Esther 4

1 Now when Mordecai knew 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;2 and he came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter within the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.3 And 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.4 And Esther’s maidens and her chamberlains came and told it her; and the queen was exceedingly grieved: and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take his sackcloth from off him; but he received it not.5 Then called Esther for Hathach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and charged him to go to Mordecai, to know what this was, and why it was.6 So Hathach went forth to Mordecai unto the broad place of the city, which was before the king’s gate.7 And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and the exact sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given out in Shushan to destroy them, to show 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.9 And Hathach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.10 Then Esther spake unto Hathach, and gave him a message unto Mordecai saying:11 All 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 for him, that he be put to death, except those 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.12 And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words.13 Then Mordecai bade them return answer unto Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then will relief and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but thou and thy father’s house will perish: and who knoweth whether thou art not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?15 Then Esther bade them return answer unto Mordecai,16 Go, 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 in like manner; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

Esther 4

Esther Decides to Risk Everything in order to Help Her People

1 Now when Mordecai became aware of all that had been done, het tore his garments and put on sackcloth and ashes. He went out into the city, crying out in a loudt and bitter voice.2 But he went no further than the king’s gate, for no one was permitted to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.3 Throughout each and every province where the king’s edict and law were announcedt there was considerablet mourning among the Jews, along with fasting, weeping, and sorrow.s Sackcloth and ashes were characteristict of many.4 When Esther’s female attendants and her eunuchs came and informed her about Mordecai’s behavior,t the queen was overcome with anguish. Although she sent garments for Mordecai to put on so that he could remove his sackcloth, he would not accept them.5 So Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs who had been placed at her service,t and instructed him to find out the cause and reason for Mordecai’s behavior.t6 So Hathach went to Mordecai at the plaza of the city in front of the king’s gate.7 Then Mordecai related to him everything that had happened to him, even the specific amount of money that Haman had offered to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews to be destroyed.8 He also gave him a written copy of the law that had been disseminatedt in Susa for their destruction so that he could show it to Esther and talk to her about it. He also gave instructions that she should go to the king to implore him and petition him on behalf of her people.

9 So Hathach returned and related Mordecai’s instructionst to Esther.
10 Then Esther replied to Hathach with instructions for Mordecai:

11 “All the servants of the king and the people of the king’s provinces know that there is only one law applicablet to any man or woman who comes uninvited to the king in the inner court – that person will be put to death, unless the king extends to him the gold scepter, permitting him to be spared.t Now I have not been invited to come to the king for some thirty days!”
12 When Esther’s replyt was conveyed to Mordecai,13 het said to take back this answer to Esther:

14 “Don’t imagine that because you are part of the king’s household you will be the one Jewt who will escape. If you keep quiet at this time, liberation and protection for the Jews will appeart from another source,t while you and your father’s household perish. It may very well bet that you have achieved royal statust for such a time as this!”
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:

16 “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa and fast in my behalf. Don’t eat and don’t drink for three days, night or day. My female attendants and It will also fast in the same way. Afterward I will go to the king, even though it violates the law.t If I perish, I perish!”

17 So Mordecai set out to do everything that Esther had instructed him.