Praise the Lord Jesus Christ, please study this chapter and then answer all 7 questions at the end of this chapter.

Esther Chapter 10

Verses 1-3: In this apparent postscript, we learn that Mordecai became “second” in the kingdom, much like Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon. Not only did his obedience gain him the favor of God and man, but he spent his years doing what every leader should do: “seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed (Psalm 122:8-9).

Mordecai held the office of first minister no longer than eight years. Secular history records that another man was in that office (in 465 B.C.).

10:1 “And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and [upon] the isles of the sea.”

Which include all his dominions, both on the continent, and on the sea, the Aegean Sea. Though Aben Ezra thinks it regards such as were not under his government, but stood in fear of him, of whom he demanded tribute. Though some understand this of his renewing the taxes and tribute, which he remitted upon his marriage with Esther (Esther 2:18).

Possibly, this was a re-assessing of the tribute, which today is called taxes. The king of Persia had lost part of his territory in a battle with Greece. This perhaps, is to re-adjust the tribute to a fairer amount.

Esther 10:2 “And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?”

As Xerxes was a very mighty and powerful king.

“And the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him”: The history of that, and which tended not a little to the greatness, dignity and prosperity of the king himself, and his whole kingdom.

“Are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?” To which the reader is referred by the writer of this book, which were in being in his times, but now lost. Had they been preserved, they might have been of great use to lead into the history of the Medes and Persians, which for want of them is very dark and intricate. The writer of this book having nothing further to do with it, than as it related to the affairs of the Jews.

It appears, that Mordecai became a very powerful second in command. The record book for Persia, also contains the events of Media. This explains that Mordecai found favor with the king. The only way the king could advance him was in the money he made and in the authority. Since he was second in command, the only office left if he were promoted would have been king.

Esther 10:3 “For Mordecai the Jew [was] next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.”

“Mordecai … was next”: Mordecai joined the top echelon of Jewish international statesman like Joseph, who ranked second in the Egyptian dynasty (Gen. 41:37-45), and Daniel, who succeeded in both the Babylonian (Dan. 2:46-49; 5;29), and Medo-Persian Empires (Dan. 6:28).

“Seeking the wealth of his people”: Less than 10 years later (ca. 465 B.C.), Ahasuerus was assassinated. There are no further details concerning Esther and Mordecai. What Mordecai did for less than a decade on behalf of Israel, Jesus Christ will do for all eternity as the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6-7; Zech. 9:9-10).

Mordecai in Persia was much like Joseph in Egypt. As long as he lived, he helped his people.

Esther 10: Questions