refusal: (1) it would have been an act of idolatry; (2) he refused to bow before the hereditary enemy of Israel. The officials informed Haman of Mordecai’s insolence to see whether it would be “tolerated” (Heb., “to see whether the words of Mordecai would stand”). It is unlikely that Mordecai’s refusal to bow to Haman was caused by a claim to divine honor by Shaman (a view followed by Josephus, Keil et al.). There are many examples of God’s people prostrating themselves before a king or other superiors