The Bible In Paintings: MORDECAI – HERO, THEN GOAT

[Hebrews 11:6]

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

MORDECAI –
HERO, THEN GOAT

E S T H E R
CHAPTERS 2-4

During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were hanged on a gallows. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.

1
"Mordecai Overhearing the Plot"

2
Source

After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.

3
JEAN-FRANCOIS DE TROY
"Mordecai's Disdain"

4
PAUL ALEXANDER LEROY
"Haman and Mordecai"

5
Source

6
JAMES SHAW CROMPTON
"But Mordecai Bowed Not. . . "

7
"All the King's Servants, except Mordecai,
Bow Down before Haman"

8
"Haman Hates Mordecai"

Then the royal officials told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.

When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. Yet he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.

Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them.”

So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman. “Do with the people as you please.” Then dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and little children—on a single day and to plunder their goods.

When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. There was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

9
ANDY NUGENT
"Mordecai's Lament"

10
FILIPPINO LIPPI
"Mordecai Weeping"

11
PIETER JACOBSZ. PAETS
"Mordecai in Mourning Clothes"

12
Source

13
Source

When Esther’s maids and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.

14
MAARTEN VAN HEEMSKERCK
"Ester Hears from Her Maids
that Mordekai Wears Mourning Clothes"

Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.

Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him. He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to urge her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.

Hathach went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said.

15
"Queen Esther Ponders Mordecai’s News"

Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”

16
FRANZ ANTON MAULBERTSCH
"Esther and Hatach"

When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. FOR IF YOU REMAIN SILENT AT THIS TIME, RELIEF AND DELIVERANCE FOR THE JEWS WILL ARISE FROM ANOTHER PLACE, but you and your father’s family will perish. AND WHO KNOWS BUT THAT YOU HAVE COME TO ROYAL POSITION FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?”

→ a n d... f i n a l l y ←

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I WILL GO TO THE KING, EVEN THOUGH IT IS AGAINST THE LAW. AND IF I PERISH, I PERISH.”

17
Source

18
Source

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 2-4 in full
Hear MAX McLEAN reading it
Hear a DRAMATIZATION of it
Read J-F-B's COMMENTARY
BIBLE TIMELINE

Click for 156 prior episodes in THIS series:
The Bible In Paintings 2
Click for 434 links in the FIRST series:
The Bible In Paintings 1


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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

[Red Badger]

Purim - “They tried to kill us all! ... We won.....Let’s eat!”..................

[Hebrews 11:6]

I prefer the unexpurgated version. Besides, that’s still several days hence.

[etabeta]

I like illustration # 15 for colors and details. Yesterday evening I tried to come on your page but FR was down. Bummer..

[Hebrews 11:6]

Slim pickings for great art today. Just wanted to tell the story, but found few artists who agreed.

[DannyTN]

Nobody protests in sack cloth any more.

[Hebrews 11:6]

A lost art, certainly.

[left that other site]

Good Morning, Dan. :-)

[Cincinnatus.45-70]

One of the most inspirational events in the Bible. Thanks.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Mary-Lou, an abundance of blessings I call down for you. INCOMING!

[Hebrews 11:6]

It is indeed, on several levels. You are most welcome.

[Squidpup]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSACa4bEPLY

For Such a Time as This (Esther’s Song) | Marty Goetz & Misha Official Live Music Video

[Hebrews 11:6]

Thanks—I’ll take a listen.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Having spent over a week grappling with the Book of Esther while illustrating it, your comment "inspired" me to outline just how it inspires me. First, I define inspiration in this instance as the Holy Spirit's encouragement toward greater faith. Once we have saving faith from Him, He fans it higher and deeper and hotter. How does He do that here?

Through Mordecai: He respects lawful authority by reporting the conspirators. He acknowledges God's providence. (I cannot help imagining how vividly Mordecai must have recognized his own unique involvement in the unfolding of God's scenario, very much what other giants like Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Daniel and Jonah (!) must have felt during and amidst their exploits--not omitting Jesus' well-chronicled self-awareness.) Indeed, he recognizes Esther's unique position and strongly urges her cooperation with God's plan, regardless of personal consequence.

Through Esther: She realizes her crown and personal advantages confer no power except what God prompts through the king. Yet, she conforms to Mordecai's vision and sacrifices her personal safety. She calls out Haman's evil. Her story was already extraordinary enough just in her meteoric rise to royalty, but God had a still-bigger plan, one for all time.

Through the Spirit: God is never mentioned, but He pervades every line. Now that He pervades my life, what story is He fashioning through my relations with the government, relatives, spouse, coworkers, neighbors, community and enemies?

[Hebrews 11:6]

That was lovely. I've added it to my bookmarks for future listening.

Thanks again.

[InkStone]

Thank you very much Dan; a good reminder indeed.
Loved what you wrote here, that you remind us how God, thru the Holy Spirit works in our lives, if we will give Him room to do so.
This courage and faith is inspiring!!

[Hebrews 11:6]

Thanks, Leon. What a blessing it is for us to have great heroes of the faith, as here and in Hebrews 11, to inspire us to similar trust and obedience.

[Cincinnatus.45-70]

Amen. Inspired commentary!

[Hebrews 11:6]

You triggered it.