It is foolhardy to fight against God. Peter Prof. Rachel Adelman is Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible at Bostons Hebrew College. Haman was rich. is here translated as damage to the king. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? In all of these books, Jews are a minority in a larger society, and it is incumbent upon individual Jews to ensure Jewish continuity. It is not good to accept the person of the wicked. The Midrash relates that Mordechai and Haman were once on a boat together and Haman had no food. Esther Rabba 7:6 presents what is probably the most popular approach to this issue. In the end, Mordecai would need to impersonate Haman to defeat Haman. Haman, says the Midrash, poses the following question to Mordechai didnt your ancestor (Jacob) bow to my ancestor (Eisav)? .for the fear of the Jews was fallen upon them. Mordecai did not bow, though Haman seems not to have noticed. I understand that (one of) the reason(s) that Mordechai did not bow before Haman was that Haman wore an idol around his neck and therefore bowing to him would (appear to?) [14] In Jewish liturgy until the present day, the double form of prostration (kneeling and bowing) is mentioned in the Avodah prayer on Yom Kippur, which describes how the attendees would both prostrate themselves and bow before God and acknowledge God as king. A Nonprofit Media Company helping people closely read the Torah to discover its beauty, meaning and relevance, Connect:InstagramTikTokFacebookYoutubeApple PodcastsSpotify, Idolatry: An Attempt to Answer Mordecai's Story, Why Doesn't Mordecai Bow to Haman? 2:11) we can see he genuinely cared for and loved her. Whether Mordecai's matters would stand There must have been some ethnic prejudice. Whether Mordecai's matters would stand] Whether the religious scruples of a Jew would be tolerated in opposition to Persian laws and customs. He needed to actually do what his arch nemesis once only hoped to do: He needed to go out in the streets and virtually impersonate the king. Abraham ibn Ezra accepts this solution: Mordecai and Haman Character Study Bible Notes Adelman is now working on a new book, Daughters in Danger from the Hebrew Bible to Modern Midrash (forthcoming, Sheffield Phoenix Press). He delighted in controlling people. Why a kite flying at 1000 feet in "figure-of-eight loops" serves to "multiply the pulling effect of the airflow" on the ship to which it is attached? (Exodus 22:22-24, Deuteronomy 10:18, Psalms 10:17-18, 68:5, 82:3.) Rav Aharon was beaten severely, but Baruch Hashem his life was spared. 2 And all the king's servants who were within the king's gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But the Megillah doesn't actually confirm these details - and that raises the question: What is Mordecai's side of the story really about? Browse other questions tagged, Like any library, Mi Yodeya offers tons of great information, but, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. The Jews they seem so confident, is is like they've already won. Jacob The Malbim says that it wasn't about idolatry, but about a lack of fear for Haman -- Mordechai didn't rise out of fear for any consequence which is why this verse simply indicates that Haman was filled with anger, not anger at the Jews, , The Ralbag says that Mordechai wasn't showing any respect at all. This made Haman so angry that he petitioned the king to wipe out all the Jews18 and planned to have Mordecai strung up on a 50-cubit-tall tree.19. Rav Meidan notes that according to this Midrash, Haman parallels Tomas de Torquemada, the fifteenth-century spiritual leader of the Spanish Inquisition who influenced King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to torment the Jews of Spain. This was similar to the flood of judgment where God wiped out everyone except for Noah and his family. Prudent and sober judgment must be used to determine when to follow the different precedents. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. He promoted him in rank and gave him a higher position than all the other officials. Launched Shavuot 5773 / 2013 | Copyright Project TABS, All Rights Reserved, script type="text/javascript"> Read: Why Didn't Mordecai Bow to Haman? See e.g., the introduction in, Adele Berlin, The Book of Esther and its Literary World, JPS Bible Commentary, p. xli. @RobV - There two subtleties here - (1) the fact that a person did something in the Bible does not necessarily make it a principle that we should emulate, and, (2) Mordecai recognised the authority of Haman (by obeying) but would not show honour by bowing - a personal choice for unstated reasons. OT History: Esther 3:5 When Haman saw that Mordecai didn't bow (Est Esth. Here are two theories: Skip Advertisement And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. Thus, Mordechai said that he is following the precedent of his ancestor Binyamin. 3. The Amalekites, historically, were the persistent enemy of the Israelites and later the Jews after the northern tribe of Israel went into captivity and dispersed. She holds an M.A. At the end of the day, it is not about whose clothes you wear; it is about what ideals you serve. The Nationalistic Approach Esther Rabbah 7:8. Trust in God because His purposes will stand. It is very possible that after the events of Daniel in the Lions' den and the refusal of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo, that the Babylonian kings, and the Persian kings that followed, realized that exempting Jews from decrees requiring worship of anyone or anything other than their God was better than the rebellion that they faced due to their zealousness for the God of Israel. The reason that Mordecai did not bow down to Haman may have been that He and the Jews would only bow down to God: however the Jews would also bow down to their Kings. Purim: Mocking Persias Dat and Reaccepting the Torah. Mordecai, a descendant of Sauls line, son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin (Est. thetorah.com/why-did-mordecai-not-bow-down-to-haman, Starting the Prompt Design Site: A New Home in our Stack Exchange Neighborhood, Statement from SO: June 5, 2023 Moderator Action. Had the leader of our people, Mordechai, followed the precedent of Yaakov and bowed to Haman, he would have further intensified the assimilation of the Jewish people into Persian society. 15 as the Haftorah). 1. 