Esther 2:19

19 When the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordekhai was sitting in the king's 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 The king loved Ester above all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

18 Then the king made a great feast to all his princes and his servants, even Ester's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the bounty of the king.

19 When the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordekhai was sitting in the king's gate.

20 Ester had not yet made known her relatives nor her people; as Mordekhai had charged her: for Ester did the mitzvah of Mordekhai, like as when she was brought up with him.

21 In those days, while Mordekhai was sitting in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those who kept the threshold, were angry, and sought to lay hands on the king Achashverosh.