Esther 2:19

Modern

When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate.

Traditional

And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate.

Literal

And the virgins were gathered a second time, and Mordecai was sitting at the gate of the king.

Latin

Cumque secundo quærerentur virgines et congregarentur, Mardochæus manebat ad januam regis:

Hebrew

English

When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate.

When the virgins were assembled a second time: Since the queen had been chosen, the rest of the woman would join the other concubines.
Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate: Court cases and official business took place at the gate. There, Mordecai heard about the plot against the king (Esther 2:21–23).

Theme notes and profiles

Esther 2:21
In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, grew angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
Esther 2:3–4
…and let the king appoint commissioners in each province of his kingdom to assemble all the beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge of the women, and let them be given beauty treatments.
Esther 3:2–3
All the royal servants at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded that this be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage.
Esther 5:13
Yet none of this satisfies me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”

Mordecai: Esther's cousin, a Jewish leader in the Persian court