·obeyed Mordecai [followed Mordecai’s instructions] just as she had done when ·she was under his care [he was raising her].

²¹ Now Bigthana and Teresh were two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the ·doorway [entrance; ^Lthreshold]. While Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, they became angry and ·began to make plans [plotted; conspired] to ·kill [assassinate; ^Lsend a hand against] King ·Xerxes [^LAhasuerus]. ²² But Mordecai found out about their ·plans [plot] and told Queen Esther. Then Esther told the king ·how Mordecai had discovered the evil plan [^Lin Mordecai’s name]. ²³ When the report was investigated, it was found to be ·true [so], and ·the two officers who had planned to kill the king [^Lthey both] were ·hanged [impaled; ^Con a stake or sharpened pole, a common form of execution]. All this was written down in the ·daily court record [book of the annals/chronicles] in the king’s presence.