Esther 2

When Esther’s turn came, she won Xerxes’ favor and approval—so much so that he at once chose her to be his queen (verse 17). This all took place in the seventh year of King Xerxes’ reign, four years after he had deposed Vashti.

Mordecai Uncovers a Conspiracy (2:19–23)

19 The virgins—the beautiful unmarried girls of Persia—were assembled a second time. It seems that even after Esther had been chosen queen, there were still virgins being brought to Xerxes’ harem. However, the main point of this verse is to show that Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. The city or palace gate was a place where official business was transacted and where legal judgments were made. From this verse, we can understand that Mordecai was one of the king’s officials.

20–23 While Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, he “by chance” learned of a conspiracy to assassinate Xerxes. He immediately informed Queen Esther, who then told the king. Esther named Mordecai as the source of her information. The conspiracy proved true and the conspirators were executed; but Xerxes forgot all about rewarding Mordecai.

This incident may at first seem inconsequential; but later we shall see that it was all part of God’s plan to save the Jews from annihilation (see Esther: Introduction).