Other Talmudic discussions blame Galileans and other westerners for their faulty elocution; perhaps that was intended more than the specific location. A. Nevertheless, when we comb through rabbinic texts, we can see that many medieval rabbis (even some Ashkenazim) made use of “non-traditional” sources,[9]including the Septuagint, the Peshitta, the Apocrypha, and, yes, even the Vulgate. The Feast of Lots is instituted - Esther 9:30-32. 1 When Mordecai learned all that was happening, he tore his garments, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went through the city crying out loudly and bitterly, a 2 till he came before the royal gate, which no one clothed in sackcloth might enter. Let’s see how this came about. The Festival of Purim was established by Mordecai to remind Jewish people how they were saved by Queen Esther and Mordecai from extermination. It can be difficult to know how to remain separate from the world and yet engaged with the world, but we should regularly examine our thoughts, motives, and actions to make sure we have not become worldly people but remain faithful servants of Christ. 4 2:48). First published in Tabletalk Magazine, an outreach of Ligonier. Esther 2:19 tells us that Mordecai served "within the king's gate." It is unknown if Mordecai had a family of his own, but he did adopt Esther, his cousin, as his own daughter when her parents died and left her an orphan. 521, is recorded to have cast aside his wife and directs that it be heralded throughout the domain that he is in search of a new spouse. [8] The above is Ralph Marcus’s translation from the Loeb edition. Mordecai and Esther were among those who did so. He had someone entrusted to his care just as our children are given to us. This show both his keen sense of responsibility and his compassion. The biblical text is straightforward (Esth 2:7): According to the Megillah, Esther is the daughter of Mordechai’s uncle, and thus, Esther and Mordechai are first cousins. Fix that problem! Mordecai and Esther were among those who did so. 2:12–18). Esther is described in all versions of the Book of Esther as the Jewish queen of a Persian king Ahasuerus. The Next 500 Years: 2017 National Conference, Regarding the Present in Light of the Future, Show Me Your Glory: Understanding the Majestic Splendor of God, Naming Ligonier the Beneficiary of a Bank or Investment Account, Gifts That Provide Income and Tax Benefits. What was the biological relationship between Esther and Mordechai? The Ligonier Ministries site requires Javascript, but you’ve got Javascript disabled. Not all the Jews returned to the promised land when Cyrus issued his decree for them to go back to Judah in 538 BC. If in the case of Esther and Mordechai, the use of the Vulgate is unintentional (i.e., picked up unconsciously from the surrounding culture, perhaps as a consequence of the age disparity between them). For permissions, view our Copyright Policy. And what is your request, up to half the kingdom? Esther and Mordecai take action - Esther 4:1 - 5:14. [9] E.g., Saadiah, Hai, Ibn Ezra, Rambam, Ibn Aknin, Ramban, and many others. Directed by Louis Feuillade. Donate Now. Academic Study of the Torah Is Essential, Not Just for Academics, Study the Torah with Academic Scholarship, By using this site you agree to our Terms of Use. They readily assimilated to the cultures around them. But his and Esther’s willingness to compromise by having Esther marry Ahasuerus was clearly contrary to God’s law (Est. [5] Tosafot noted that this spelling occurs elsewhere. 2:20). Both of them have names most likely related to Persian gods—Marduk for Mordecai and Ishtar for Esther—indicating a certain willingness on the part of their families to blend in with the Persians. Mordecai knew this (Esther 4:14). No traditional rabbinic text claims that Mordechai was Esther’s uncle, but the idea has both popular currency[7] and support in early texts. Henrietta Szold and Paul Radin; Skokie: Varda Books ed., 2003), 1140, 1142, in which he uses the language of uncle and niece to describe their relationship. “Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him” (v. 20). When we look at the Dead Sea Scrolls, early texts from approximately the same time as the writing of the Megillah, we see the term rovused as “the community,” not “the majority.” Perhaps, then, the meaning of the phrase is actually “liked by the community of his people.”