Esther 2:21

2:21 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.

Esther 3:6

3:6 But the thought of striking out against ⁵  Mordecai alone was repugnant to him, for he had been informed ⁶  of the identity of Mordecai’s people. ⁷  So Haman sought to destroy all the Jews (that is, the people of Mordecai) ⁸  who were in all the kingdom of Ahasuerus.

Esther 6:2

6:2 it was found written that Mordecai had disclosed that Bigthana ⁹  and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, had plotted to assassinate ¹⁰  King Ahasuerus.

Esther 9:2

9:2 The Jews assembled themselves in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to strike out against those who were seeking their harm. No one was able to stand before them, for dread of them fell on all the peoples.

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 tn Heb “to send a hand against”; KJV, NRSV “to lay hands on.”

⁶ tn Heb “they had related to him.” For stylistic reasons this has been translated as a passive construction.

⁷ tc The entire first half of the verse is not included in the LXX.

⁸ tc This parenthetical phrase is not included in the LXX. Some scholars emend the MT reading עַם (’am, “people”) to עִם (’im, “with”), arguing that the phrase is awkwardly placed and syntactically inappropriate. While there is some truth to their complaint, the MT makes sufficient sense to be acceptable here, and is followed by most English versions.

⁹ tn This individual is referred to as “Bigthan,” a variant spelling of the name, in Esth 2:21.

¹⁰ tn Heb “to send a hand against”; NASB “had sought to lay hands on.”