8. This shows courage and a moral character many dont possess. Esther 3:1; Esther 3:6 THE PROSPEROUS WICKED MAN The Midrash (Yalkut Shimoni 953) interprets the words the kings servants that appears in the Pasuk (Esther 3:3) and the kings servants said to him (Mordechai), why do you violate the kings orders? as referring to Dayanim (rabbinic judges). On the other hand, God did use this plan in the chess match with Satan. // Javascript URL redirection It is also possible he didnt bow down to Haman because he knew what kind of person Haman was and didnt consider Haman worthy of it. Ezra I am instead suggesting that the use of the words korim u-mishtachavim in the Megillah text, in and of themselves, can explain to any and all of its readers why Mordechai refuses to bow and kneel to Haman. According to this Midrash, it is obvious why Mordechai refused to bow to Haman despite the danger. The Romans learned from the Greeks and they allowed the Jews to worship and exempted them from certain laws. Edited accordingly. Another explanation is found in Rashi ( Esther 3:2), who writes that Haman "made . Who was Agag? But, in the end, v'nahafoch hu: Things were reversed. Is the executive branch obligated to enforce the Supreme Court's decision on affirmative action? Job 5:2 For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one. In Esther 3:2-4 why did Mordecai refuse to obey? Both the Babylonians and Persians were super religious peoples and saw how God blessed the Jews for their obedience. How to resolve the ambiguity in the Boy or Girl paradox? And so, those who bowed to him also had to bow to the image. to hang haman ,while haman was begging for some So why did Mordechai imperil the entire Jewish people by refusing to bow to Haman? [10] Editors note: See discussion in Abraham J. Berkovitz, My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me? Jesus or Esther? TheTorah (2020). The Bible shows many encounters between these two peoples (1 Samuel 15:2; 30:17-18; 2 Samuel 1:1; 1 Chronicles 4:41-43). Mordecai refusing to bow down to him was just the last straw that encouraged him to set this plan of government sanctioned genocide into action. Rav Aharon Kotler refused to bow down following the precedent of Mordechai. So Mordechai's refusal could have been his legal right based on not bowing down to anyone but his God. However, this is an assumption! Why didn't Mordecai bow to Haman? - Answers In actuality, Haman was a pawn of Satans in a much larger conflict dating all the way back to Satans rebellion in heaven against God, his tempting of Eve to turn humans against God, Cains man made religion, the fallen angels intermarriage with humans in Genesis 6 to pollute the Messiahs bloodline, the Egyptian scheme to kill all male children of the Jews, and the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles which Satan surely hoped would eliminate the Jews as a people. Technically, the king had allowed license to do this. Nehemiah Does it compare with a believer keeping his beliefs a secret today? Moreover, the same applies to everyones private life. (Esther 3:1-6.) (Proverbs 14:19). This is not contingent on any other presumptions or extra-biblical material. The Popes Swiss guards approached him and were ready to harm him until the Pope intervened when Binyamin explained that he is Jewish. Proverbs 18:5. So Mordechai didn't stand because he felt no reason to stand. It likely wasnt a spontaneous thought, but one he had been plotting and scheming about for a long time. Why didn't Mordecai bow to Haman? Esther 3:1-3 - YouTube He gave a great feast Where was the palace? On the other hand, Mordechai perceived the situation of the Jews of his time differently. Rather, it presents Mordechai as a role model of Teshuvah as he transformed himself into a leader who sought only the best for his people as the Megilla describes Mordechai at its conclusion. Because this is the reason he gave because he was a Jew: and Haman, he knew, was the Jews' enemy. According to this Midrash, the argument of the Dayanim is quite powerful. rev2023.7.3.43523. The Amalekites historically were bitter enemies of Israel and Agags descendants especially would have remembered the Jews attack on them by the command of God. See also the apocryphal books of Judith and Tobit which date to the Hellenistic period. Sometimes we must take bold actions and other times retreating and swallowing our pride is in our best interest. Why did the witnesses 'lay their clothes down' at the Saul's feet? Esther 3:5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or pay him He enjoyed all the people paying homage to him. Just imagine again a chess game. Mordecai's story is a story that teaches us all, even generations later, about the great perils and the great promise of loyalty. They felt that since technically Haman was not defined as Avoda Zara, it is wrong for Mordechai to endanger the entire Jewish people. Read: Why Didn't Mordecai Just Bow? Subscribe today to join the conversation.Already a subscriber?Log in here! If a person of authority is a narcissistic megalomaniac or has another abnormal personality or corrupt character, should believers respect his position? They represented an extremely evil pagan religion known for its worship of fertility gods through immoral acts and baby sacrifices. [14] See Zechariahs vision in chapter 14. These are useful (and possible) suggestions but are all based on either extra-biblical material or what is unknown (presumptions) about the text or story. Haman, advanced by the king, and despised by Mordecai, seeks revenge upon the Jews. Then in one counter move planned from before the game began, God says, checkmate. Why did Mordechai refuse to bow down to Haman? Considering the Esther 3:1-6 - Bible Study & Commentary - Preacher's Complete Mordecai instructed Esther not to tell others her ethnicity or her people (1:10, 20). 9 How did he have so much cash? As a Jew, Mordecai would only bow to the Lord God of Israel. Haman had a massive ego. The parade is a bluff that could possibly make the battle to come unnecessary. It would make his skin crawl but he would have to do it. They pointed to Yaakov bowing to Eisav as a precedent for bowing to Haman. His faith wasnt incompatible with serving in the court. These so called friends clearly didnt have the guts to give Haman truthful advice which would actually help. // Javascript URL redirection Rashi (to Esther 3:2) adopts a different approach to this issue. The description of this type of obeisance appears in daily Jewish prayers such as the Aleinu, recited at the end of every service, and the mah tovu, (here bowing precedes kneeling) recited at the beginning of the morning service.