Esther 2:19-3:4 NLT
19 Even after all the young women had been transferred to the second harem and Mordecai had become a palace official, 20 Esther continued to keep her family background and nationality a secret. She was still following Mordecai’s directions, just as she did when she lived in his home.
Mordecai’s Loyalty to the King
21 One day as Mordecai was on duty at the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthana and Teresh—who were guards at the door of the king’s private quarters—became angry at King Xerxes and plotted to assassinate him. 22 But Mordecai heard about the plot and gave the information to Queen Esther. She then told the king about it and gave Mordecai credit for the report. 23 When an investigation was made and Mordecai’s story was found to be true, the two men were impaled on a sharpened pole. This was all recorded in The Book of the History of King Xerxes’ Reign.
Haman’s Plot against the Jews
3 Some time later King Xerxes promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite over all the other nobles, making him the most powerful official in the empire. 2 All the king’s officials would bow down before Haman to show him respect whenever he passed by, for so the king had commanded. But Mordecai refused to bow down or show him respect.
3 Then the palace officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why are you disobeying the king’s command?” 4 They spoke to him day after day, but still he refused to comply with the order. So they spoke to Haman about this to see if he would tolerate Mordecai’s conduct, since Mordecai had told them he was a Jew.
Examine the Scriptures
Esther 2:19-3:4 NLT
19 Even after all the young women had been transferred to the second harem and Mordecai had become a palace official,
Not all translations describe Mordecai as “a palace official”.
Many translations say that “Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate.”
Verse 21 states: 21 One day as Mordecai was on duty at the king’s gate,
Esther 3:3 clearly states that officials of the king sat at the king’s gate.
3 Then the palace officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why are you disobeying the king’s command?”
Mordecai being at the king’s gate probably meant that Mordecai held an official position in the empire’s judicial system.
Court cases were decided and much official business was conducted at the gate.
- Mordecai is becoming even more assimilated into the Persian culture.
- God’s sovereignty is evident. Putting Mordecai at the right place at the right time.
20 Esther continued to keep her family background and nationality a secret.
This is mentioned twice.
Esther 2:10 NLT
10 Esther had not told anyone of her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had directed her not to do so.
- Esther continues to keep her Jewish nationality a secret.
This will be important for the rest of the story.
She was still following Mordecai’s directions, just as she did when she lived in his home.
Esther 2:7 NLT
7 This man had a very beautiful and lovely young cousin, Hadassah, who was also called Esther. When her father and mother died, Mordecai adopted her into his family and raised her as his own daughter.
Ephesians 6 NLT
Children and Parents (A familiar Biblical principle.)
1 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”
Exodus 20:12 & Deuteronomy 5:16
Mordecai would have been aware of the prejudice many Persians felt toward the Jews.
- Esther still followed Mordecai’s directions even after she was married to the king.
Mordecai’s Loyalty to the King
21 One day as Mordecai was on duty at the king’s gate,
This was more than a social activity for men from the city. It was an actual job.
Court cases were decided and official business was conducted at the gate.
God’s sovereignty is clearly at work.
two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthana and Teresh—who were guards at the door of the king’s private quarters—became angry at King Xerxes and plotted to assassinate him.
Guards at the king’s private quarters would have easy access to the king.
22 But Mordecai heard about the plot and gave the information to Queen Esther.
Respect for Authority (Another important Biblical principle.)
Romans 13:1-5
13:1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.
If Mordecai had not been “on duty at the King’s gate”, he would not have heard of Bigthana and Teresh’s plan to assassinate the king.
- Mordecai heard two guards plotting to assassinate King Xerxes.
She then told the king about it and gave Mordecai credit for the report.
- Esther gave Mordecai credit for the report about Bigthana and Teresh’s plan to assassinate the king.
Another display of respect from Esther toward Mordecai.
23 When an investigation was made and Mordecai’s story was found to be true, the two men were impaled on a sharpened pole.
Many translations say “they were both hanged on a tree”.
- Being impaled on a sharpened pole was not an unusual method of execution in the Persian Empire.
Darius, Xerxes’ father, was known to have once impaled 3,000 men.
Ezra 6 NLT
1 So King Darius … 11 “Those who violate this decree in any way will have a beam pulled from their house. Then they will be lifted up and impaled on it …
Most translations use “impaled” in this verse.
A different time and place.
The story of Jonah.
Jonah was being sent to Nineveh in Assyria.
Nineveh was a city of violence, known for its brutal treatment of those it conquered. The Assyrians were notorious for impaling their captives.
This was all recorded in The Book of the History of King Xerxes’ Reign.
This is significant. It is a good thing that this event was recorded.
At this point in the story Mordecai did not receive any recognition for his actions.
Looking ahead to chapter 6:
Esther 6:1-3
The King Honors Mordecai
6 That night the king had trouble sleeping, so he ordered an attendant to bring the book of the history of his reign so it could be read to him. 2 In those records he discovered an account of how Mordecai had exposed the plot of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who guarded the door to the king’s private quarters. They had plotted to assassinate King Xerxes.
3 “What reward or recognition did we ever give Mordecai for this?” the king asked.
His attendants replied, “Nothing has been done for him.”
Haman’s Plot against the Jews
3:1Some time later
Esther 1:3 NLT
3 In the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. He invited all the military officers of Persia and Media as well as the princes and nobles of the provinces.
Esther 2:16 NLT
16 Esther was taken to King Xerxes at the royal palace in early winter of the seventh year of his reign.
Esther 3:7 NLT
7 So in the month of April, during the twelfth year of King Xerxes’ reign, lots were cast in Haman’s presence (the lots were called purim) to determine the best day and month to take action. And the day selected was March 7, nearly a year later.
4-9 years have passed since chapter 1.
- It is taking years (4-9) for this story to develop.
Practice Patience
Psalm 37:7
7 Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Psalm 27:14 NLT
14 Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
Psalm 40:1 NLT
1 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
King Xerxes promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite
A descendant of Agag, king of the Amalekites.
over all the other nobles, making him the most powerful official in the empire.
- Haman was promoted sometime between the seventh and twelfth year of King Xerxes reign.
This occurred after Mordecai had saved the king from assignation.
Mordecai may have been expecting a reward for saving the king but no reward was given.
2 All the king’s officials would bow down before Haman to show him respect whenever he passed by, for so the king had commanded.
- Along with this promotion came the command from the king for the officials to bow down before Haman whenever he passed by.
This would be a show of respect, not a form of worship.
But Mordecai refused to bow down or show him respect.
Pride?
Enmity between the Jews and the Amalekites?
No specific reason for not bowing down is given other than that he was a Jew.
- Mordecai refused to bow down before Haman.
3 Then the palace officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why are you disobeying the king’s command?” 4 They spoke to him day after day, but still he refused to comply with the order.
So they spoke to Haman about this to see if he would tolerate Mordecai’s conduct, since Mordecai had told them he was a Jew.
- Mordecai revealed his Jewish identity. (Something he had told Esther not to do.)
