Difference between revisions of "Mordechai's Refusal to Bow/2"
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<category name="">Religious Prohibition | <category name="">Religious Prohibition | ||
| + | <p>Mordechai did now bow down due to a religious prohibition to bow.  The commentators disagree about what the halakhic prohibition was.</p> | ||
<mekorot><multilink><a href="BavliMegillah19a" data-aht="source">Bavli</a><a href="BavliMegillah10b" data-aht="source">Megillah 10b</a><a href="BavliMegillah12b-13a" data-aht="source">Megillah 12b-13a</a><a href="BavliMegillah19a" data-aht="source">Megillah 19a</a><a href="BavliSanhedrin61a" data-aht="source">Sanhedrin 61a</a><a href="Talmud Bavli" data-aht="parshan">About the Bavli</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="TargumYerushalmiEsther3-2" data-aht="source">First Targum of Megillat Esther</a><a href="TargumYerushalmiEsther3-2" data-aht="source">Esther 3:2</a><a href="First Targum of Megillat Esther" data-aht="parshan">About First Targum of Megillat Esther</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="EstherRabbah6-2" data-aht="source">Esther Rabbah</a><a href="EstherRabbah6-2" data-aht="source">6:2</a><a href="EstherRabbah7-8" data-aht="source">7:8</a><a href="EstherRabbah8-7" data-aht="source">8:7</a><a href="Esther Rabbah" data-aht="parshan">About Esther Rabbah</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="PirkeiDeRabbiEliezerHigger49" data-aht="source">Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer</a><a href="PirkeiDeRabbiEliezerHigger49" data-aht="source">(Higger) 49</a><a href="Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer" data-aht="parshan">About Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RSaadiaGaonIntroductiontoEsther" data-aht="source">R. Saadia Gaon</a><a href="RSaadiaGaonIntroductiontoEsther" data-aht="source">Introduction to Esther</a><a href="R. Saadia Gaon" data-aht="parshan">About R. Saadia Gaon</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RashiEsther3-2" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiEsther3-2" data-aht="source">Esther 3:2</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="LekachTovEsther3-2" data-aht="source">Lekach Tov</a><a href="LekachTovEsther3-2" data-aht="source">Esther 3:2</a><a href="R. Toviah b. Eliezer (Lekach Tov)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Toviah b. Eliezer</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYosefKaraEstherVersionA3-2" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Kara</a><a href="RYosefKaraEstherVersionA3-2" data-aht="source">Esther Version A 3:2</a><a href="RYosefKaraEstherVersionB3-2-4" data-aht="source">Esther Version B 3:2-4</a><a href="R. Yosef Kara" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Kara</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="IbnEzraEstherVersionA3-2-4" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraEstherVersionA3-2-4" data-aht="source">Esther Version A 3:2-4</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYSReggioEsther3-2" data-aht="source">R. Y"S Reggio</a><a href="RYSReggioEsther3-2" data-aht="source">Esther 3:2</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Shemuel Reggio (Yashar)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Shemuel Reggio</a></multilink></mekorot> | <mekorot><multilink><a href="BavliMegillah19a" data-aht="source">Bavli</a><a href="BavliMegillah10b" data-aht="source">Megillah 10b</a><a href="BavliMegillah12b-13a" data-aht="source">Megillah 12b-13a</a><a href="BavliMegillah19a" data-aht="source">Megillah 19a</a><a href="BavliSanhedrin61a" data-aht="source">Sanhedrin 61a</a><a href="Talmud Bavli" data-aht="parshan">About the Bavli</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="TargumYerushalmiEsther3-2" data-aht="source">First Targum of Megillat Esther</a><a href="TargumYerushalmiEsther3-2" data-aht="source">Esther 3:2</a><a href="First Targum of Megillat Esther" data-aht="parshan">About First Targum of Megillat Esther</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="EstherRabbah6-2" data-aht="source">Esther Rabbah</a><a href="EstherRabbah6-2" data-aht="source">6:2</a><a href="EstherRabbah7-8" data-aht="source">7:8</a><a href="EstherRabbah8-7" data-aht="source">8:7</a><a