Verses 1-3

V. MORDECAI"S GREATNESS CH10

Perhaps the writer mentioned Ahasuerus" tax ( Esther 10:1) because Mordecai had something to do with it, or perhaps this tax reflects God"s blessing on the king for preserving the Jews ( Genesis 12:3).

Appeal to the official chronicles ( Esther 10:2) claimed historicity for the events recorded in Esther (cf. 1 Kings 14:19; et al.). These documents are not available to us today. They may have been Persian [Note: Moore, p99.] or Jewish [Note: Baldwin, p115.] archives.

Mordecai was one of several biblical characters whom God elevated to a position of high government rank (cf. Joseph, Daniel, and Nehemiah). Scholars have long compared the stories of Esther and Joseph because the settings of both are in countries other than Israel, as well as because of other similarities. [Note: See ibid, p25, n1, for a list of such studies.] He used his position of influence to benefit his people ( Esther 10:3). However, there is no evidence that either Mordecai or Esther had any desire to return to Jerusalem and become part of God"s theocratic program there. No one prevented them from doing so either, before Esther became queen (cf. Nehemiah 2:5).