Following Esther's coronation, an unusual sequence of events unfolds, presenting a chronological and logical mystery. Another gathering of women takes place even though a new queen has already been chosen, while Mordecai is notably positioned at the palace gates.
The primary approach among commentators is that this additional gathering was a calculated ruse. King Ahasuerus desperately wanted to discover Esther's hidden origins. To pressure her, he orchestrated a second collection of women, hoping to spark her jealousy and make her fear she might be replaced [יוסף אבן יחיא]. Surprisingly, this strategy was actually suggested to the king by Mordecai himself, based on the idea that a woman's jealousy is most deeply provoked by a rival. Despite this psychological pressure, Esther remained resolute and kept her secret [תורה תמימה, מנות הלוי]. Mordecai may have offered this advice to distract the king, preventing his frustration over Esther's silence from turning into anger against her [אור חדש].
Other perspectives offer more practical reasons for this event. The king may have simply been reviewing the remaining candidates who had not yet appeared before him [אור חדש, ביאור שטיינזלץ], or perhaps he was still searching for someone even more beautiful and charming than Esther [רלב״ג]. Alternatively, these women were gathered to serve as concubines and attendants for the new queen [ישע אלהים]. A unique interpretation suggests that because the king did not know Esther's lineage, he was afraid to have children with her. Consequently, he gathered other women for his personal needs, keeping Esther solely to admire her beauty [מגילת סתרים].
From a different angle, this gathering might have been the exact opposite of a search. It could have been the formal dismissal of the unchosen women, sending them back to their homes and granting Esther absolute security in her royal status [מלבי״ם]. Conversely, it may have been an act of cruelty, deliberately trapping the daughters of noblemen in the palace so they could never marry [שלום אסתר].
A completely different historical approach suggests that this event did not necessarily happen after Esther became queen. Instead, it indicates that the gathering of women for Esther was only the second time in the empire's history that such an event occurred, with the first being for Vashti [אבן עזרא, שלום אסתר]. It is also possible that during the four years following Vashti's removal, the search was conducted in two distinct phases, and Esther was taken during the second round [עמנואל הרומי].
Amidst these events, Mordecai's presence at the palace gates indicates that he was appointed to an official, respected position as a royal judge or advisor, a role earned through his profound wisdom [רלב״ג, עמנואל הרומי, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. He may have been granted this status because the new queen was found in his home [מלבי״ם], or he might have already held this position before she was ever taken [אבן עזרא]. His position at the gates served a very specific purpose at this time. He sat there to closely monitor the confusing second gathering of women [שלום אסתר], and to ensure that Esther would see him, reminding her to keep her people and homeland a secret [אור חדש].
From a broader perspective, the timing of these events highlights God's providence. Mordecai achieved his high rank entirely on his own merit rather than through royal nepotism, as Esther had not yet revealed her true identity or her connection to him [אלשיך].