BIBLICAL COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF ESTHER

The story of Esther begins in 483 BC, 103 years after Nebuchadnezzar took away
captives of the Jews (2 Kings 25), 54 years after Zerubbabel led the first group of
captives returning to Jerusalem (Ezra 1, 2) and 25 years before Ezra led the second group to
Jerusalem (Ezra 7). Esther lived in the kingdom of Persia, the kingdom that dominated the Middle East.
after the fall of Babylon in 539 BC, Esther's parents must have been among those
captives who decided not to return to Jerusalem, even though Cyrus, the king at that time, had
a decree allowing it was issued. The Jewish captives had great freedom in Persia, and many
they stayed there because they had already settled or were afraid to take the dangerous step
Return trip to his homeland. 1.1 Ahasuerus, also called Xerxes the Great, was the fifth king
from Persia (486-465 BC). He was proud and impulsive, as we can deduce from the narration of
Chapter 1. His winter palace was in Susa, where he held the banquet described in 1.3-
Often, before going to war, the Persian kings held great banquets. In 481,
Ahasuerus launched an attack against Greece. After his fleet won a great victory in
Thermopylae, was defeated at Salamis in 480 and had to return to Persia. Esther began her
reign in 479 BC. 1.4 The celebration lasted one hundred eighty days (almost six months) because
its real purpose was to plan a battle strategy to invade Greece and demonstrate that the
the king had enough wealth to carry it out. The reason for waging a war was not only
a matter of survival, but a way to acquire more wealth, territory, and power.
Persia was a world power, and the king, as the center of that power, was one of the most
riches of the world. The Persian kings loved to flaunt their wealth, even to the
point of carrying precious stones in their beards. The jewels were a symbol of hierarchy among the
Persian men. Even the soldiers wore large amounts of gold jewelry while
They participated in battle. THE WORLD IN THE DAYS OF ESTHER: Esther lived in the capital of
vast Medo-Persian Empire, which had incorporated the provinces of Media, Persia, as well as the
previous empires of Assyria and Babylon. Esther, a Jewess, was chosen by King Xerxes to be
her queen. The story of how she saved her people unfolds in the palace of Susa. 1.8
"That no one should be forced to drink" means that guests could drink a lot or a little, just as
they would like. (Generally, the king controlled how much his guests could drink). 1.9 The
ancient Greek documents refer to Amestris as the wife of Xerxes, probably a form
Greek for Vasti. Vasti was deposed in 484/483 BC, but she is mentioned again in the
ancient records such as the queen mother during the reign of her son Artaxerxes, who succeeded
Ahasuerus. Towards the end of Ahasuerus' reign, it is unknown whether Queen Esther died or if Vashti could.
through his son, recover the influence he had lost. 1.10 Some advisors and
Cabinet officials were castrated to prevent them from having children and from revealing themselves.
They will try to establish their own dynasty. A castrated official was called a eunuch.
1.10, 11 Ahasuerus, half-drunk, made a reckless decision, based exclusively on the
feelings. Their moderation and practical wisdom were weakened by the excess of wine. The
Inadequate decisions are made when there is a lack of clear understanding. Base your decisions
in careful reasoning and not in momentary decisions. Impulsive decisions
lead to severe complications. 1.12 Queen Vashti refused to present herself before the group of
king's men, possibly because it was against Persian customs for a woman to...
he will present before a public meeting of men. This conflict between the Persian custom and the
the king's order put her in a difficult situation, and she decided to reject her husband's command since
he was half drunk, hoping that later he would return to his senses. It has been suggested that Vasti
She could have been pregnant by Artaxerxes, who was born in 483 BC and did not want to be seen in
public in that state. Whatever the reason may have been, their action was a violation of
protocol, which also placed King Ahasuerus in a difficult situation. Once given a
order, a Persian king could not retract (see note to 1.19). While preparing to invade
Greece, Ahasuerus had invited officials from all over his kingdom to see his power, his wealth and
his authority. If it had been perceived that he had no authority over his wife, he would have found himself in

