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Esther 4

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Read Esther Chapter 4

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1When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;

2And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

3And in every province, whithersoever 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.

4So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.

5Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.

6So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate.

7And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.

8Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.

9And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

10Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;

11All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.

12And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.

13Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.

14For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

15Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

16Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

17So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

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Explanation

Esther 4

In short

When a law threatens to destroy all the Jews, Mordecai grieves publicly and asks his cousin Esther, the queen, to ask the king to stop it. Esther is afraid because approaching the king without permission means death, but Mordecai persuades her that this is why she became queen. She agrees to try, asking the people to fast and pray first.

What the text says

Mordecai learns of the decree and tears his clothes, puts on sackcloth and ashes, and cries loudly in the city (verses 1-3). Jews everywhere mourn and fast in the same way. Esther's attendants tell her what is happening. She is upset and tries to give Mordecai proper clothes, but he refuses (verses 4-5). Esther sends Hatach, a servant, to ask Mordecai what is wrong (verse 5-6). Mordecai tells him everything, including the money Haman offered the king's treasury and shows him a copy of the death decree (verse 7-8). He tells Esther she must go to the king and beg for her people (verse 8). Esther sends word back that anyone entering the king's court without permission dies, unless the king holds out his golden sceptre to spare them. She has not been called to the king in thirty days (verses 10-11). Mordecai responds that she cannot escape by staying silent; if she does nothing, help will come from somewhere else, but she and her family will die (verses 13-14). Then he says the famous words about her coming "to the kingdom for such a time as this" (verse 14). Esther agrees. She tells Mordecai to gather all the Jews and fast for three days without eating or drinking, and her maids will do the same. Then she will go to the king, risking death (verses 15-16). Mordecai obeys (verse 17).

Takeaways

  • Mordecai's challenge moves Esther from fear to action, suggesting she has a purpose in her position.
  • Esther chooses to risk her life for her people, accepting possible death with "if I perish, I perish."
  • The chapter shows Jews acting together through fasting and prayer before Esther makes her risky request to the king.

Explanation written with the help of AI. The Bible text above is not changed. Context and interpretation are flagged as such; always come back to the text itself.

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