Esther 10

King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the empire, to its distant shores. Esther 10:1

Wiersbe comments: “Some Bible students think that it was Mordecai who engineered this new system of tribute as a substitute for war and plunder as a source of kingdom wealth…Didn’t the people of the empire, Jews and Gentiles alike, have an obligation to their monarch?” [1]

This was not a local tax but one that reached the ends of the empire. After the Greeks defeated the Persian army and navy, the only isles of the sea left were Cyprus, Aradus and the island of Tyre. [2]

“And all his acts of power and might, together with a full account of the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king had promoted, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Media and Persia?” (10:2). While Xerxes was honored for his power, Mordecai seemed to attain greater honor. The record of his honor is noted in the Media and Persia chronicles. This is not a reference to the biblical books of Chronicles, but it is a reference to a long-lost book. Utley thinks it might have something to do with the king’s diary (cf. Esth. 2:23; 6:1). [3]

“Though the book bears Esther’s name, it concludes by praising Mordecai, a man devoted to the welfare of the Jews.” [4] “This brief chapter tells us that Mordecai, unlike his predecessor Haman, used his office to serve the king and help the Jews.” [5] We note in the Bible from Joseph in Egypt, to Daniel in Babylon, to Mordecai in Persia, the Jews made very able administrators. That same pattern has continued through history to modern and postmodern times. All this points to the final administrator of the earth, the Jewish Lord Jesus at his return. In Zechariah 9:10 we read of him, “…He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.”

“Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews” (10:3). Mordecai was valued by both the Persians and Jews. He was not afraid to speak up in defense of his own people, the Jews. We might look at him as a deeply spiritual statesman who was invaluable to the king and everyone in the kingdom. It is sad that we have so few of these types of leaders in our political world today.

With this, the interesting Book of Esther draws to a close. The little book has shown us how “…the hand of God can move in a supernaturally-natural way.” [6] The little Book of Esther “…reaches across the centuries to join hands with believers today, and to say to the church: Be Committed!” [7]

Footnotes

1. Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, OT, p. 822.

2. Barnes, Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible, Commentary on Esther, v. 10:1.

3. Utley, Free Bible Commentary, Esther, v. 10:2.

4. Anders, g. ed. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Holman Old Testament Commentary, p. 372.

5. Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, OT, p. 822.

6. Guzik, Enduring Word Bible Commentary, Esther, v. 10:3.

7. Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, OT, p. 822.