danger to his military credibility, the most important criterion for success for any king of the
antiquity. Furthermore, King Ahasuerus was accustomed to getting what he wanted. 1.13-15 Ahasuerus,
like most rulers of the past and present, I had a handful of advisors to
those he consulted on most of his matters. Often, a king's success was increased or
diminished due to the wisdom of these men. Daniel was one of these advisors under the
the government of King Darius and King Cyrus (Dan 6:28) and perhaps also under the rule of the three
Persian kings next. 1.15 Often, the kings of the Middle East had no relations
close personal ones with their wives. Ahasuerus demonstrated this because (1) he had a harem (2.3),
(2) showed no respect for the person of Vasti (1.10-12), and (3) Esther, when she became
queen, he did not see it for long periods (4.11). 1.16-21 Perhaps the minds of men have
state affected by drink. Obviously this law would not make the women of the city
they will respect their husbands. The respect between a man and a woman arises from the appreciation for each other like

creatures made in the image of God, not by legal proclamations or orders. Obedience
Forced affection is a poor substitute for the love and respect that spouses should have for each other.
For many people in his town, a Persian king was considered a god. Therefore, a
Once he issued a law or decree, it remained forever (see notes on 8.8 and Dan 6:8).
law could never be canceled, even if it had been reckless. But if it was necessary, it
could issue a new law to neutralize the effects of the previous one.

"He remembered Vashti" may mean that the king began to miss his queen and what she
he had made for him. But he also remembered that, in his anger, he had expelled her from his presence with
a decree that could not be revoked. 2.3, 14-17 The Persian kings collected not only great
quantities of jewels, but also a large number of women. These young virgins were taken
from their houses and had to live in a separate building near the palace called harem. Their only
the purpose was to serve the king and wait for his call to offer him sexual pleasure. They rarely saw the
king and his lives were restricted and boring. If she had been rejected, Esther would have been a
more of the many young women that the king would have seen only once and then forgotten. But the
the presence and beauty of Esther pleased the king so much that she was crowned queen instead of Vashti.
The queen held a position of greater influence than a concubine and was given more freedom and
authority over the other women of the harem. However, even as queen, Esther had very few
rights. Especially due to the fact of having been chosen to replace a woman who
she had become too bold. 2.5, 6 Mordecai was Jewish. The Jews had multiplied.
since they had been captives approximately one hundred years before. They had been given great freedom.
and they had been allowed to have their own businesses and achieve positions in the government (2.19; Dan
6:3). 2.6 The Bible seems to say that Mordecai was taken captive from Jerusalem by
Nebuchadnezzar. If this referred to Mordecai himself, he would have been over a hundred years old at

moment of this story. This somewhat confusing idea is resolved if we understand that 'which' does not
refers to Mordecai, but to his great-grandfather, Cis. 2.10 Since he had no rights and very little access
to the king, it was better for Esther not to reveal her identity. While we have the responsibility to declare
our identity as the people of God, there are times when a good strategy is to keep ourselves
silent until we earn the right to be heard. This happens especially when
we deal with people who have authority over us. However, we can always leave them
see the difference that God makes in our lives. 2.17 God placed Esther on the throne even before
that the Jews would face the possibility of complete destruction (3.5ss), so when
the problem arose there was already someone in a key position to help them. No effort
a human could thwart God's plan to send the Messiah to the earth as a Jew. If you are
changing jobs, positions, or locations and cannot see God's purpose in your
situation, understand that God controls everything. He may be placing you in a position where
it can be helpful when the need arises.
3.2 Mordecai's determination came from his faith in God. He did not conduct a survey of
opinion before deciding which was the safest or most popular course to follow; on the contrary, he had the
value of facing circumstances alone. Those who do the right thing do not always do what is
popular. Those who do good may be the minority, but obeying God is more
It is important to obey people (Act 5:29). 3.2-4 Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman.
Sometimes, as a sign of respect, the Jews would bow before government authorities (Gen 23:7;
1Sa 24:8). But the ancestors of Haman were ancient enemies of the Jews. Israel had
received from God the command 'you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven' (Deu 25:17-19; see

