This verse from Esther Greek 9:3 describes the widespread respect and even fear that the Jews, and specifically Mordecai, commanded in the Persian Empire after the events of the book. Let's break down the key elements:
"For the chiefs of the satraps, and the princes and the royal scribes...": This specifies the influential people within the Persian government. Satraps were like governors of major provinces. Princes were high-ranking officials. Royal scribes held important positions, often acting as advisors or record keepers. These were people with significant power and authority.
"...honored the Jews...": This indicates that these officials showed respect and deference to the Jewish people. This could have manifested in various ways, such as giving them preferential treatment, listening to their concerns, or avoiding actions that could be offensive to them.
"...for the fear of Mordecai lay upon them.": This is the crux of the verse. Mordecai, as a high-ranking official in the Persian court (after Haman's downfall), had become extremely powerful. His influence and potential to affect the lives of these officials caused them to fear him. This "fear" is not necessarily a literal terror, but rather a deep respect and awareness of his power and ability to help or harm them. They understood that crossing Mordecai could have serious consequences, and therefore, they treated the Jewish community with respect in order to stay in his good graces.
In essence, the verse is saying that the Jewish people, especially those connected to Mordecai, gained significant political and social standing in the Persian Empire because of Mordecai's position and influence. The officials recognized his power and feared the potential consequences of displeasing him, leading them to honor the Jews.
The context of this verse is important:
It comes after the Jews were given permission to defend themselves against their enemies.
Mordecai, who was previously targeted for death, had risen to a position of great power in the Persian court.
This rise in power and the Jews' victory over their enemies led to a significant shift in the power dynamic within the Persian Empire. The officials were now aware of the Jews' resilience and the influence of their leader, Mordecai, and this led them to treat the Jewish people with respect and deference.
This verse from Esther Greek 9:3 describes the widespread respect and even fear that the Jews, and specifically Mordecai, commanded in the Persian Empire after the events of the book. Let's break down the key elements:
"For the chiefs of the satraps, and the princes and the royal scribes...": This specifies the influential people within the Persian government. Satraps were like governors of major provinces. Princes were high-ranking officials. Royal scribes held important positions, often acting as advisors or record keepers. These were people with significant power and authority.
"...honored the Jews...": This indicates that these officials showed respect and deference to the Jewish people. This could have manifested in various ways, such as giving them preferential treatment, listening to their concerns, or avoiding actions that could be offensive to them.
"...for the fear of Mordecai lay upon them.": This is the crux of the verse. Mordecai, as a high-ranking official in the Persian court (after Haman's downfall), had become extremely powerful. His influence and potential to affect the lives of these officials caused them to fear him. This "fear" is not necessarily a literal terror, but rather a deep respect and awareness of his power and ability to help or harm them. They understood that crossing Mordecai could have serious consequences, and therefore, they treated the Jewish community with respect in order to stay in his good graces.
In essence, the verse is saying that the Jewish people, especially those connected to Mordecai, gained significant political and social standing in the Persian Empire because of Mordecai's position and influence. The officials recognized his power and feared the potential consequences of displeasing him, leading them to honor the Jews.
The context of this verse is important:
It comes after the Jews were given permission to defend themselves against their enemies.
Mordecai, who was previously targeted for death, had risen to a position of great power in the Persian court.
This rise in power and the Jews' victory over their enemies led to a significant shift in the power dynamic within the Persian Empire. The officials were now aware of the Jews' resilience and the influence of their leader, Mordecai, and this led them to treat the Jewish people with respect and deference.