href="Esther Rabbah" data-aht="parshan">About Esther Rabbah</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="PirkeiDeRabbiEliezerHigger49" data-aht="source">Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer</a><a href="PirkeiDeRabbiEliezerHigger49" data-aht="source">(Higger) 49</a><a href="Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer" data-aht="parshan">About Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RSaadiaGaonIntroductiontoEsther" data-aht="source">R. Saadia Gaon</a><a href="RSaadiaGaonIntroductiontoEsther" data-aht="source">Introduction to Esther</a><a href="R. Saadia Gaon" data-aht="parshan">About R. Saadia Gaon</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RashiEsther3-2" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiEsther3-2" data-aht="source">Esther 3:2</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="LekachTovEsther3-2" data-aht="source">Lekach Tov</a><a href="LekachTovEsther3-2" data-aht="source">Esther 3:2</a><a href="R. Toviah b. Eliezer (Lekach Tov)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Toviah b. Eliezer</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYosefKaraEstherVersionA3-2" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Kara</a><a href="RYosefKaraEstherVersionA3-2" data-aht="source">Esther Version A 3:2</a><a href="RYosefKaraEstherVersionB3-2-4" data-aht="source">Esther Version B 3:2-4</a><a href="R. Yosef Kara" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Kara</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="IbnEzraEstherVersionA3-2-4" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra</a><a href="IbnEzraEstherVersionA3-2-4" data-aht="source">Esther Version A 3:2-4</a><a href="R. Avraham ibn Ezra" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham ibn Ezra</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYSReggioEsther3-2" data-aht="source">R. Y"S Reggio</a><a href="RYSReggioEsther3-2" data-aht="source">Esther 3:2</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Shemuel Reggio (Yashar)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Shemuel Reggio</a></multilink></mekorot> | ||
| − | <point><b>What was the | + | <point><b>What was the halakhic prohibition?</b> The commentators disagree what Halakhic problem there was:<br/> |
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li> | + | <li>Idolatry</li> |
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li>Haman had | + | <li>Haman had Idolatry on him - Bavli, First Targum of Megillat Esther, Esther Rabbah, and Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer.</li> |
<li>Haman made himself into a god - R. Saadia Gaon, Rashi, and Lekach Tov.</li> | <li>Haman made himself into a god - R. Saadia Gaon, Rashi, and Lekach Tov.</li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
<li>Bowing down to people - R. Yosef Kara and R. Y"S Reggio.</li> | <li>Bowing down to people - R. Yosef Kara and R. Y"S Reggio.</li> | ||
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
| − | <point><b>Was Mordechai halakhically justified?</b></point> | + | <point><b>Was Mordechai halakhically justified?</b> According to the commentators who hold that the halakhic prohibition was Idolatry then Mordechai was justified because there is a mitzvah of "ייהרג ואל יעבור".  R. Y"S Reggio holds that Mordechai was not justified and made a mistake.  R"Y Kara</point> |
<point><b>"כִּי הִגִּיד לָהֶם אֲשֶׁר הוּא יְהוּדִי"</b> – These commentators explain that "כִּי הִגִּיד לָהֶם אֲשֶׁר הוּא יְהוּדִי" is the reason why Mordechai did not bow down to Haman.</point> | <point><b>"כִּי הִגִּיד לָהֶם אֲשֶׁר הוּא יְהוּדִי"</b> – These commentators explain that "כִּי הִגִּיד לָהֶם אֲשֶׁר הוּא יְהוּדִי" is the reason why Mordechai did not bow down to Haman.</point> | ||
<point><b>Mordechai's religious identity</b></point> | <point><b>Mordechai's religious identity</b></point> | ||
Version as of 00:24, 16 February 2015
Mordechai's Refusal to Bow
Exegetical Approaches
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Personal Rivalry
Was Mordechai justified? According to this approach, it is possible that Mordechai was not justified and should have bowed down to Haman as it seems like from the Bavli and Tanchuma.
