John Gill Commentary Esther 2:19

"And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai was sitting in the king`s gate." — Esther 2:19 (ASV)

And when the virgins were gathered together the second time ,
&c.] Some think this second collection is that which was made when Esther was taken and brought to the keeper of the women, called the second, in reference to a former collection of them, made when Vashti was taken and made queen; but as there is no proof of any such collection then made, rather the case was this, such was the lust of the king, though he had a queen he loved, and a multitude of concubine's, yet a second collection of virgins was made for his gratification:

then Mordecai sat in the king's gate ;
or court, being an officer in it, promoted by the interest of Esther, though not as yet known to be a relation of her's: so (yura) in Xenophon ^F26 is used of the court of the king of Persia, as the Ottoman or Turkish court is now called the "Porte".

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FOOTNOTES:

• F26: Cyropaedia, l. 8. c. 2, 5, 11, 40.