Esther 2:18-23

18 And he commanded a full worshipful feast to be made ready to all his princes and servants, for the joining together and the weddings of Esther; and he gave rest, that is, (the) releasing of tribute, to all provinces, and gave gifts, after the worshipful doing of a prince. (And he commanded that a large feast be prepared for all his princes, or his leaders, and his servants in honour of Esther, and their joining together by their wedding; and he gave rest, that is, an amnesty from taxation, to all his provinces, and also gifts worthy of a king.)
19 And when (the) virgins were sought also the second time, and were gathered together, Mordecai dwelled at the gate of the king. (And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai sat at the king's gate./And meanwhile Mordecai was in attendance at the royal court.)
20 And Esther had not yet showed her country and her people, by the behest of Mordecai; for-why whatever thing he commanded, Esther kept, and she did so then all things, as she was wont (to) in that time, in which he nourished her (as) a little child. (And Esther had not yet declared her kindred or her people, by Mordecai's command; for whatever thing he commanded, Esther did it, as she had always done, from the time in which he nurtured her as a young child.)
21 Then in that time, wherein Mordecai dwelled at the gate of the king, Bigthan(a) and Teresh, two servants of the king, were wroth (against the king), that were porters, and sat in the first threshold of the palace; and they would rise (up) against the king, and slay him. (Now one day, when Mordecai was in attendance at the royal court, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who were guards, or doorkeepers, guarding the first threshold of the palace, became hostile toward the king, and plotted to kill him.)
22 Which thing was not hid from Mordecai, and anon Mordecai told this to the queen Esther, and she told it to the king, in the name of Mordecai, that had told that thing to her. (And this thing was not hid from Mordecai, who at once told this to Queen Esther, and she told it to the king, in the name of Mordecai, who had told that thing to her.)
23 And it was sought, and it was found sooth, and either of them was hanged in a gibbet; and this was commanded to be written in [the] stories, and it was betaken to the books of [the] years, before the king. (And it was sought into, and found to be true, and both of the guards were hanged on the gallows; and all of this was commanded to be written down in The Books of the Years, that is, in The Official Annals, in the sight of the king.)

Esther 2:18-23 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.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.