1 King Ahasuerus imposed tribute on the mainland and the islands.
א וַיָּשֶׂם הַמֶּלֶךְ אחשרש [אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ ] מַס עַל־הָאָרֶץ וְאִיֵּי הַיָּם׃
2 All his mighty and powerful acts, and a full account of the greatness to which the king advanced Mordechai, are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Media and Persia.
ב וְכָל־מַעֲשֵׂה תָקְפּוֹ וּגְבוּרָתוֹ וּפָרָשַׁת גְּדֻלַּת מָרְדֳּכַי אֲשֶׁר גִּדְּלוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ הֲלוֹא־הֵם כְּתוּבִים עַל־סֵפֶר דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים לְמַלְכֵי מָדַי וּפָרָס׃
3 For Mordechai the Yehudi ranked next to King Ahasuerus and was highly regarded by the Yehudim and popular with the multitude of his brethren; he sought the good of his people and interceded for the welfare of all his kindred.
KEE mor-d’-KHAI ha-y’-hu-DEE mish-NEH la-ME-lekh a-khash-vay-ROSH v’-ga-DOL la-y’-hu-DEEM v’-ra-TZUY l’-ROV e-KHAV do-RAYSH TOV l’-a-MO v’-do-VAYR sha-LOM l’-khol zar-O
ג כִּי מָרְדֳּכַי הַיְּהוּדִי מִשְׁנֶה לַמֶּלֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ וְגָדוֹל לַיְּהוּדִים וְרָצוּי לְרֹב אֶחָיו דֹּרֵשׁ טוֹב לְעַמּוֹ וְדֹבֵר שָׁלוֹם לְכָל־זַרְעוֹ׃
According to one opinion among the Sages, this verse describes two stages of Mordechai’s life following the Purim miracle. He was “next to King Ahasuerus” until Darius, son of Esther and Ahasuerus, allowed the rebuilding of the Beit Hamikdash. At that point, he stepped down from his governmental position and became “highly regarded by the Yehudim,” returning to the Land of Israel and assuming responsibility for the offerings in the Beit Hamikdash (see Mishna Shekalim 5:1). Mordechai did not let honor and fame stand in the way of his principles. Dismissing the glory, he jumped at the first opportunity to serve his people in Eretz Yisrael.1 comment