Mordecai is first mentioned in Esther 2:5 as a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, residing in Shushan the citadel. He had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives during the time of King Jeconiah. Mordecai raised his cousin Hadassah, also known as Esther, as his own daughter after the death of her parents.
When King Ahasuerus sought a new queen, Esther was brought into the royal palace, and Mordecai instructed her not to reveal her Jewish identity (Esther 2:10). Esther found favor with the king and was made queen. During this time, Mordecai discovered a plot against the king by two of his eunuchs. He reported it through Esther, and the matter was investigated and recorded in the royal chronicles (Esther 2:21–23).
Mordecai refused to bow before Haman, the king’s highest official, which enraged Haman and led to his plot to destroy all the Jews in the kingdom (Esther 3:5–6). When Mordecai learned of the decree, he tore his clothes, wore sackcloth, and mourned publicly. He sent word to Esther, urging her to intercede with the king, saying, “Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).
Esther, at great risk to herself, approached the king and eventually exposed Haman’s plot. Haman was hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai (Esther 7:10). Mordecai was then elevated to a position of great authority in the kingdom. The king gave him Haman’s estate, and he became second to the king (Esther 8:1–2, 10:3). Through his leadership, the Jews were allowed to defend themselves and gained victory over their enemies.
Mordecai’s actions resulted in the institution of the Feast of Purim, commemorating the deliverance of the Jews from destruction (Esther 9:20–22). He is remembered as a man of faith, courage, and wisdom, who sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his countrymen.
