Bigtha (also known as Bigthan) was one of two court officials (eunuchs) who served as doorkeepers at the court of King Ahasuerus in Persia. He and his co-conspirator Teresh plotted to lay hands on King Ahasuerus, but the plot was uncovered by Mordecai. This event played a crucial role in the Book of Esther, as it later led to Mordecai's elevation.
Événements clés
Service as Doorkeeper
Bigtha served as one of the king's court officials and doorkeepers at King Ahasuerus' palace in Susa.
21In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs who guarded the threshold, grew angry and plotted to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.
Bigtha and Teresh became angry with King Ahasuerus and planned to lay hands on him. The two court officials secretly conspired against the king's life.
21In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs who guarded the threshold, grew angry and plotted to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.
The matter was investigated and found to be true, and both men were hanged on a gallows. The event was recorded in the chronicle in the king's presence.
23The matter was investigated and confirmed, and the two men were hanged on a pole.[^1]
[^1]: Or "impaled on a stake"; the Hebrew word means "tree" or "wood."
Later, during a sleepless night, the book of chronicles was read aloud to King Ahasuerus, and he was reminded of Mordecai's merit in exposing Bigtha's conspiracy.
2There it was found written how Mordecai had reported that Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs who guarded the threshold, had plotted to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.
3The king asked, "What honor or distinction has been given to Mordecai for this?" The king's attendants who served him answered, "Nothing has been done for him."
4"Who is in the court?" the king asked. Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows he had prepared for him.
6When Haman entered, the king asked him, "What should be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor?" Haman thought to himself, "Whom would the king wish to honor more than me?"
9Let the robe and the horse be entrusted to one of the king's most noble officials, and let them clothe the man whom the king wishes to honor and lead him on horseback through the city square, proclaiming before him: 'So shall it be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor!'
10"Hurry," the king said to Haman, "take the robes and the horse, just as you have said, and do this for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Leave out nothing of all you have spoken."
11So Haman took the robe and the horse, clothed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city square, proclaiming before him, "So shall it be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor!"