Bible Chapter Summary
Esther 4 Summary
Mordecai Asks Esther to Intercede for the Jews
When Mordecai learns of Haman's decree, he tears his clothes, puts on sackcloth and ashes, and cries out in the city with a loud and bitter cry. Great mourning comes upon the Jews in every province, with fasting, weeping, and wailing. Esther's maids report this to her, and she sends raiment to Mordecai, but he refuses it. Through Hatach, her chamberlain, Esther learns from Mordecai of the decree and the money Haman promised to pay for the Jews' destruction. Mordecai charges her to go in to the king and make supplication for her people. Esther reminds Mordecai that approaching the king without being called means death, but Mordecai replies that if she remains silent, deliverance will arise from another place, yet she and her father's house will be destroyed. He suggests she may have come to the kingdom for such a time as this. Esther asks Mordecai to gather all the Jews in Shushan to fast for her three days and nights, declaring she will go to the king, though it is not according to law.
Key themes
Key verses
Esther 4:1
“When 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;”
Esther 4:14
“For 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?”
Esther 4:16
“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 likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.”
Esther 4:8
“Also 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.”
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