Esther 10 Study Notes: Mordecai's Greatness
The book closes with King Xerxes taxing his empire and the record of Mordecai's achievements in the royal chronicles. Mordecai ranks second only to the king, honored by the Jews and working for the good and peace of his people.
General
Where does the book say the complete story of Mordecai’s greatness was written (Esther 10:2)?
Answer: In the official history kept by the Median and Persian kings
Xerxes laid a tax on his whole empire, even its distant coastlands (10:1). All of Mordecai’s mighty and impressive deeds, together with a complete record of the high rank the king had given him, were written in the official history of the Median and Persian kings (10:2). Mordecai’s earlier loyal service in exposing the plot against the king had also been written in the king’s chronicles (2:23), and the reading of that record on the king’s sleepless night began Mordecai’s rise (6:1-2). The man who had once sat at the king’s gate (2:21) now had his greatness written in the royal record.
- Esther 10:1-2 (BSB)“Now King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the land, even to its farthest shores. And all of Mordecai’s powerful and magnificent accomplishments, together with the full account of the greatness to which the king had raised him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia?”Xerxes imposes tribute, and Mordecai’s deeds and greatness are recorded in the royal chronicles.
- Esther 2:23 (BSB)“After the report had been investigated and verified, both officials were hanged on the gallows. And all this was recorded in the Book of the Chronicles in the presence of the king.”Mordecai’s earlier service to the king had been recorded in the royal chronicles.
- Esther 6:1-2 (BSB)“That night sleep escaped the king; so he ordered the Book of Records, the Chronicles, to be brought in and read to him. And there it was found recorded that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who guarded the king’s entrance, when they had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.”The reading of that record on the king’s sleepless night began Mordecai’s rise to honor.
Theological
According to Esther 10:2, where was the full record of Mordecai’s rise and achievements preserved?
Answer: In the official history kept by the Median and Persian kings
Xerxes imposes tribute throughout his empire (10:1), and the complete record of Mordecai’s achievements and of the high rank the king conferred on him stands in the official annals of the Median and Persian kings (10:2). Fittingly, it was an entry in the king’s chronicles, the record of Mordecai’s exposure of the plot against Xerxes (2:23), that was read on the sleepless night and set his rise in motion (6:1-2).
- Esther 10:1-2 (BSB)“Now King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the land, even to its farthest shores. And all of Mordecai’s powerful and magnificent accomplishments, together with the full account of the greatness to which the king had raised him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia?”Xerxes imposes tribute, and Mordecai’s deeds and greatness are recorded in the royal chronicles.
- Esther 2:23 (BSB)“After the report had been investigated and verified, both officials were hanged on the gallows. And all this was recorded in the Book of the Chronicles in the presence of the king.”Mordecai’s earlier service to the king had been recorded in the royal chronicles.
- Esther 6:1-2 (BSB)“That night sleep escaped the king; so he ordered the Book of Records, the Chronicles, to be brought in and read to him. And there it was found recorded that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who guarded the king’s entrance, when they had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.”The reading of that record on the king’s sleepless night began Mordecai’s rise to honor.
General
What position did Mordecai hold at the close of the book (Esther 10:3)?
Answer: He ranked next to King Xerxes himself in the kingdom
Mordecai the Jew ranked just below King Xerxes, was highly honored by the Jews, and was well loved by his many relatives (10:3). The man Haman had planned to hang now held a rank like the one once given to Haman, who had been set above all the king’s princes (3:1). His rise is like that of Joseph, whom Pharaoh put in charge of all Egypt with only the throne above him (Genesis 41:40), and Daniel, whom the king of Babylon made ruler over a whole province (Daniel 2:48). The book of Esther never names God, but Scripture teaches that it is the LORD who humbles and lifts up, raising the needy to sit among princes (1 Samuel 2:7-8).
- Esther 10:3 (BSB)“For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews and highly favored by his many kinsmen, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.”Mordecai ranks next to the king, is honored among the Jews, and seeks his people’s good.
- Esther 3:1 (BSB)“After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him to a position above all the princes who were with him.”Haman had once been raised above all the king’s princes, the kind of rank Mordecai now holds.
