Esther 2 Footnotes

Mordecai’s kindness to Esther reveals an important pro-life principle. He was willing to care for Esther when she was essentially destitute. His act provides an important example for believers today as they consider what can be done for the millions of unwanted babies and orphans throughout the world. Adoption is a biblical principle.

2:9 The king had numerous wives, which was customary for rulers of his day. The fact that the Bible acknowledges this does not mean that it condones it. To the contrary, the Bible makes it clear that God’s ideal is the union of one man and one woman for life (Gn 2:18-25).

2:17 Some critics contend that this marriage could not have occurred. They note that according to Herodotus the Persian kings agreed to restrict themselves to marrying only within a circle of seven noble families (Her 3:84). However, Herodotus also records that Darius, who was a party to the agreement, married three women, none of whom were related to any of those seven noble families (Her 3:88).

2:21-22 Mordecai persisted in his obedience despite the fact that Esther had been taken from him by that same government (v. 8). Mordecai’s behavior exemplified the biblical command to obey the ruling authorities (1Pt 2:13-17).