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? 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 – The First Targum of Megillat Esther says that Mordechai was an observant Jew.  It is unclear what Hoil Moshe holds but it is possible to say that Mordechai was an assimilated Jew and only cared about his position in the king's palace.
"כֹּרְעִים וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוִים"
Who was supposed to bow down to Haman? Everyone.
Why was everyone supposed to bow down to Haman?
"וְאֶת דָּתֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵינָם עֹשִׂים"
Did Mordechai know what the consequences would be? This position would probably hold that Mordechai did not know what the consequences will be, since if he did know he wouldn't have sacrificed the whole nation's lives just for his personal pride.
"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.

What was the halakhic prohibition? The commentators disagree about what was the Halakhic problem with bowing down:
  • Idolatry2
    • Haman wore an idol on him – First Targum of Megillat Esther, Esther Rabbah, Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer and Ibn Ezra.
    • Haman considered himself a god – Bavli, R. Saadia Gaon, Rashi, and Lekach Tov.
  • Bowing down to people – R. Yosef Kara and R. Y"S Reggio.
Was Mordechai halakhically justified? If in bowing down there was a prohibition of idolatry then Mordechai was justified because one should prefer to die rather then commit idolatry (ייהרג ואל יעבור).  According to R"Y Kara it is unclear whether Mordechai was correct in his actions.3  However, R. Y"S Reggio holds that Mordechai was not justified and made a mistake.4
"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 – According to this approach Mordechai was an observant Jew.
"כֹּרְעִים וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוִים"
Who was supposed to bow down to Haman? Everyone.
Why was everyone supposed to bow down to Haman? Esther Rabbah holds that the reason Haman wanted everyone to bow down to him was so they will worship idolatry.
"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 justified? Yosef Lekach tries to justify Mordechai's actions by saying that Mordechai was not obligated to bow down to Haman since he was not one of "עבדי המלך".
"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 – Mordechai was proud of his Jewish heritage but was not necessarily a halakhic observant Jew.
"כֹּרְעִים וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוִים"
Who was supposed to bow down to Haman? Yosef Lekach holds that only "עבדי המלך" who were "בשער המלך" needed to bow 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

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