Read Esther 10
The Greatness of Mordecai
10 King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the empire, to its distant shores. 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? 3 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.
Go Deeper
At first glance, Esther 10 might seem a bit unnecessary. What can we actually learn about God from three verses at the end of a book in which God is never mentioned? We can learn quite a bit, actually.
In the first two verses, we find it harder to see anything to apply to our lives, but this is why Scripture is amazing. In verses 1 and 2, we read about King Xerxes, saying he “imposed tribute throughout the empire, to its distant shores.” This seems insignificant to us today, but here we see the scope of the power of King Xerxes. He holds the power to enforce a tax all the way to the edges of an empire that pushed the borders of modern-day Greece and India! The author, in verse 2, essentially tells the ancient readers to fact-check him in the records of Xerxes’ rule.
Once the power of Xerxes had been firmly established in the reader’s mind, the author moves to point out that Mordecai, the Jewish man, was second in power only to Xerxes himself over this massive empire. Not only was he second in command, but he “worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.” Mordecai was given this power by God and he used it for the benefit of the people of God. Does this sound familiar to you?
Way back in Genesis 41, we read of a guy named Joseph. Joseph, too, was Jewish, and he was named second-in-command to Pharaoh, King of Egypt, at a time when Egypt was as powerful as anyone in the world. The point of drawing this parallel is this: God protects and provides for His people. Both Joseph and Mordecai went through tremendous trial before ascending to their positions, and both were used by God in positions of power to provide for His people (Joseph feeding them in the famine) and protect His people (Mordecai halting and reversing the edict to kill the Jews).
A final point from this section, as small as it is, is a reminder of the power of Scripture. Paul said it best in 2 Timothy 3:16-17:
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Questions
- What stood out to you most in these verses? Was it the power of Xerxes? The position of Mordecai? Or something else?
- Upon further reflection on your answer to question 1, what can we learn about God?
- Has this study changed the way you view the “insignificant details” in Scripture? How will this change how you read the Bible?
Keep Digging
Here is a link to an interactive map of the ancient world. If you’d like a visual of the size of the Persian Empire under King Xerxes, check out the map between 486-465 BC.
Leave a Comment Below
Join the Team
Interested in writing for the Bible Reading Plan? Email [email protected].
11 responses to “Esther 10”
3 “Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes . . .”
Wow! What a turn of fortune for Mordecai and the Jews! One minute they are on the brink of annihilation and the next they are sitting in high seats of power! Also, interesting that there is no mention of Esther in her eponymous book!
It seems the book of Esther can be summed up with future scripture:
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8:31
Praise God!! What a great book!
Yes and Amen…
Well put!
Integrity matters. What you do, how you act and what you say when no one is looking.
From the beginning of this book we see that God is not mentioned BUT GOD is in the middle of ALL things.
Pride is our downfall and humility is an answer. We have to trust Him in the unknowns. Even when… fear is the snare Proverbs 29:25: “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
We were all created for such a time as this. We all have purpose in this life.
God’s timing is always perfect. There are no such things as coincidences. Sometimes there are silences, or timing that is not what we expect, BUT GOD.
Faith equals stepping out. Plenty of times in the Word people took the first step then God did what He had purposed. It is up to us to be bold and take that first step in faith. Fasting and prayer is how Esther took that first step into faith.
Don’t give up even when it looks hopeless. Take that first step. God can move the fear into victory if we take the action.
Remember what, how, when and why God did for you as you move forward. We can celebrate the faithfulness of God and the victory we have through Jesus Christ. Choose joy! Tough times will be a part of all our lives BUT GOD is with us.
God when things get hard I feel discouraged and wonder where You are and what You are doing. I know in my head knowledge that You are working but my heart knowledge wonders. Thank You for me choosing courage, integrity and faith. Help me to take that first step in faith. God Esther took that first step after fasting and prayer, God I need to be better at this. God thank You for humility, trust, faith, and to remember. God thank You for today, these minutes of this day to hear with listening ears, shema, then to respond in obedience. God You have been so so good to me all my days. I am so grateful thankful and blessed beyond words ability to express. Thank You that my actions show You as well. God thank You for all the minutes of this day that I can glorify and honor You in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.
“Integrity matters. What you do, how you act and what you say when no one is looking.”
Wow, does that one really hit home right now….
And all God’s people said, “Amen!”
“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” (v3).
I love how this final chapter of Esther wrapped up focusing on Mordecai’s character. Lots can be said about how someone handles power, prestige and position.Scripture records that he remained true to seeking the welfare of his people, just as he had done when he sat outside the king’s gate.
To me, this last chapter reads like a biblical “Amen.”
After everything that has come before — the danger, the courage, all those pivotal, dramatic plot points — we’re left with just three verses.
They don’t add new drama or reveal hidden motives. They don’t even list Esther in the final credits. Instead, they function like an epilogue: a brief, quiet settling of the story.
Which makes me pause and ask this question: why are epilogues so important?
Epilogues exist because stories don’t really end at the climax. They answer the question we don’t always think to ask: What remains once the crisis passed?
They end when we understand what LASTED.
Reading these verses as epilogue, we see they don’t advance the plot — but settle it. They answer the unspoken question: What did all of this amount to once the dust cleared?
In Esther, the dust has very much cleared. The danger is gone. The reversal is complete. What remains is structure, order, memory and influence.
That matters because most of life is lived AFTER the dramatic turning point.
These verses tell us that what God accomplished didn’t evaporate once the crisis passed. Power was recorded. Leadership endured. Advocacy continued. In other words, righteousness didn’t just rescue — it stabilized.
This is deeply practical in light of 2 Timothy 3:16–17. Scripture is equipping us not only to survive moments of courage, but to live faithfully in the long aftermath.
Finally, epilogues signal closure without finality.
Esther’s story ends, but the people’s story continues. Mordecai’s work continues. God’s covenant purposes continue. The epilogue doesn’t say, “And everyone lived happily ever after.” It says, in effect, “And this good work was carried forward.”
That may be why these verses were included.
Not to teach us something new about the plot —
but to teach us how God values the quiet faithfulness that comes after obedience has already been proven.
Which perhaps is why this book ends not with spectacle — but its own quiet “Selah.”
These verses tell us that what God accomplished didn’t evaporate once the crisis passed. Power was recorded. Leadership endured. Advocacy continued. In other words, righteousness didn’t just rescue — it stabilized. Yes, stabilized! Grounded comes to mind with this word as we are grounded in Christ
Love your sharing.
Thank you, Diane!
Mordecai, who rose to prominence, used his position for the good of his people.
This is a reminder that wherever God places us, we can be a force for good. As it is written, “Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews” vs 3.
Use your influence wisely and for the glory of God.