Discovery BoxEsther 2:21-23 
Context2:21 In those days while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan 1 and Teresh, 2 two of the king’s eunuchs who protected the entrance, 3 became angry and plotted to assassinate 4 King Ahasuerus. 2:22 When Mordecai learned of the conspiracy, 5 he informed Queen Esther, 6 and Esther told the king in Mordecai’s behalf. 7 2:23 The king then had the matter investigated and, finding it to be so, had the two conspirators 8 hanged on a gallows. 9 It was then recorded in the daily chronicles in the king’s presence.
1 tn This individual is referred to as “Bigthana,” a variant spelling of the name, in Esth 6:2.
2 tc The LXX does not include the names “Bigthan and Teresh” here.
3 tn Heb “guarders of the threshold”; NIV “who guarded the doorway.”
4 tn Heb “sought to send a hand against”; CEV “decided to kill.”
5 sn The text of Esther does not disclose exactly how Mordecai learned about the plot against the king’s life. Ancient Jewish traditions state that Mordecai overheard conspiratorial conversation, or that an informant brought this information to him, or that it came to him as a result of divine prompting. These conjectures are all without adequate support from the biblical text. The author simply does not tell the source of Mordecai’s insight into this momentous event.
6 tc The LXX simply reads “Esther” and does not include “the queen.”
7 tc The LXX adds here “the things concerning the plot.”
tn Heb “in the name of Mordecai” (so NRSV); NIV “giving credit to Mordecai.”
8 tn Heb “they both were hanged.” The referent (the two eunuchs who conspired against the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
9 tn Or “on a pole”; KJV, ASV “on a tree.”