- Genesis 41:40 (BSB)“You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.””Joseph was set over Pharaoh’s house with only the throne above him, a close parallel to Mordecai.
- Daniel 2:48 (BSB)“Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many generous gifts. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.”Daniel was promoted to rule a province of Babylon, another of God’s people raised high in a foreign court.
- 1 Samuel 2:7-8 (BSB)“The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s, and upon them He has set the world.”Hannah praises the LORD who humbles and exalts, seating the needy among princes.
Theological
How does Esther 10:3 describe Mordecai’s final rank in the empire?
Answer: He ranked next to King Xerxes himself in the kingdom
Mordecai ends the book ranking just below Xerxes, eminent among his own people and esteemed by his numerous relatives (10:3). He now occupies the kind of elevated position once given to Haman (3:1). The pattern of one of God’s people exalted in a foreign court recalls Joseph under Pharaoh (Genesis 41:40) and Daniel in Babylon (Daniel 2:48). Though the book does not name God, Scripture ascribes such exaltation to the LORD, who humbles and exalts and seats the needy with princes (1 Samuel 2:7-8).
- Esther 10:3 (BSB)“For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews and highly favored by his many kinsmen, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.”Mordecai ranks next to the king, is honored among the Jews, and seeks his people’s good.
- Esther 3:1 (BSB)“After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him to a position above all the princes who were with him.”Haman had once been raised above all the king’s princes, the kind of rank Mordecai now holds.
- Genesis 41:40 (BSB)“You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.””Joseph was set over Pharaoh’s house with only the throne above him, a close parallel to Mordecai.
- Daniel 2:48 (BSB)“Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many generous gifts. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.”Daniel was promoted to rule a province of Babylon, another of God’s people raised high in a foreign court.
- 1 Samuel 2:7-8 (BSB)“The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s, and upon them He has set the world.”Hannah praises the LORD who humbles and exalts, seating the needy among princes.
General
How does the book’s final verse describe the way Mordecai used his high position (Esther 10:3)?
Answer: He worked for his people’s welfare and spoke peace to them
The book closes by describing Mordecai as working for the well-being of the Jews and offering words of peace to every one of his fellow Jews (10:3). He used his great power not for himself but for the welfare of others. This fits Scripture’s wider teaching: the psalmist speaks peace for his brothers’ sake and seeks Jerusalem’s prosperity because of the LORD’s house (Psalm 122:8-9), God’s people are to go after peace and chase it (Psalm 34:14), and a nation is glad when good people flourish (Proverbs 29:2).
- Esther 10:3 (BSB)“For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews and highly favored by his many kinsmen, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.”Mordecai, second to the king, seeks the good of his people and speaks peace to them.
- Psalm 122:8-9 (BSB)“For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity.”The psalmist speaks peace for his brothers’ sake and seeks Jerusalem’s prosperity for the sake of the LORD’s house.
- Psalm 34:14 (BSB)“Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”God’s people are called to seek peace and pursue it, as Mordecai did.
- Proverbs 29:2 (BSB)“When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.”When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, as under Mordecai’s leadership.
Theological
What does the closing verse of Esther say characterized Mordecai’s use of power (Esther 10:3)?
Answer: He worked for his people’s welfare and spoke peace to them
The final portrait of Mordecai is of a ruler devoted to his people’s welfare and to offering peace to every one of his fellow Jews (10:3): power used for others rather than for self. This matches the psalmist’s resolve to speak peace to his brothers and seek the prosperity of the city of God’s house (Psalm 122:8-9), the call to make peace one’s pursuit (Psalm 34:14), and the proverb that a people rejoices when good people thrive (Proverbs 29:2).
- Esther 10:3 (BSB)“For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews and highly favored by his many kinsmen, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.”Mordecai, second to the king, seeks the good of his people and speaks peace to them.
- Psalm 122:8-9 (BSB)“For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity.”The psalmist speaks peace for his brothers’ sake and seeks Jerusalem’s prosperity for the sake of the LORD’s house.
- Psalm 34:14 (BSB)“Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”God’s people are called to seek peace and pursue it, as Mordecai did.
- Proverbs 29:2 (BSB)“When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.”When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, as under Mordecai’s leadership.