¹⁹ Even after all the young women had been transferred to the second harem^[a] and Mordecai had become a palace official,^{[b] 20} Esther continued to keep her family background and nationality a secret. She was still following Mordecai’s directions, just as she did when she lived in his home.

Mordecai’s Loyalty to the King

²¹ One day as Mordecai was on duty at the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthana^[c] and Teresh—who were guards at the door of the king’s private quarters—became angry at King Xerxes and plotted to assassinate him.