Who Was Bigthan?
Bigthan appears in the Book of Esther as one of two eunuchs who served in the palace of King Ahasuerus of Persia. The name itself reflects the Persian cultural context of the narrative, and Bigthan held a position of some significance within the royal court, serving as a chamberlain or attendant to the king. Though his appearance in Scripture is brief, his role becomes pivotal to understanding God's hidden hand of providence working through the events that would ultimately save the Jewish people from destruction.
In Esther 2:21, we learn that Bigthan and his companion Teresh "kept the door" of the king's palace—a responsibility that granted them access to the royal chambers and inner workings of the court. This trusted position made them candidates for attempting something as audacious as plotting against the king himself. The text tells us that these two eunuchs "sought to lay hands on the King Ahasuerus," representing a serious threat to the monarch's life (Esther 2:21). While Scripture does not elaborate on their motives—whether it was personal grievance, political ambition, or desperation—their conspiratorial intentions were genuine and dangerous.
The Plot Discovered and Its Consequences
The turning point comes through Mordecai, a Jewish man serving in the palace who "sat in the king's gate" (Esther 2:19). When Mordecai learned of Bigthan and Teresh's conspiracy, he faithfully reported it to Queen Esther, who in turn informed the king and "ascribed it to Mordecai" (Esther 2:22). This act of integrity and loyalty saved King Ahasuerus's life and became a recorded event in the royal annals—a seemingly small detail that would prove monumentally significant later in the narrative.
The king's response was decisive: "The king made a search and found it so, and both of them were hanged on a gallows" (Esther 2:23). This was the customary justice of the Persian court, swift and final. Yet what makes this episode remarkable from a biblical perspective is not primarily the fate of the conspirators, but rather how God sovereignly used these events to position Mordecai and eventually Esther for their crucial roles in preserving God's covenant people when Haman later threatened the Jews with genocide.
Lessons for Our Faith Today
The story of Bigthan reminds us that God works through ordinary circumstances and decisions. Mordecai's simple act of reporting the conspiracy—an act of honesty and civic responsibility—became part of God's unfolding plan of salvation. We see in Bigthan's failed plot that human schemes against God's purposes will ultimately crumble, even when they seem momentarily successful.
As Canadian believers, we're encouraged to remain faithful in small acts of integrity and to trust that God sees and uses our faithful witness. Like Mordecai, when we act righteously in ordinary circumstances, we participate in God's providential care for His people.
And the king said, "What honor and dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?" Then the king's servants who attended him said, "Nothing has been done for him." (Esther 6:3)