Mordecai

Biblical Account

Mordecai appears in chapters 2–10 of the Book of Esther. Esther 2:5-7 introduces him as a Jew living in Shushan (Susa), the capital of Persia, and as a descendant of Kish of the tribe of Benjamin. His family had been among the captives carried away from Jerusalem when Nebuchadnezzar took Jeconiah, king of Judah, into exile. Interpreters differ on whether the one carried away was Mordecai himself or his great-grandfather Kish. He raised his orphaned cousin Hadassah, that is, Esther, as his own daughter.

• After Esther became queen to King Ahasuerus, Mordecai, sitting at the king's gate, uncovered a plot by the king's chamberlains to harm the king and reported it. The matter was written in the book of the chronicles (Esther 2:21-23).
• When he refused to bow to Haman, Haman obtained a decree ordering the destruction of all the Jews in the empire (Esther 3).
• Mordecai mourned in sackcloth and urged Esther to go before the king. On this occasion he said, "And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14).
• The king, unable to sleep, had the chronicles read to him, learned of Mordecai's service, and honored him. Haman was hanged on the gallows he had built for Mordecai (Esther 6–7).
• Mordecai received the king's ring and issued a decree permitting the Jews to defend themselves, and he sent letters instructing them to keep Purim (Esther 8–9).
• He is recorded as having risen to the position next to the king and as one who sought the welfare of his people (Esther 10:3).

Significance Within Scripture

The Book of Esther never mentions the name of God directly. Nevertheless, because Mordecai's forgotten service comes to light at the decisive moment, the book is commonly read as a story displaying God's providence. Some interpreters also connect the conflict between Mordecai, a descendant of Kish, and Haman the Agagite with 1 Samuel 15, where Saul spared Agag, king of Amalek. The New Testament does not mention Mordecai.

Interpretation and Points of Debate

• His refusal to bow: The text reports only that he had told them he was a Jew (Esther 3:4). Proposed explanations include the view that he could not pay homage to anyone other than God and the view that his refusal stemmed from the long-standing enmity with Amalek, among others.
• The Greek additions: The Septuagint version of Esther contains additional material, including Mordecai's dream and prayer. In this prayer Mordecai says that he refused to bow in order to give glory to God alone. The Catholic Church accepts these sections as deuterocanonical, while Protestantism regards them as apocryphal and does not include them in the canon.
• Assessment: Opinions differ regarding his instruction to Esther to conceal her nationality (Esther 2:10) and the reprisals described in chapter 9.
• Historicity: Many scholars hold that his name derives from Marduk, the Babylonian god. Some link him to a "Marduka" named in documents found at Persepolis, but whether they are the same person is uncertain. The same name also appears in Ezra 2:2, but it cannot be determined whether this is the same individual.

In the Korean Church

Esther 4:14 is frequently quoted in Korean church preaching, where it is used to exhort believers to regard the position in which they have been placed as a place of calling. Mordecai is commonly presented as a man who kept his faith under pressure and as the guardian who raised Esther. He also features in Sunday school lessons on the story of Esther.