Esther 2:19 (DRB)

Passage

And when the virgins were sought the second time, and gathered together, Mardochai stayed at the king's gate,

Nearby Context

Esther 2:17 And the king loved her more than all the women, and she had favour and kindness before him above all the women, and he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vasthi.

Esther 2:18 And he commanded a magnificent feast to be prepared for all the princes, and for his servants, for the marriage and wedding of Esther. And he gave rest to all the provinces, and bestowed gifts according to princely magnificence.

Esther 2:19 And when the virgins were sought the second time, and gathered together, Mardochai stayed at the king's gate,

Esther 2:20 Neither had Esther as yet declared her country and people, according to his commandment. For whatsoever he commanded, Esther observed: and she did all things in the same manner as she was wont at that time when he brought her up a little one.

Esther 2:21 At that time, therefore, when Mardochai abode at the king's gate, Bagathan and Thares, two of the king's eunuchs, who were porters, and presided in the first entry of the palace, were angry: and they designed to rise up against the king, and to kill him.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "virgins", "sought", "second", "time", "gathered", "together", "mardochai", and "stayed". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "virgins" and "sought", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 18's "And he commanded a magnificent feast to..." into verse 20's "Neither had Esther as yet declared her...", so "virgins" and "sought" belong inside that flow. In Esther context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "virgins" and "sought" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.