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Esther 4

World English Bible

WEB

1Now when Mordecai found out all that was done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, and wailed loudly and bitterly. 2He came even before the king’s gate, for no one is allowed inside the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. 3In every province, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 4Esther’s maidens and her eunuchs came and told her this, and the queen was exceedingly grieved. She sent clothing to Mordecai, to replace his sackcloth, but he didn’t receive it. 5Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, whom he had appointed to attend her, and commanded him to go to Mordecai, to find out what this was, and why it was. 6So Hathach went out to Mordecai, to the city square which was before the king’s gate. 7Mordecai told him of all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. 8He also gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given out in Susa to destroy them, to show it to Esther, and to declare it to her, and to urge her to go in to the king to make supplication to him, and to make request before him for her people. 9Hathach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. 10Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a message to Mordecai: 11“All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that whoever, whether man or woman, comes to the king into the inner court without being called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except those to whom the king might hold out the golden scepter, that he may live. I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.” 12They told Esther’s words to Mordecai. 13Then Mordecai asked them to return this answer to Esther: “Don’t think to yourself that you will escape in the king’s house any more than all the Jews. 14For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Who knows if you haven’t come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” 15Then Esther asked them to answer Mordecai, 16“Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Susa, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day. I and my maidens will also fast the same way. Then I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.” 17So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Esther Chapter 4 presents a pivotal moment in the narrative of Esther, highlighting the tension and urgency faced by the Jewish people in Persia. After Haman's decree to annihilate the Jews is made known, Mordecai, Esther's cousin, responds with deep mourning, donning sackcloth and ashes as a sign of grief and desperation. His actions reflect the gravity of the situation, as he openly laments in the city square, drawing attention to the impending doom that threatens their lives. The news reaches Esther, who is initially unaware of the decree, and she sends garments to Mordecai to comfort him, but he refuses to accept them, indicating the seriousness of the crisis. This moment emphasizes the communal anguish of the Jewish people and sets the stage for Esther's critical role in their deliverance.

As the chapter unfolds, Mordecai urges Esther to use her position as queen to intercede on behalf of her people. He reminds her that her royal status does not exempt her from the fate that awaits the Jews, stating, "For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish" (Esther 4:14, NKJV). This call to action highlights the theme of divine providence and the importance of courage in the face of adversity. Esther's response is one of resolve; she asks Mordecai to gather the Jews to fast for three days, demonstrating her commitment to seek God's favor before approaching the king, a risky endeavor that could cost her life. This chapter encapsulates the tension between fear and faith, as Esther prepares to step into her destiny as a deliverer for her people, showcasing the power of prayer and collective action in times of crisis.

Overall, Esther 4 serves as a reminder of the importance of standing up for justice and the potential impact of one individual's courage in the face of overwhelming odds. It encourages believers to trust in God's plan and to act boldly when called upon, knowing that He can work through us to bring about His purposes.
#Esther #Mordecai #Courage #DivineProvidence #JewishDeliverance

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Referenced by

  1. Genesis 43:14v16In Genesis 43:14, Jacob entrusts his sons to God's mercy, similar to Esther's declaration of faith and reliance on God's providence in Esther 4:16.
  2. Nehemiah 1:11v16Nehemiah 1:11 shows Nehemiah seeking favor from the king, similar to Esther's request for favor in Esther 4:16 as she prepares to approach the king on behalf of her people.

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