Mordecai, who not long ago had a gallows waiting for him, now became the guardian of his people. Instead of joining in the pride and self-indulgence of other Persian leaders, he worked for the welfare and peace of God’s people. By this time, a number of God’s people had already returned to Jerusalem and Judah. Perhaps it was with Mordecai’s assistance that a second group of exiles, under the leadership of Ezra, was able to return to Jerusalem (Ezra 7:1–9; Ezra 8:1–20).
3 For Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brothers, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.