Advises Esther, Es 2:5-20; informs Esther of a conspiracy, Es 2:21-23; refuses to bow down to Haman, Es 3:3-6; dressed in royal clothes, Es 6:1-11; made second to the king, Es 8:1-15; 10:3
Mordecai (Heb. Mordekay and Mordekây, “little man” or “servant of Merodach”; from a Bab. name, Mardukâ, borne by several Jews living in the time of Artaxerxes, according to Bab. cun. records). 1. Jewish leader who returned with Zerubbabel (Ezr 2:2; Neh 7:7). 2. Benjamite, son or descendant of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish (Est 2:5). Mordecai is presented as an official at the gate of the palace in Susa (vs 5, 21) who had brought up Hadassah, * or Esther, * his uncle’s daughter (v 7). When King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) deposed Queen Vashti and a replacement was sought, Esther was chosen for the vacancy (vs 8-20). When Mordecai learned of a plot against the king’s life, he warned him through Esther, and the conspirators were executed (Est 2: 21-23). By refusing to bow down to Haman, * the Prime Minister, he incurred his enmity. Some believe that it was possibly the fact that Haman was a descendant of ancient Amalekite kings that prompted Mordecai to engage in such behavior. As revenge, Haman made plans to destroy not only him but also the entire Jewish nation, and obtained permission from the king to carry out his plan (3:1-15). When Mordecai found out, he asked Esther to speak to the king, which she promised to do after a period of fasting (4:1-17). When he went to see the king he invited him to a banquet together with Haman, and at the banquet Esther repeated the invitation for the next day, deferring her request until then (5:1-8). Leaving the palace to return home after the 1st banquet, feeling important for the high honor bestowed on him, Haman was furious that Mordecai refused to honor him. He immediately set about preparing a large mast to impale it the next day (vs 9-14). That night the king, unable to sleep, to entertain himself asked an officer to read him the royal chronicles. There was found the record of the conspiracy against his life, which had failed because of Mordecai’s report. The monarch discovered that this faithful servant had not received any reward. The next morning he asked Haman what should be done with whom the king wished to honor. Thinking that it was himself, he suggested that the person be dressed in royal clothes, paraded through the streets on the king’s horse and proclaimed in front of him that this was done to whom he wanted to honor. The king accepted the suggestion and ordered Haman to take care of Mordecai himself, omitting no details (6:1-14). During the 2nd banquet, Esther revealed to the king Haman’s conspiracy to eliminate his own nation, and the plan received a favorable decision from him: Haman was executed, Mordecai was appointed in his place, and the king signed a decree allowing the Jews defend themselves against those who wish to destroy them (7:1-9:16). During the Second World War, Prof. A. Ungnad found a cuneiform tablet 752 in the Berlin Museum in which a certain man, named Mardukâ, the equivalent of Mordecai, appears as one of the state officials in Susa during the reign of Xerxes. His title, sipîr, indicates that he was an influential advisor. The discovery of this text has been accepted as proof that Mordecai was a historical figure, which many scholars had questioned. That Mordecai became very popular and honored by his people in his day (Esther 10:3) is corroborated by the fact that many Jews in the next generation bore his name, as the records of the ancient business enterprise reveal.” Sons of Murashu” from Nippur. See Agagite. 337. The supposed sarcophagus of Queen Esther and Mordecai in the traditional tomb of Esther in Hamadan (see also fig. 212).
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
belonging to the god Marduk. Name of two men in the OT 1. Name of one of those who returned from captivity in Babylon with Zerubbabel, Esd 2, 2; Ne 7, 7. 2. Son of Yaír, of the tribe of Benjamin, deported to Babylon, in the year 597 a. C., along with Jeconías, king of Judah, by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, Est 2, 6. He lived in the city of Susa with Esther, his niece orphan of father and mother, whom he adopted as a daughter, Est 2, 5 -7. After the machinations of Haman, first of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, then of the king, against the Jews, and Esther being in the harem of the Persian sovereign, M. becomes the man who frees the Jews from the massacre, since he tells his niece what she must do before the king to save her persecuted people. Haman is discovered and his crimes known to the king, after which M. becomes the most powerful man after King Ahasuerus, and the Jews escape being killed. In commemoration of the liberation of the Jewish people, M. and Esther established the festival of Purim, or lots, which is also called “Mordecai Day”, Est 9, 24-26.
Digital Bible Dictionary, Grupo C Service & Design Ltda., Colombia, 2003
Source: Digital Bible Dictionary
(Heb., mordechay, from Marduk, chief god of Babylon).
