Esther 2:21-23

Esther 2:21-23

[21] In those days,  while Mordecai  sat  in the king's  gate,  two  of the king's  chamberlains,  Bigthan  and Teresh,  of those which kept  the door,  were wroth,  and sought  to lay  hand  on the king  Ahasuerus.  [22] And the thing  was known  to Mordecai,  who told  it unto Esther  the queen;  and Esther  certified  the king  thereof in Mordecai's  name.  [23] And when inquisition  was made of the matter,  it was found out;  therefore they were both  hanged  on a tree:  and it was written  in the book  of the chronicles  before  the king. 

What does Esther 2:21-23 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

We know no details concerning the identities of the assassins who tried to kill Ahasuerus or what motivated them. Extra-biblical sources have not yet clarified these matters, though the commentators love to speculate. We do know that14years later Ahasuerus did die at the hand of an assassin. [1] Mordecai"s position in the government is another evidence of God"s providential preparation to deliver His people. "Gallows" ( Esther 2:23; cf. Esther 5:14; Esther 7:10) is literally "tree."
"Rather than being hanged by the neck on a modern-type gallows, the men were probably impaled on a stake or post (cf. Ezra 6:11). This was not an unusual method of execution in the Persian Empire. Darius, Xerxes" father, was known to have once impaled3 ,000 men." [2]
Ahasuerus was careful to record the name, father, and town of anyone who demonstrated particular loyalty to his throne and to reward him quickly and generously. [3]
"Xerxes is consumed with power yet powerless as sovereign events unfold." [4]