The Bible In Paintings: MORDECAI'S TRIUMPH

[Hebrews 11:6]

The Bible In Paintings 2
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR APPRECIATING AND APPLYING GOD'S MESSAGE

MORDECAI'S
TRIUMPH

E S T H E R
CHAPTER 6

That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.

“What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked.

“Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.

1
MAARTEN VAN HEEMSKERCK
"Ahasuerus Is Read the Chronicles of Mordecai"

2
"Ahasuerus Hears of Mordecai"

3
Source

4
Source

The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows he had erected for him.

His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.”

“Bring him in,” the king ordered.

When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?”

Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’ ”

“Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”

So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!”

5
REMBRANDT
"Haman Prepares to Honor Mordecai"

6
"Haman & Mordecai"

7
"Mordecai is Led through the City by Haman"

8
PIETER LASTMAN
"The Triumph of Mordechai"

9
JEAN FRANCOIS DE TROY
"The Triumph of Mordecai"

10
REMBRANDT
"The Triumph of Mordecai"

11
JULIUS SCHNOOR VON CAROLSFELD
"Mordecai Is Honored by the King"

12
GUSTAVE DORÉ
"Triumph of Mordecai"

13
FILIPPINO LIPPI
"Mordecai's Triumph"

14
JAMES TISSOT
"Mordecai's Triumph"

15
"Haman Leads Mordecai through the City"

16
JACOB WILLEMSZ DE WET
"Der Triumph des Mordechai"

17
LUCAS VAN LEYDEN
"The Triumph of Mordecai"

18
PAOLO VERONESE
"The Triumph of Mordecai"

19
JEAN II RESTOUT
"Le Triomphe de Mardochée"

20
SÉBASTIEN LECLERC
"Triomf van Mordekai"

21
Source

→ a n d... f i n a l l y ←
from the ridiculous to the sublime

22
"Haman and Modecai"

23
LILIAN BROCA
"Haman Leading Mordechai on the Royal Horse"

New International Version ©1984, Abrdgd, EMPHASES Added
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[Hebrews 11:6]

R E S O U R C E S
Read ESTHER 6 in full
Hear MAX McLEAN reading it
Hear a DRAMATIZATION of it
Read J-F-B's COMMENTARY
BIBLE TIMELINE

Click for 158 prior episodes in THIS series:
The Bible In Paintings 2
Click for 434 links in the FIRST series:
The Bible In Paintings 1


HOW GOD PROMPTED
THIS BIBLE-ART SERIES

"The Bible comes alive so much more with all the
illustrations, paintings, sculptures and stained glass windows.
Through them the stories are crystallized in our minds."


”Reading the Bible, we meditate, we think deeply about faith and beliefs, we gain insights and, thanks to all these great artists, these paintings become visual teachings and a powerful companion to the Bible.”

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[Hebrews 11:6]

E S T H E R
THE KING OUSTS THE QUEEN
ESTHER, IN THE HAREM
ESTHER, THE NEW QUEEN
MORDECAI, HERO AND GOAT
ESTHER – "IF I PERISH, I PERISH"
MORDECAI'S TRIUMPH
ESTHER DEFEATS HAMAN, THOROUGHLY
ESTHER BEGS FOR THE JEWS' RESCUE

[OKSooner]

One likes the humor of number 22. 23 is kinda cool, too.

(Some of us might have peeked ahead and might know what's gonna happen next.)

[null and void]

The chamber pot in #6 is a nice touch...

[MNDude]

I never liked Mordecai. IIRC, he sent his virgin niece to be brought into the pagan king’s harem.

Jeffrey Epstein would love the guy.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Promise you won’t spoil it for those who are still in suspense. (I expect there are some.)

[Hebrews 11:6]

Haman as a target.

[Hebrews 11:6]

True enough. And yet he claimed it was all part of God’s plan. And the text, by featuring that, appears to agree.

[OKSooner]

Spoil what? :)

[Hebrews 11:6]

Knew I could count on you.

[MNDude]

After studying about it, I believe Esther was included in the Bible by mistake by the Church council around 300.

* the Dead Sea Scrolls contained copies of every Old Testament book except the Book of Esther.

* Melito’s canon is the earliest recorded Old Testament canon we have in the Christian tradition. Again, Esther is not found here.

* Martin Luther, for example, criticized the Book of Esther, accusing it of being too aggressively nationalistic and containing no gospel content

* Esther us never mentioned in any other book of the Bible. Esther and Song of Solomon are the only “books of the Bible” with this distinction.

* God is never named in this book.

I don’t doubt the Bible’s infallibility, just that the books were Canonized by fallible humans, and this is the only book included in error.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Personally, I am happy to settle for the counter-argument that God would not have tolerated Esther’s inclusion in the canon for the entire church age unless it is His will. Squatter’s rights, in essence. To me, that’s conclusive.

[InkStone]

Good Morning Dan, and happy Saturday to all.
Great Post; thank you for one of the most ironic stories in God’s Word.

It may not be ‘high art’ but # 22 is my favorite; as we take great pleasure in Haman’s discomfiture. LOL

[etabeta]

Great paintings! Thank you, Dan, as always.

I also read that Esther was taken by force and Mordecai told her not to reveal her nationality and family background because of Haman’s anti-Semitism. What is beautiful for me in this story is that God was working through humans with their imperfect decisions and choices to fulfill His perfect purposes.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Another intercession by God. This is getting interesting. Can’t wait to learn how it all turns out....

[Hebrews 11:6]

What is beautiful for me in this story is that God was working through humans with their imperfect decisions and choices to fulfill His perfect purposes.

That is His specialty! Beautifully stated, Alba.

[InkStone]

Dan, as I study # 18, Paolo Veronese - The Triumph of Mordecai- I marvel at the painter’s skill. Lots of movement and action here. I wonder if he made a paper banner, and studied it prior to his sketches. The perspective also creates drama, and takes great skill to portray. Glad you selected this one.

[left that other site]

Good Morning, Dan. :-)

[etabeta]

Veronese paintings are grandiose and with great theatrical effects. This work was painted on the ceiling of a church in Venice. Lots of action here with Haman on the black horse, about to fall down and Mordecai, holding the royal insignia, marching in triumph.

[etabeta]

The ceiling.