All in the palace bowed down to him, for so the king had given orders to do; but Mordecai didn’t bow down to him.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 2. Worship him, with divine honours, as he required, in imitation of the kings. Judith 3:13. On certain solemn occasions, the latter at least exacted this respect from their subjects. But the pious Jews avoided appearing at such times, or the kings dispensed with them. The mere bending the knee, out of civil respect, would not have been objected to; and Mardochai says, he would not have refused to kiss the footsteps of Aman. Calmet. 13:12. Calmet. Saint Thomas Aquinas 2. 2. q. 84. Tirinus.—But he could not give such worship as was claimed by the minor gods. Worthington.