Mordechai's Refusal to Bow/2

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Mordechai's Refusal to Bow

Exegetical Approaches

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Personal Rivalry

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 rather the reason why Haman wanted to kill 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

Religious Prohibition

Was Mordechai halakhically justified? According to this approach, bowing down to Haman is עבודה זרה and so there is a mitzvah of "יהרג ואל יעבור".
"כִּי הִגִּיד לָהֶם אֲשֶׁר הוּא יְהוּדִי"
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

National Pride

Was Mordechai halakhically justified?
"כִּי הִגִּיד לָהֶם אֲשֶׁר הוּא יְהוּדִי"
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