also Exo 17:16). Mordecai would never kneel before the wicked Haman and, with this act,
to recognize him as a god. Daniel's three friends had the same convictions (Daniel 3).
We must worship only God. We must never allow a person, institution, or government
take the place of God. When someone demands loyalty or duties from you that do not honor God,
do not yield. It may be time to take a firm stance. MORDECAI After the last
the uprising of Jerusalem against Nebuchadnezzar, the family of Mordecai was deported to
Babylon. He probably was born in Susa, (a city that became one of the capitals of
Persia after Cyrus conquered Babylon) and inherited an official position among the Jews
captives who kept him close to the palace even after the Babylonians had been
overthrown. At one moment, when he heard the plans to assassinate King Xerxes, he reported the
plot and saved the life of the king. Mordecai's life was full of challenges that he turned into
opportunities. When her uncles died, she adopted Ester, their daughter and therefore her cousin,
probably because her own parents had died and she felt responsible for her.
In the evening, when she was taken to the harem of Xerxes and chosen to be queen, Mordecai continued
advising her. Shortly after this, she found herself in a conflict with Haman, the newly
appointed head of government of Ahasuerus. Although he wished to serve the king, Mordecai refused to worship
to the king's representative. Haman was furious with Mordecai. So he planned to have him killed.
Mordecai and all the Jews. His plan became a law for the Medes and the Persians, and
it seemed that the Jews had been sentenced. However, Mordecai wished to serve God.
where he would be. He spoke with Ester and told her that perhaps the reason why God had allowed him
being queen was to save her people from this threat. But God had also placed him there,
years before, in the right place. God revealed to the king, through the reading of documents
historical, that Mordecai had saved his life on one occasion and the king realized that he never
he had thanked him. Then, Mordecai was honored by the king and this ruined the plan of
Rather than hanging him on a gallows. God had planned an effective counterattack against which the
the plan of Haman could not stand. Later, Mordecai instituted the Jewish festival of
Purim. He had a long career of service to the king in favor of the Jews. In the life of Mordecai,
God mixed character and circumstances to achieve great things. He has not changed the way in
that works. God is using the situations you face each day to weave a pattern
of holiness in his character. Take a pause and ask God to help you respond appropriately
to the situations you find yourself in today. Strengths and achievements: --
He reported a plot to assassinate the king -- As responsible as to adopt his
First -- He refused to bow down to anyone but God -- He took the place of Haman as second.
On the importance in the government of Ahasuerus Lessons from his life: -- The opportunities we have
are more important than we would have wanted to have -- We can trust that God
He will interweave the events of life for our benefit, even when we may not see the plan.
The rewards for doing what is right are sometimes delayed, but God himself them
General data: -- Where: Susa, one of the several capital cities of Persia --
Jewish official who became second in rank after King Ahasuerus
Ester
Mordecai the Jew was second to King Xerxes, and great among the Jews, and respected.
for the multitude of his brothers, because he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace for all
"his lineage" (Est 10:3). The story of Mordecai is told in the book of Esther. 3.5, 6 Why did he want
Amán destroys all the Jews just for the action of one man? (1) Amán was an Agagite (3.1),
descendant of Agag, king of the Amalekites (1Sa 15:20); the Amalekites were ancient enemies
from Israel (see Exo 17:16; Deu 25:17-19); Haman's hatred was not directed only against
Mordecai, but against all the Jews. (2) As second in command in the empire (Deu 3:1),
Haman loved his power and authority, and the reverence shown to him; however, the Jews
they looked to God as their final authority and not to any man. Haman realized that the
the only way to fulfill their arrogant wishes was by killing those who ignored their
authority. His quest for personal power and his hatred for the Jewish race consumed him. 3.5, 6 Haman
he enjoyed the power and prestige of his position, and he became enraged when Mordecai did not respond with
the expected reverence. Haman's anger was not only towards Mordecai, but towards what he
it represented: the dedication of the Jews to God as the only authority worthy of reverence. The
Haman's attitude was prejudiced: he hated a group of people due to a difference in their
beliefs or culture. Prejudice grows from personal arrogance, considering oneself better.
What others. In the end, Haman was punished for his arrogant attitude (7.9, 10). God will judge.
severely against those who have prejudices or show a arrogant attitude towards others.
3.7 Amán cast lots to determine the best day to carry out his decree. Little did he know.
what the game was doing to God, since the day of death was established almost a year
after giving Esther time to make her request to the king. The Persian word for the expression
casting lots, it was Purim. This came to be the name of the festival celebrated by the Jews when
they were released, and not dead, on the day designated by Haman. 3.9 Haman must have had the
hope of acquiring this tremendous sum of money by looting the houses and businesses of the
Jews who would be killed by means of his decree. A large number of Jews were living.
At that time in the empire, Haman did not imagine that this betrayal would be used against him.
12 Officials in the ancient world used seal rings as personal signatures. The
the surface of the ring had a relief made of metal, wood or bone; that of Ahasuerus was
probably made of silver or gold. Each individual had their own seal. The letters were
sealed by pressing the ring onto soft wax, and the official documents were certified by
middle of the royal seal. By giving Haman his signet ring, Ahasuerus gave him his personal signature and with it the

