Esther 2:19

Mordecai Uncovers a Conspiracy

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

Esther 2:19 in Other Translations

19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.

19 Now when the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate.

19 Even after all the young women had been transferred to the second harem and Mordecai had become a palace official,

19 On one of the occasions when the virgins were being gathered together, Mordecai was sitting at the King's Gate.

19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai was sitting in the king's gate.

19 When the virgins were gathered a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate.

19 When the young women were assembled together for a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the King's Gate.

19 The virgins were gathered together a second time. At that time Mordecai was sitting at the palace gate.

Esther 2:19 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 2:19

And when the virgins were gathered together the second time,
&c.] Some think this second collection is that which was made when Esther was taken and brought to the keeper of the women, called the second, in reference to a former collection of them, made when Vashti was taken and made queen; but as there is no proof of any such collection then made, rather the case was this, such was the lust of the king, though he had a queen he loved, and a multitude of concubine's, yet a second collection of virgins was made for his gratification:

then Mordecai sat in the king's gate;
or court, being an officer in it, promoted by the interest of Esther, though not as yet known to be a relation of her's: so (yura) in Xenophon ^F26 is used of the court of the king of Persia, as the Ottoman or Turkish court is now called the "Porte".

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FOOTNOTES:

F26 Cyropaedia, l. 8. c. 2, 5, 11, 40.

Esther 2:19 In-Context

17 Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

18 And the king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality.

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

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.

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

Cross References

• 1. ver 21; Esther 3:2; Esther 4:2; Esther 5:13