Esther 2:13-23

13 then in this wise came the maiden to the king: whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women to the king's house.

14 In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Sha`ashgaz, the king's chamberlain, who kept the concubines: she came in to the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and she were called by name.

15 Now when the turn of Ester, the daughter of Avichayil the uncle of Mordekhai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. Ester obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked at her.

16 So Ester was taken to king Achashverosh into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tevet, in the seventh year of his reign.

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.

22 The thing became known to Mordekhai, who shown it to Ester the queen; and Ester told the king [of it] in Mordekhai's name.

23 When inquisition was made of the matter, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.

Esther 2:13-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ESTHER 2

By the advice of the ministers of King Ahasuerus, fair virgins were sought for throughout his dominions, and brought to his chamberlain, the keeper of the women, among whom was Esther, a Jewish virgin, Es 2:1-8, who found favour with the chamberlain, and afterwards with the king, who made her queen instead of Vashti, and a feast on that account, Es 2:9-18. Mordecai, to whom Esther was related, and according to whose advice she acted, sitting in the king's gate, discovered a conspiracy against the king, which he now made known to Esther, Es 2:19-23.