Esther 2:19

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

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".

---

FOOTNOTES:

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

Esther 2:19 In-Context

17 And the king was pleased with Esther more than with any of the other girls. He liked her more than any of the other girls, so he put a royal crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti.

18 Then the king gave a great banquet for Esther and invited all his important men and royal officers. He announced a holiday for all the empire and had the government give away gifts.

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

20 Esther still had not told anyone about her family or who her people were, just as Mordecai had commanded her. She obeyed Mordecai just as she had done when she was under his care.

21 Now Bigthana and Teresh were two of the king's officers who guarded the doorway. While Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate, they became angry and began to make plans to kill King Xerxes.