Esther 2:19-23

Mordecai's discovery of the plot against the king's life

19. And when the virgins were gathered together the second time Render, Now when maidens were being gathered together a second time. There is no article attached to the word -virgins" in the original, and we have no means of knowing what kind of occasion is referred to here. It is merely a conjecture that the reference is to an effort made by the officials to supplant Esther in the king's affections by introducing to his notice such as would better support their influence. The clause is omitted in the LXX.

then Mordecai sat etc. better, perhaps, and when Mordecai was sitting etc.In this way we have another circumstantial clause, which is added to the first, and resumed in Esther 2:21. Mordecai occupied a place at the gate of the palace properly so called, or of that division of the women's apartments which was assigned to the queen herself (see on Esther 2:3), that he might utilise any opportunity which presented itself of communicating with his ward. His occupation of this subordinate position is accounted for in Esther 2:20, which is of the nature of a parenthesis.