Ester 3:2

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Maka segala hamba baginda yang di dalam pintu istana baginda itu bertelutlah dan menyembahlah kepada Haman, karena demikianlah titah baginda akan halnya; melainkan Mordekhai juga tiada bertelut dan tiada menyembah.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the king's servants: Dr. Shaw, speaking of the cities in the East, says, "If we quit the streets, and enter into any of the principal houses, we shall first pass through a porch, or gate-way, with benches on each side, where the master of the family receives visits, and despatches business; few persons, not even the nearest relations, having admission any farther, except upon extraordinary occasions." These servants were probably officers who here waited the king's call; and it is likely that Mordecai was one of them. Esther 2:19, Esther 2:21

bowed: Genesis 41:43, Philippians 2:10

bowed not: Yichra welo yishtachaweh, "bowed not down, nor prostrated himself," or worshipped him. Had this meant only civil reverence the king would not have needed to command it; nor would Mordecai have refused it; there was, therefore, some kind of divine honour intended, such as was paid to the Persian kings, and which even the Greeks refused, as express adoration. Esther 3:1, Esther 3:5, Exodus 17:14, Exodus 17:16, Deuteronomy 25:19, 1 Samuel 15:3, Psalms 15:4

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 1:31 - did reverence Esther 2:5 - a certain Jew Esther 3:3 - Why Esther 4:7 - all that had Esther 5:9 - he stood not up Esther 6:6 - To whom Esther 9:3 - the fear Esther 10:3 - accepted Psalms 49:18 - praise Proverbs 14:20 - but Daniel 2:49 - sat Mark 15:19 - and bowing

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the king's servants that were in the king's gate,.... Or court, all his courtiers; for it cannot be thought they were all porters, or such only that

bowed and reverenced Haman; gave him divine honours, as to a deity; for such were given to the kings of Persia k, and might be given to their favourites, and seems to be the case; for, though Haman might not erect a statue of himself, or have images painted on his clothes, as the Targum and Aben Ezra, for the Persians did not allow of statues and images l; yet he might make himself a god, as Jarchi, and require divine worship, with leave of the king, which he had, yea, an order for it:

for the king had so commanded concerning him; which shows that it was not mere civil honour and respect, for that in course would have been given him as the king's favourite and prime minister by all his servants, without an express order for it; this, therefore, must be something uncommon and extraordinary:

but Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence; which is a further proof that it was not mere civil honour that was required and given; for that the Jews did not refuse to give, and that in the most humble and prostrate manner, and was admitted by them, 1 Samuel 24:8 1 Kings 1:16, nor can it be thought that Mordecai would refuse to give it from pride and sullenness, and thereby risk the king's displeasure, the loss of his office, and the ruin of his nation; but it was such kind of reverence to a man, and worship of him, which was contrary to his conscience, and the law of his God.

k Vid. Salden. Otia Theolog. l. 3. Exercitat. 1. sec. 4, 5. l Laert. Prooem. ad Vit. Philosoph. p. 5, 6.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Mordecai probably refused the required prostration, usual though it was, on religious grounds. Hence, his opposition led on to his confession that he was a Jew Esther 3:4.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Esther 3:2. The king's servants, that were in the king's gate — By servants here, certainly a higher class of officers are intended than porters; and Mordecai was one of those officers, and came to the gate with the others who were usually there in attendance to receive the commands of the king.

Mordecai bowed not — לאיכרע lo yichra. "He did not bow down;" nor did him reverence, ולא ישתחוה velo yishtachaveh, "nor did he prostrate himself." I think it most evident, from these two words, that it was not civil reverence merely that Haman expected and Mordecai refused; this sort of respect is found in the word כרע cara, to bow. This sort of reverence Mordecai could not refuse without being guilty of the most inexcusable obstinacy, nor did any part of the Jewish law forbid it. But Haman expected, what the Persian kings frequently received, a species of Divine adoration; and this is implied in the word שחה shachah, which signifies that kind of prostration which implies the highest degree of reverence that can be paid to God or man, lying down flat on the earth, with the hands and feet extended, and the mouth in the dust.

The Targum, says that Haman set up a statue for himself, to which every one was obliged to bow, and to adore Haman himself. The Jews all think that Mordecai refused this prostration because it implied idolatrous adoration. Hence, in the Apocryphal additions to this book, Mordecai is represented praying thus: "Thou knowest that if I have not adored Haman, it was not through pride, nor contempt, nor secret desire of glory; for I felt disposed to kiss the footsteps of his feet (gladly) for the salvation of Israel: but I feared to give to a man that honour which I know belongs only to my God."