authority to do as he wished. The king did not realize that his own signature would seal the order of
death of his wife Ester.
Esther risked her life by going before the king. Her brave act is a model we should follow.
face a difficulty or a dangerous task. Like her, we must: (1) Calculate the cost: Ester is
He realized that his life was hanging by a thread. (2) Establish priorities. He believed that security of
the Jewish race was more important than his life. (3) Prepare. He sought support and fasted. (4) Determine
our course of action and move forward with courage. He didn't think much about it, so he didn't
it allowed the interlude to reduce its commitment to what it had to do. Does it have to
to face a hostile audience, to confront a friend about a sensitive topic, or to speak to your
family about the changes that need to be made? Instead of fearing difficult situations or
postpone them, act with confidence following the inspiring example of Esther. 4.13 Despite the fact that
Esther was the queen and shared some of the wealth and power of the king, her position did not mean that
will not need the protection and wisdom of God. No human in any political system is
sure with your own strength. It is foolish to think that wealth or position can make us
immune to danger. Liberation comes only from God. 4.13, 14 After the decree was issued
to kill the Jews, Mordecai and Esther could have despaired, wishing only to save themselves
themselves, or just wait for God's intervention. Instead, they saw that God had them
placed in their positions with a purpose, so they seized the moment and acted. When
if it is within our reach to save others, we must do it. In a situation where life is at
danger, do not leave, do not act selfishly, do not fall into despair, do not wait for
God will fix everything. Instead, ask God for direction and act! It may be that God has
placed where it is for a moment like that. 4.14 God is not mentioned
specifically in the book of Esther, but it is obvious that Mordecai expected God to deliver his
village. Although the book of Esther does not directly mention God, its pages are filled with His
presence. Esther and Mordecai believed in God's protection and, because they acted in the
right moment, God used them to save His people. 4.16 When calling for the fast, Esther was
asking the Jews to pray for God's help in their dangerous mission. In the Old
The Testament, prayer always accompanied fasting (see Exo 34:28; Deu 9:9; Ezr 8:21-23) The
Mutual support in difficult times is an important function of the community of believers.
When you are experiencing struggles, seek out your believing friends to support you.
to manifest your evidence to them and gain strength from the bond that connects them. And when others need
give your support gladly. 4.16 Save your skin and seek to be number one are maxims that
they reflect the selfish view of the world about life. Esther's attitude greatly contrasts
with this. He knew what he had to do and that it could cost him his life. And still he replied: 'if I have to
to die, let it die." We must have the same commitment to do what is right despite
the possible consequences. Have you tried to save your skin by staying silent instead of
stand up for what is right? Commit to doing what God wants and trust in Him
the outcome. 4.17-5.1 God was in control, yet Mordecai and Esther had to make a decision to
to act. We cannot understand how both things can be real at the same time, and yet
They are. God chooses to work through those who are willing to act for Him. We must
pray as if everything depended on God and act as if everything depended on us. We must
avoid both extremes: doing nothing and feeling that we must do everything.
Hatred and bitterness are like a weed with deep roots that grows in our heart and
he corrupts all of life. Haman was so consumed by hatred for Mordecai that he didn't even
he was able to enjoy the honor of being invited to Esther's banquet. Hebrews 12:15 warns us that 'do not
see [...] that any root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble, and by it many become defiled.
Do not let hatred and its resulting bitterness take residence in your heart. Just like Haman,
you will discover that they turn against you (see 6.13; 7.9, 10). If the mention of the name of
Some person provokes anger in you, confess your bitterness as sin. It is not enough to ignore it.
bitterness, hiding it from others, or making superficial changes in behavior. If not
completely remove the bitterness, it will grow, worsening the situation. 5.14 The family and friends
of Haman, who were as arrogant as he was, suggested that the gallows be twenty-two meters high
of height, probably built on the city wall or on some prominent building.
They wanted to make sure that the people of the city witnessed the death of Mordecai and that it served
as a punishment for the disobedience to Haman. Ironically, this great gallows allowed everyone
they saw the death of Haman. GOD BEHIND THE SCENES IN ESTHER Although the name
God is not mentioned in the Hebrew text of Esther, He made Himself known in these ways:
Indirect references: 2.17 Esther, who adored God, becomes queen 4.14 It is assumed that
the existence of God and his power over human affairs 4.16 Fasting was an activity
spiritual visible, usually connected with prayer Divine incidents The book of Esther is
full of divine interventions: 2.21, 22 Mordecai hears of a murder plot and saves
the life of the king 6.1 Ahasuerus cannot sleep, decides to read a history book 6.2 Ahasuerus reads the
exact page I needed for that moment, and reminds him that he had not rewarded
Mordecai 7:9, 10 The plan of Haman was completely reversed; the likely victims are the
winners Why is the name of God omitted in the book of Esther? In the Middle East and in
In the Persian Empire, there were many gods. Generally, their names were mentioned in
official documents to be able to control the people who worshipped those particular gods.
The Jews were the only ones who worshiped a single God. A story about them was
naturally a story about God, since even the name 'Jew' had the connotation of
someone who adored Jehovah.

