What events and attributed statements does Esther Chapter 12 record?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Mardochai investigates Bagatha and Thara’s projects and tells Artaxerxes of their intent to lay violent hands on him. The king has them examined, orders death after confession, and records the matter; Mardochai writes too. Mardochai receives residence and presents, while Aman seeks to hurt him and his people because of the executed eunuchs.

Chapter breakdown

During his residence in the royal court, Mardochai served alongside two imperial eunuchs named Bagatha and Thara, who were stationed as gatekeepers of the palace. Understanding their designs and diligently searching their projects, Mardochai uncovered their secret scheme to lay violent hands upon King Artaxerxes. Recognizing the mortal danger threatening the monarch, Mardochai brought word of their treason directly to the king.

Upon receiving the warning, King Artaxerxes ordered both eunuchs to be subjected to examination. When interrogated, Bagatha and Thara confessed to their treasonous design, whereupon the sovereign ordered that they be put to death. The king caused an official record of the entire proceedings to be inscribed in the royal annals, while Mardochai likewise committed a written account of the conspiracy to writing.

In recognition of his fidelity, King Artaxerxes commanded Mardochai to take up residence within the palace court and bestowed presents upon him for his timely disclosure. However, Aman, son of Amadathi the Bugite, who held great honor with the sovereign, sought to hurt Mardochai and his people because of the two eunuchs who had been put to death.

The story inside

Initial conditions: Mardochai investigates Bagatha and Thara’s projects and tells Artaxerxes of their intent to lay violent hands on him. Development: The king has them examined, orders death after confession, and records the matter; Mardochai writes too. Recorded ending: Mardochai receives residence and presents, while Aman seeks to hurt him and his people because of the executed eunuchs.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Mardochai investigates Bagatha and Thara’s projects and tells Artaxerxes of their intent to lay violent hands on him.
2
The king has them examined, orders death after confession, and records the matter; Mardochai writes too.
3
Mardochai receives residence and presents, while Aman seeks to hurt him and his people because of the executed eunuchs.

Test your recall

Which concrete sequence does this chapter record, and what remains unstated?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 53906–53908
he learned that they went about to lay violent hands on king Artaxerxes, and he told the king thereof.
Lines 53919–53921
Aman the son of Amadathi the Bugite was in great honour with the king, and sought to hurt Mardochai and his people, because of the two eunuchs of the king who were put to death.