Mordecai

Mordecai, a Benjamite, son or descendant of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish (Est 2:5). Mordecai is introduced as a gate official in the palace of 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 substitute was sought, Esther was chosen to fill the vacancy (vs 8—20). When Mordecai learned of a plot against the king's life, he warned Ahasuerus through Esther, and the conspirators were executed (Est 2:21—23). For refusing to bow down to Haman, the prime minister, Mordecai incurred his enmity.

Some believe that Mordecai's refusal was due to Haman's possible descent from the former Amalekite kings. In retaliation Haman plotted to destroy not only him but also the whole Jewish nation, and obtained the king's permission to carry out his plan (ch 3:1—15). When Mordecai learned of this he instructed Esther to speak to the king, which she promised to do after a period of fasting (ch 4:1—17). When Esther saw the king she invited him and Haman to a dinner, and at the dinner repeated the invitation for the following day, deferring presentation of her request until then (ch 5:1—8).

Returning home from his first dinner appointment with inflated feelings of the high honor that had been extended to him, Haman became furious when Mordecai, whom he met, refused to honor him. He immediately prepared a gallows, planning to impale Mordecai the next day (vs 9—14). That night the king, unable to sleep, for diversion had the official state chronicles read to him. Therein was found the account of a conspiracy against the king's life which failed because Mordecai, having learned of the plot, informed the king. The king discovered that his faithful servant had not been rewarded.

Next morning he asked Haman what to do for a man whom he wished to honor. Thinking that he himself was meant, Haman suggested that the man should be dressed in royal garments and be paraded through the streets on the king's horse. The king accepted the suggestion and ordered Haman himself so to honor Mordecai (ch 6:1—14). During the 2n d dinner Esther revealed to the king Haman's plot to wipe out her nation, and received a favorable decision from him. Haman was executed and Mordecai put in his place, and a decree was signed allowing the Jews to avenge themselves upon those who would destroy them (chs 7:1 to 9:16).