Megilat Esther Chapter_010 - פרק י - The Legacy of Mordechai

The Megillah concludes by outlining the continued power of King Achashverosh and the unprecedented rise of Mordechai as vice-regent. Despite his high position, Mordechai remains devoted to the welfare of the Jewish people, seeking their good and pursuing peace for all future generations.

 

אסתר פרק י

א וַיָּשֶׂם֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ אחשרש (אֲחַשְׁוֵרֹ֧שׁ ׀) מַ֛ס עַל־הָאָ֖רֶץ וְאִיֵּ֥י הַיָּֽם׃

ב וְכָל־מַֽעֲשֵׂ֤ה תָקְפּוֹ֙ וּגְב֣וּרָת֔וֹ וּפָֽרָשַׁת֙ גְּדֻלַּ֣ת מָרְדֳּכַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר גִּדְּל֖וֹ הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ הֲלוֹא־הֵ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֗ים עַל־סֵ֨פֶר֙ דִּבְרֵ֣י הַיָּמִ֔ים לְמַלְכֵ֖י מָדַ֥י וּפָרָֽס׃

ג כִּ֣י ׀ מָרְדֳּכַ֣י הַיְּהוּדִ֗י מִשְׁנֶה֙ לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ וְגָדוֹל֙ לַיְּהוּדִ֔ים וְרָצ֖וּי לְרֹ֣ב אֶחָ֑יו דֹּרֵ֥שׁ טוֹב֙ לְעַמּ֔וֹ וְדֹבֵ֥ר שָׁל֖וֹם לְכָל־זַרְעֽוֹ׃ {ש}

לרוב אחיו - ולא לכל אחיו. מלמד, שפירשו ממנו מקצת סנהדרין. לפי שנעשה קרוב למלכות, והיה בטל מתלמודו:

לכל זרעו - מוסב על "עמו", לכל זרע עמו:

חסלת מגלת אסתר

Megillas Esther: Chapter 10 (Translation & Commentary)

The Power of the Crown

10:1 King Achashverosh imposed a tribute on the land and on the islands of the sea. 10:2 All the acts of his power and his might, and the full account of Mordechai’s greatness, how the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?

Mordechai’s Greatness and Final Role

10:3 For Mordechai the Jew was vice-regent to King Achashverosh, and great among the Jews, and accepted by most of his brethren, seeking the good of his people, and speaking peace to all their seed.

Rashi on "Accepted by most of his brethren": > Rashi notes this means "but not to all of his brothers." A portion of the Sanhedrin dissociated themselves from him because, once he became close to the government, they felt he neglected his Torah studies.

Rashi on "To all their seed": > This refers back to all his people—seeking the good and speaking peace specifically to all the offspring of his people.


Summary

The final chapter serves as an epilogue to the story of Purim, highlighting the shift in power from Haman to Mordechai. Rashi provides a nuanced view of Mordechai’s rise: while he was the savior of his people, his new political responsibilities cost him the total acceptance of the highest Torah scholars of his generation. Despite this, he is immortalized as a leader who consistently sought the good of his people and spoke peace to their descendants.

Chazak, Chazak, V’nischazek!

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