Discovery BoxEsther 2:5 
Context2:5 Now there happened to be a Jewish man in Susa the citadel whose name was Mordecai. 1 He was the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjaminite,
Esther 4:1
Context4:1 Now when Mordecai became aware of all that had been done, he 2 tore his garments and put on sackcloth and ashes. He went out into the city, crying out in a loud 3 and bitter voice.
Esther 5:9
Context5:9 Now Haman went forth that day pleased and very much encouraged. 4 But when Haman saw Mordecai at the king’s gate, and he did not rise nor tremble in his presence, 5 Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai.
Esther 6:4
Context6:4 Then the king said, “Who is that in the courtyard?” Now Haman had come to the outer courtyard of the palace to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had constructed for him.
Esther 7:7
Context7:7 In rage the king arose from the banquet of wine and withdrew to the palace garden. Meanwhile, Haman stood to beg Queen Esther for his life, 6 for he realized that the king had now determined a catastrophic end for him. 7
Esther 8:1
Context8:1 On that same day King Ahasuerus gave the estate 8 of Haman, that adversary of the Jews, to Queen Esther. Now Mordecai had come before the king, for Esther had revealed how he was related to her.
Esther 8:15
Context8:15 Now Mordecai went out from the king’s presence in purple and white royal attire, with a large golden crown and a purple linen mantle. The city of Susa shouted with joy. 9
1 sn Mordecai is a pagan name that reflects the name of the Babylonian deity Marduk. Probably many Jews of the period had two names, one for secular use and the other for use especially within the Jewish community. Mordecai’s Jewish name is not recorded in the biblical text.
2 tn Heb “Mordecai.” The pronoun (“he”) was used in the translation for stylistic reasons. A repetition of the proper name here is redundant in terms of contemporary English style.
3 tn Heb “great.”
4 tn Heb “happy and good of heart”; NASB “glad and pleased of heart”; NIV “happy and in high spirits.”
5 tn Heb “tremble from before him”; NIV “nor showed fear in his presence”; TEV “or show any sign of respect as he passed.”
6 sn There is great irony here in that the man who set out to destroy all the Jews now finds himself begging for his own life from a Jew.
7 tn Heb “for he saw that calamity was determined for him from the king”; NAB “the king had decided on his doom”; NRSV “the king had determined to destroy him.”
8 tn Heb “house” (so NAB, NASB, NRSV; also in vv. 2, 7). Cf. TEV “all the property.”
9 tn Heb “shouted and rejoiced.” The expression is a hendiadys (see the note on 5:10 for an explanation of this figure).