When he could not sleep, King Ahasuerus decided to read the history of his kingdom and his servants...
They read about the great feat of Mordecai. This seems like a coincidence, but God does not
He stops. He has been working silently and patiently throughout his life. Many of the
situations that have arisen to act for the good are something more than mere coincidences,
they are the result of God's sovereign intervention in the life of His people (Rom 8:28). 6.7-9
Aman had wealth, but he longed for something that even money could not buy: respect. He could
to buy the ornaments of success and power, but their hunger for popularity had turned into a
obsession. Don't let your desire for approval, applause, and popularity lead you to commit acts
immoral. ESTER We treasure security, even though we know that security in this life is not
It has guarantees. We can lose possessions, beauty fades, relationships can be
breaking, death is inevitable. True security, then, must be found beyond
this life. Only when our security rests in God and in his unchanging nature
we will be able to face the challenges that life will undoubtedly bring us. The beauty of Ester and her
character won the heart of King Ahasuerus and made her his queen. Even in that position of privilege,
however, he would risk his life by trying to see the king when his presence had not been requested.
There was no guarantee that even the king would agree to see her. Although she was queen, she still was not
safe. But, with caution and courage, she decided to risk her life by approaching the king on behalf of
from her people. She carefully outlined her plans. She asked the Jews to fast and pray with her.
before going to see the king. Then, on the chosen day, he went before him, and the king asked him to come closer and

