Epilogue: Mordecai’s Greatness: The final chapter of Esther, which says nothing about Esther, is a tribute to the leadership of Mordecai. It begins with an image of the vast empire under Xerxes’ control. The second in command of this imposing realm is “Mordecai the Jew.” He has proven that a Jew in the Diaspora can serve his king and his people well.

The book of Esther closes with a triumphant note of public vindication for the Jews and personal exoneration for Mordecai, their representative leader. If we read Esther as a lament in the form of a narrative, we have come to the moment in the psalm when “those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame” (Ps. 71:24). The prayer that God would “increase my honor” (Ps. 71:21) has been answered.

10:1–3 The first verse mentions the imposition of t…