. Ostensibly, that should close the matter, but as almost anyone who has visited a school at Purim time (or has discussed the matter with his children or grandchildren) knows, it is not that simple. Thus, bat and bayyit may have been phonetically equivalent to the authors of the midrash, perhaps even sounding identical. With Renée Carl, Léonce Perret, Madeleine Roch, Alice Tissot. Please consider supporting TheTorah.com. Thankfully, the king held out his scepter. 1). Jews such as Daniel and his friends may have taken great measures to remain distinct from the wider pagan culture, but Mordecai and Esther did not (see Dan. (Esther 4:13 –14). Hello, Jewish guilt. Mordecai was a human being just like us. Why, at this time of success, he should not have earned everyone’s respect bothered many commentators, and numerous explanations have been offered. Many of them, in fact, preferred to remain in Babylon and elsewhere, having built lives for themselves. 2 But he could go only as far as the palace gate, because no one wearing sackcloth was allowed inside the palace. Mordecai was hated by Haman, an Agagite who held a prominent office in the kingdom. window.location.replace(""); Mordecai reports the plot to Esther, and the queen passes the intelligence on to Xerxes. [6] If they were married, did they get divorced? She was scared. We rely on the support of readers like you. Mordecai refused to bow down before him; and Haman, being stung to the quick by the conduct of Mordecai, resolved to accomplish his death in a wholesale destruction of the Jewish exiles throughout the Persian empire ( Esther 3:8-15). [2] In some cases this still happens in modern times. script type="text/javascript"> The relationship of Esther and Mordecai as cousins is evidenced by the identification of Esther in 2:7 as the daughter of Mordecai's uncle and as the daughter of the brother of Mordecai's father. in all its fullness to as many people as possible. Mordecai had a specific vision of Esther saving all of the Jewish people. Mordecai informed Esther of law and advised her to speak with the king. In the narrative, Ahasuerus seeks a new wife after his queen, Vashti, refuses to obey him, and Esther is chosen for her beauty.The king's chief adviser, Haman, is offended by Esther's cousin and guardian, Mordecai, and gets permission from the king to have all the Jews in the kingdom killed. Marcus includes this note: Marcus includes no references, so it is unclear to what he is referring. Furious, Haman sought a way to avenge himself for what he took as a slight. Another tradition first recorded during the Middle Ages places the graves of Esther and Mordechai in the Galilean archaeological site of Kfar Bar'am, close to the kibbutz of the same name, Bar'am, along Israel's northern border with Lebanon. In this post, instead of discussing Queen Esther, we will focus on her guardian, Mordecai, and the antagonist (or villain) in the story, Haman. What Was Esther's Relationship to Mordechai? The term bat is understood as bayyit, which often carries the meaning “wife” in rabbinic exegesis. The would-be assassins are stopped, and Mordecai’s name is recorded in the king’s chronicles as the one who took action to preserve the king’s life. And when it was her turn to go to the king, she did not ask for anything except what Hegai, the king's trusted official in charge of the harem, had advised. https://thetorah.com/article/what-was-esthers-relationship-to-mordechai, Biblical, Traditional, and Not-So-Traditional Interpretations. Esther 2:15 Now Esther was the daughter of Abihail, the uncle from whom Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter. Because he … Mordecai would not bow to Haman. And if one interprets Esther 2:5-6 as meaning Mordecai was the one taken captive by Jehoiachin, as some believe, which happened in 597 B.C., then Astyages fits this king very well since Esther 1:3 states that the events happened in the kings third year. God uses ordinary people. Mordecai was Esther's adoptive father, mentor, confidante, cheerleader, and fellow leader to stand for the rights of their Jewish community. During this period, the Jews had to decide what to do about their religion and culture. 3 ) nonprofit organization.We rely on the support of readers like you executed - Esther.... Against idolatry—refused to bow down to Haman, an outreach of Ligonier occurs elsewhere when he learns of Jewish. Because he … 19 Now when the virgins were gathered together the time... 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