He would speak. But instead of making his request directly, he invited him and Haman to a banquet.
Ahasuerus was clever enough to realize that she had something in mind. Without
embargo, she suggested the importance of the matter by insisting that they attend a second banquet.
Meanwhile, God was working behind the scenes. He made it one night, late, Xerxes
he read the historical records of the kingdom and discovered that Mordecai had saved his life with
precedence. He wasted no time in honoring Mordecai for that act. During the second
banquet, Esther told the king about Haman's plot against the Jews, and Haman was
condemned. There is an inflexible justice in the death of Haman in the same gallows that he had
built for Mordecai, and it is striking that on the day when the Jews were going to
being dead will come the day when the enemies died. The risk that Esther took confirmed.
that God was the source of his security. How much of his security lies in his possessions, position
or reputation? God did not place him in his current position for his own benefit. He placed him
There for him to serve. As in the case of Esther, this may involve risking his safety.
Are you willing to allow God to be your ultimate security? Strengths and achievements: -- Your
beauty and her character won the heart of the king of Persia -- She combined courage with a good
planning -- She was open to advice and willing to act -- She was more concerned about the
Others that for their own safety Lessons from their life: -- Serving God often demands that
we risk our own security -- God has a purpose for the situations in which
it puts us -- Value, while often vital, does not replace careful planning Data
generales : -- Dónde: Imperio persa -- Ocupación: Esposa de Asuero, reina de Persia -- Familiares:
First: Mordecai. Husband: Ahasuerus. Father: Abihail Key verse: 'Go and gather all the...
Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me, and do not eat or drink for three days, night and day; I
I will also fast with my maidens, and then I will go in to see the king, even though I may not be.
according to the law; and if I perish, I perish" (Est 4:16). The story of Esther is narrated in the book of
Esther 6:10-13 Mordecai had revealed a plot to assassinate Xerxes and thus he had
saving the life of the king (2.21-23). Although this good deed was recorded in the books of
history, Mordecai had not been rewarded. However, God was keeping the
reward of Mordecai for the right moment. Just as Haman was about to hang.
unjustly to Mordecai, the king was ready to reward him. While God promises
reward our good works, sometimes we feel that our 'reward' is too much
far away and we feel discouraged very easily. Be patient. God will appear when He
create relevant.
Haman's hatred and his evil plans turned against him when the king discovered his
true intentions. He was hanged on the gallows he had built for another. Pro
26:27 says that the man who sets a trap for his neighbor will fall into it. What happened to
Amman shows the violent results that often arise when a trap is laid for
another person. 7.8 "They covered Amán's face." Because the Persian kings did not look at the
face of a condemned person, their face was covered with a veil.
While we should not expect earthly rewards for being faithful to God, they often come. Esther and
Mordecai was faithful, to the point of risking his own life to save others. When
They were willing to leave everything, God rewarded them according to their commitment.
extreme. 8.8 The message from Haman had been sealed with the king's ring and could not be revoked,
not even by the king. It was part of the famous 'law of the Medes and Persians'. Now the king gave permission
so that Mordecai could issue any other decree to compensate the first one, without canceling it.
8.12 This was the day set by Haman for the extermination of the Jews. 8.15-17 All the
the world wants to be a hero and receive praise, honor, and wealth. But only a few are willing to
pay the price. For years, Mardoqueo faithfully served the government, endured the hatred and the
the oppression of Haman, and risked his life for his people. The price that heroes have to pay
God is a long-term commitment. Are you ready or willing to pay the price? AMEN
The most arrogant people are often those who have to measure their worth by power or influence.
what he thinks he has over others. Haman was an extremely arrogant leader. He recognized the king.
as his superior, but he did not accept that anyone could be his equal. When a man, Mordecai,
refused to bow down in submission to him, Haman wanted to destroy him. He was filled with hatred against Mordecai. Already

was filled with racial hatred against the entire Jewish people due to the long tradition of hatred among the
Jews and their ancestors, the Amalekites. Mordecai's dedication to God and his rejection of
Honoring any human being represented a challenge for the religion of Amán that focused on him.
same. Haman saw the Jews as a threat to his power, and decided to kill them all. God
He had been preparing the downfall of Haman and the protection of his people long before Haman.
She had authority under the reign of King Ahasuerus. Esther, a Jew, became queen, and the role of
Mordecai, upon discovering the assassination plot, made the king indebted to him. Not only...
Amen was prevented from killing Mordecai, but he had to endure the humiliation of
to honor him publicly. Within a few hours, Haman died on the same gallows he had built for
to hang Mordecai. His plan to eliminate the Jews was frustrated. In contrast to Esther, who
He risked everything for God and won, Haman risked everything for a wicked purpose and lost. Our
initial response to the story of Haman is to say that he got what he deserved. But the Bible tells us
It leads us to ask deeper questions: "How much of Haman is in me?", "Do I desire to control ".
others?" "Do I feel threatened when others do not appreciate me as I think they should.
"Do I do it?" "Do I seek revenge when my pride is attacked?" Confess these attitudes to God and
ask them to replace them with an attitude of forgiveness. Otherwise, the justice of God will
he will take charge of solving the problem. Strengths and achievements: -- He reached great power, he was the second

