In order to graduate from Denver Seminary I had to write a
thesis. Part of my thesis involved taking an in depth look at some of the
individuals who lived during the exile and post exile time of the Bible; namely
Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Mordecai, and Esther. I have previously posted about
Nehemiah’s background, and will now endeavor to do the same with Mordecai and
Esther. I have provided Scripture references to the parts of the story that I talk about, and I would encourage you to familiarize yourself with the story of
Esther and Mordecai before going through these posts as it will give you good
context for the discussion below.
Mordecai’s history relatively unknown. He was a Jew who had
chosen to stay abroad after the exile ended, and lived in Susa, the Persian
capital. Some would argue that “Mordecai” is actually the Hebrew version of “Mardukaya.”[1] Marduk was the chief God
of the Babylonians, who were subsequently conquered by the Persians. Like
Nehemiah, Mordecai most likely attended a synagogue-like community center where
he received his early education in Jewish literature, Scripture, history, and
theology.
Mordecai’s faithfulness to God and concern for his people is
outstanding. Mordecai’s declaration to Esther in chapter 4:12-14 was most
likely born out of some sort of instruction in Jewish religion and history:
They
related Esther’s words to Mordecai. Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther,
“Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the
Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise
for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish.
And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”
Mordecai knows the promises of Yahweh God, and that He will
preserve His people from His own glory’s sake. His warning to Esther,
therefore, reveals his Jewish grounding and faith in a God who is sovereign
even over foreign king and nations. Esther 10 also indicates that Mordecai was
esteemed by the Jewish people (presumably in the Diaspora) and that he was very
considerate of his people’s welfare. His consideration for his people could
only be born out of a true love of God and a commitment to the people of God
living abroad.[2]
Mordecai’s position at the king’s gate is not completely
clear. Esther 2:5 says, “Now there was at the citadel in Susa a Jew whose name
was Mordecai…” Verse19 elaborates and says, “When the virgins were gathered
together the second time, then Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate.”
Finally, verse 21 says, “In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the
king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s officials from those who
guarded the door became angry and sought to lay hands on King Xerxes.” So we
find that not only does Mordecai live either in or every close to the citadel,
he was among the royal courtiers. Therefore, it is reasonable to believe that
he was himself a courtier or royal official of some sort.[3] Robert Gordis contends
that since the text states that Mordecai was sitting at the gate he was an appointed official who was able to
dispense justice.[4]
He states that throughout the ANE, the gate of a city was where officials or
elders gathered to decide cases and admit foreigners. The litigant would stand
while the official sat to hear his case.[5] As with Nehemiah, in order
to obtain such a position, he would have needed to know Aramaic well and be
well versed in Persian court matters and protocol with the many nationalities
under Persian rule. This would have required a Persian education as well.
Esther 2:5-6 indicates that Mordecai’s ancestors were taken
into exile with Jehoiachin the king of Judah. Thus, it could be said that
Mordecai’s family was among the high ranking nobility in Judah when
Nebuchadnezzar conquered it.[6] This would mean that
Mordecai’s ancestors were given elite privileges and were trained for court
service as were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Their rank, social
standing, and occupation as court officials would have been passed down through
the generations until it came to Mordecai, who was also trained to be a court
official.
The next post will explore Mordecai’s position and character
in regards to his actions towards the King and Haman.
[1]
Mervin Breneman, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther,
New American Commentary 10 (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1993), 315.
[2]
Breneman, 115.
[3]
Jon D. Levenson, Esther: A Commentary, The
Old Testament Library (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1997), 56.
[4]
Robert Gordis, “Studies in the Esther Narrative,” Journal of Biblical Literature 95, no 1 (Mar 1976): 48.
[5]
Gordis, 48.
[6]
Joyce G. Baldwin, Esther, Tyndale Old
Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1984), 65.
Nice. I enjoyed this one.
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