1. A chief of the people of Judah during the return from exile with Zerubbabel (Ezr 2:2; Neh 7:7).
2. The liberator of the Jews in the book of Esther. He was a Benjamite who had been deported during the reign of Jehoiachin (Es 2:5-6). He lived in Susa, the Persian capital, and raised his cousin Esther because her parents were dead (Esther 2:7). When Esther was taken to the royal harem, Mordecai forbade her to reveal his nationality (Esther 2:20); but he kept in touch with her. Sitting by the royal gate, Mordecai discovered a plot against the king. By informing Esther of the plot, he secured the execution of the two eunuchs responsible (Esther 2:19-23). When Haman was appointed chief magistrate, Mordecai incurred his wrath by refusing to kneel before him. To avenge the slight, Haman obtained a decree from the king to destroy the Jews (ch. 3). Mordecai then sent Esther to see the king and ask for protection for his people (ch. 4). Meanwhile, Haman prepared a towering gallows on which he intended to hang Mordecai (ch. 5).
Due to a series of unique and dramatic events, Haman lost his popularity and was hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai (ch. 7). Mordecai succeeded him as the king’s chief magistrate (ch. 8). The book of Esther ends with the account of Mordecai’s fame and dignity (ch. 10).
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
(relative to Marduk). Name of people from the OT.
1. One of the leaders of those who returned from exile with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:2).
. Esther’s cousin. He belonged to a family of those transported by Nebuchadnezzar from Jerusalem. Since most important people were exiled and since one of his ancestors was called † ¢ Cis, it is thought that he was a Benjamite from Saul’s family. He lived in Susa in the days of King Ahasuerus (486-465 BC). When Esther’s parents died he “adopted her as his daughter” (Esther 2:7). When Esther was taken to the palace of King Ahasuerus, M. instructed her not to say where she came from, but every day † œshe walked in front of the courtyard of the women’s house, to find out how Esther was doing † (Est 2 :eleven). There he learned of a plot against the life of the king and told his cousin, and saved the life of the sovereign (Est 2: 21-23). Learning of Haman’s conspiracy against the Jews, he informed Esther of what was happening and suggested that he intercede with Ahasuerus (Est 4: 1-14). M. refused to bow down to Haman (Es 5:9). Then Ahasuerus remembered M.’s service and commanded Haman to honor him (Est 6:1-11). When Esther exposed Haman’s plot, Haman was hanged and the Jews were able to defend their lives (Esther 7:1-10). Esther declared to the king his relationship with M. and he was honored as second in the kingdom and placed † œover the house of Haman † (Est 8: 1-2).
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
tip, BIOG HOMB HOAT
see, esther
vet, (possibly a Persian term, “little man,” or Akkadian, from “Marduk,” the chief god of Babylon. See also ESTHER). (a) A Benjaminite, son or descendant of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin (Esther 2:5). The relative term “which” in v. 6 may refer to the last name in the genealogy (cf. 2 Chron. 22:9), indicating that Cys the Benjamite was deported with King Jeconiah to Babylon in 597 BC, unless the relative refers to an earlier name like Jair. In such a case, Mordecai would descend from Jair, a Benjamite deported to Babylon at the same time as Jeconiah. He raised Hadassah (Esther), the daughter of his uncle. Mordecai adopted her when she lost her father and mother. Esther followed her instructions during the events that brought her to the throne of Persia as queen, one of the wives of Ahasuerus (Xerxes; Esther 2:7-20), who reigned from 486 to 464 BC. C. Mordecai informed the king, through Esther, of the imminence of an attack, the two conspirators were executed (Est. 2:21-23). Esther’s adoptive father refused to bow down to Haman (this was a normal sign of deference to a superior). The reason for the refusal of this submission was evidently Haman’s Amalekite ancestry (Amalekite, descendant of Agag). The despised dignitary decided to take revenge on Mordecai and all the Jews. The king gave him permission to do so (Esther 3:5-11). During a sleepless night, the sovereign had the annals of the kingdom read to him, and he learned that Mordecai, who had saved his life during the conspiracy of the two eunuchs, had not been rewarded. In the morning the king ordered Haman to take Mordecai, dressed in royal robes and mounted on the king’s horse, for a ride through Susa, and to proclaim before him: “Thus shall it be done to the man whose honor he desires.” the king”. This order was given to Haman precisely in the audience where he wanted to ask the king for permission to hang Mordecai on the gallows. Mordecai’s exaltation marked the beginning of the Agagite’s fall from grace, and he lost his life along with his children. Mordecai later came to occupy second place in the Empire (Est. 6-10). (b) Jew who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:2; Neh. 7:7).
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
1. Exile who returned to Jerusalem and Judah in 537 BC. CE after the seventy years of exile in Babylon. (Ezra 2: 1, 2.) He was an Israelite leader who collaborated with Zerubbabel and who appears in the first genealogical record of the repatriated community in Judah. (Ne 7:5-7.)
2. The “son of Jair the son of Shimei the son of Kish a Benjaminite.” (Est 2: 5.) Esther’s cousin, considerably older than her, who was hers † œcaretaker of her † of her. (Es 2:7) Mordecai is only mentioned in the Bible book of Esther, where the important role that…