in command after Ahasuerus, king of Persia Weaknesses and mistakes: -- The desire to control the
others and receiving honor was their greatest goal -- He was blinded by his arrogance and presumptuousness -- He planned

the murder of Mordecai and built a gallows for him -- Orchestrated the plan to massacre the
People of God from all the empire Lessons from His life: -- Hatred will be punished -- God has a
surprising record for turning wicked plans against those who devise them
-- Pride and presumption will be punished -- The insatiable thirst for power and prestige is the result
self-destructive General data: -- Where: Susa, capital of Persia -- Occupation: Second in
hierarchy throughout the empire -- Relative: Wife: Zeres -- Contemporaries: Xerxes, Mordecai
Esther Key Verses: 'And Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage before him.'
he; and he was filled with rage. But he thought little of laying hands on Mordecai alone, for they had already

declared what the town of Mordecai was; and Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were there
in the kingdom of Xerxes, to the people of Mordecai" (Est 3:5-6). The story of Haman is recounted in the
Book of Esther.
Haman had decreed that on the 13th day of the 12th month, anyone could kill the Jews and
take their properties. The decree of Mordecai did not annul that of Haman as it could not be
no law signed by the king was appealed. Instead, Mordecai had the king sign a new one.
law granting Jews the right to defend themselves. When the feared day arrived, there was a great struggle,
however, the Jews only killed those who wanted to kill them, and did not take the
possessions of their enemies even when they could (8.11; 9.10, 16). No disturbances were recorded.
additional after the two days of slaughter, so it was obvious that selfishness and vengeance
they were not the main reasons of the Jews. They simply wanted to defend themselves and their
families of those who hated them. 9.12 The king seems to be more concerned about Esther's desires.
that by the massacre of their subjects. 9.19-22 People tend to have a poor memory when they
it is about the faithfulness of God. To help combat this, Mordecai wrote these events and
encouraged the people to celebrate an annual festival that commemorates the historic day of Purim.
Celebrations, joy, and giving gifts are important ways to remember events.
specific to God. 9.29-31 Among the Jews, it was expected that women would be silent,
they served at home and remained on the sidelines of religious and political life. However, Esther was
a Jewish woman who broke with cultural norms, going beyond the role that was expected of her
by risking their life and helping the people of God. Whatever their place in life, God can
use it. Be open, available, and ready, because God can use it to do what others
They are even afraid to do.
Mordecai enjoyed a good reputation among the Jews because he continued to be their friend.
when they rose to a position of power. Those in power are often characterized by being
corrupt and abuse their authority. However, the power used to lift up the fallen and
lightening the burdens of the oppressed is a well-used power. The people that God places in
positions of power or political influence should not turn their backs on those who have
necessity. 10.3 There are no archaeological records indicating that Mordecai was the second to
government position, however, during this time there is a strange gap in the old
Persian records. These indicate that another man occupied that position in 465 BC.
approximately seven years after Mordecai was appointed for the first time. It has
a tablet has been discovered where Mardukaya is named as an official in the early
years of the reign of Xerxes. Some believe that this was Mordecai. 10.3 In the book of Esther,
We clearly see God working in the lives of individuals and in the affairs of a nation.
Although it may seem that the world is in the hands of wicked men, God still has the
control, protecting those who are His. Even when we do not understand everything that is
happening around us, we must trust in God's protection and maintain our
integrity in doing what we know is right. Esther, who risked her life by standing up
before the king, she became a heroine. Mordecai, who was condemned to death, went up to
become the second most senior official in the nation. No matter how
No matter how overwhelming our condition may be, or how much we want to give up, we must not despair. God

he/she has control over our world.