"כִּי הִגִּיד לָהֶם אֲשֶׁר הוּא יְהוּדִי" – This approach holds that "כִּי הִגִּיד לָהֶם אֲשֶׁר הוּא יְהוּדִי" isn't the reason for Mordechai's refusal but rather the reason why Haman wanted to kill Mordechai (see Northern French Commentary).
Mordechai's religious identity
"כֹּרְעִים וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוִים"
Who was supposed to bow down to Haman?
Why was everyone supposed to bow down to Haman?
"וְאֶת דָּתֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵינָם עֹשִׂים"
Did Mordechai know what the consequences would be?
"לֹא הִגִּידָה אֶסְתֵּר אֶת עַמָּהּ וְאֶת מוֹלַדְתָּהּ"
Biblical parallels
Religious Prohibition
Mordechai did now bow down due to a religious prohibition to bow. The commentators disagree about what the halakhic prohibition was.
Sources:Bavli, First Targum of Megillat Esther, Esther Rabbah, Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, R. Saadia Gaon, Rashi, Lekach Tov, R. Yosef Kara, Ibn Ezra, R. Y"S Reggio
What was the halakhic prohibition? The commentators disagree what Halakhic problem there was:
- Idolatry
- Haman had Idolatry on him - Bavli, First Targum of Megillat Esther, Esther Rabbah, and Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer.
- Haman made himself into a god - R. Saadia Gaon, Rashi, and Lekach Tov.
- Bowing down to people - R. Yosef Kara and R. Y"S Reggio.
Was Mordechai halakhically justified? According to the commentators who hold that the halakhic prohibition was Idolatry then Mordechai was justified because there is a mitzvah of "ייהרג ואל יעבור". R. Y"S Reggio holds that Mordechai was not justified and made a mistake. R"Y Kara
"כִּי הִגִּיד לָהֶם אֲשֶׁר הוּא יְהוּדִי" – These commentators explain that "כִּי הִגִּיד לָהֶם אֲשֶׁר הוּא יְהוּדִי" is the reason why Mordechai did not bow down to Haman.
Mordechai's religious identity
"כֹּרְעִים וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוִים"
Who was supposed to bow down to Haman?
Why was everyone supposed to bow down to Haman?
Persian background
"וְאֶת דָּתֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵינָם עֹשִׂים"
Did Mordechai know what the consequences would be?
"לֹא הִגִּידָה אֶסְתֵּר אֶת עַמָּהּ וְאֶת מוֹלַדְתָּהּ"
Biblical parallels
Political Opposition
Jewish Pride
Was Mordechai halakhically justified?
"כִּי הִגִּיד לָהֶם אֲשֶׁר הוּא יְהוּדִי" – These commentators explain that "כִּי הִגִּיד לָהֶם אֲשֶׁר הוּא יְהוּדִי" is the reason why Mordechai did not bow down to Haman.
Mordechai's religious identity
"כֹּרְעִים וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוִים"
Who was supposed to bow down to Haman?
Why was everyone supposed to bow down to Haman?
"וְאֶת דָּתֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵינָם עֹשִׂים"
Did Mordechai know what the consequences would be?
"לֹא הִגִּידָה אֶסְתֵּר אֶת עַמָּהּ וְאֶת מוֹלַדְתָּהּ"
Biblical parallels
Aegean Threat
Sources:Septuagint, Dr. Yisrael Eldad
Was Mordechai justified?
"כִּי הִגִּיד לָהֶם אֲשֶׁר הוּא יְהוּדִי" – This approach holds that "כִּי הִגִּיד לָהֶם אֲשֶׁר הוּא יְהוּדִי" isn't the reason for Mordechai's refusal but rather the reason why Haman wanted to kill Mordechai (see Northern French Commentary).
Mordechai's religious identity
"כֹּרְעִים וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוִים"
Who was supposed to bow down to Haman?
Why was everyone supposed to bow down to Haman?
"וְאֶת דָּתֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵינָם עֹשִׂים"
Did Mordechai know what the consequences would be?
"לֹא הִגִּידָה אֶסְתֵּר אֶת עַמָּהּ וְאֶת מוֹלַדְתָּהּ"
Biblical parallels
