Esther 2:18-20

International Standard Version

¹⁸ The king put on a great banquet for all his officials and ministers^[a] to honor Esther. He declared a holiday for the provinces and gave generous gifts.^[b]

Mordecai Thwarts a Plot to Kill Ahasuerus

¹⁹ When the virgins were gathered a second time, Mordecai was sitting in the king’s gate. ²⁰ Now Esther had not declared her heritage^[c] or her people, just as Mordecai had instructed her, for Esther did what Mordecai told her just as she had done when she was raised by him.