Esther 4

King James Version

Full text for Esther Chapter 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;

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.

5¶ Then 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Upon learning of Haman's decree to destroy the Jews, Mordecai publicly mourns, prompting Queen Esther's concern. He informs her of the plot and charges her to intercede with the king, despite the severe law against unsummoned entry. Esther, after Mordecai's powerful admonition, bravely resolves to approach the king, requesting a three-day fast from her people and declaring, "if I perish, I perish."

Medium Summary

Mordecai, discovering Haman's decree for the annihilation of the Jews, expresses profound grief through sackcloth and ashes, a sorrow echoed by widespread mourning among Jews throughout the provinces. Queen Esther, distressed by Mordecai's state, sends a chamberlain to ascertain the cause. Mordecai reveals the full extent of Haman's plot and charges Esther to appeal to King Ahasuerus on behalf of her people. Esther initially hesitates, citing the law that punishes unsummoned entry to the king's inner court with death, a risk she faces having not been called for thirty days. Mordecai responds with a powerful challenge, asserting that her position will not guarantee safety and questioning if she came to the kingdom for "such a time as this." Inspired by his words, Esther bravely commits to approaching the king, instructing all Jews in Shushan to join her in a three-day fast, concluding with her resolute declaration, "if I perish, I perish." Mordecai then complies with her request.

Long Summary

Chapter 4 opens with Mordecai's profound distress upon learning of Haman's decree to annihilate all Jews in the Persian empire. He publicly demonstrates his grief by rending his clothes, donning sackcloth and ashes, and crying bitterly in the city, even approaching the king's gate despite the prohibition against entering in such attire. This sorrowful display is mirrored across all provinces where the decree arrives, as Jews engage in widespread mourning, fasting, weeping, and wailing, many likewise lying in sackcloth and ashes. Queen Esther, upon hearing of Mordecai's condition from her servants, is exceedingly grieved and attempts to send him new raiment, which he refuses. Consequently, Esther dispatches Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, to ascertain the exact cause of Mordecai's distress. Mordecai fully discloses Haman's malicious plot, detailing the proposed sum of money to be paid into the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. He further provides Hatach with a copy of the decree issued in Shushan and charges him to show it to Esther, urging her to go before the king and make earnest supplication for her people. Esther, receiving this grave message, expresses her profound apprehension, explaining the strict royal law: any person, unsummoned, who enters the king's inner court faces immediate death, unless the king extends his golden sceptre as a sign of mercy. She highlights her precarious position, having not been called to the king for thirty days. Mordecai's response is a powerful and pivotal challenge, warning Esther that she should not presume her safety within the king's house will exempt her from the fate of her people. He asserts that if she remains silent, deliverance for the Jews will arise from another source, but she and her father's house shall be destroyed. He then poses the profound question: "who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" This stirring admonition moves Esther to a courageous decision. She instructs Mordecai to gather all the Jews in Shushan to fast for her for three days and nights, stating that she and her maidens will do likewise. With unwavering resolve, she declares her intention to go in unto the king, "which is not according to the law," concluding with the iconic words, "and if I perish, I perish." Mordecai then faithfully carries out all of Esther's commands.

Core Concepts

  • Public MourningMordecai's initial reaction to the decree, involving rending clothes, sackcloth, and ashes, signifies deep public grief and lamentation over the impending destruction of his people. This mourning is echoed by Jews throughout the provinces.
  • Royal Protocol and PerilThe strict law governing access to the king's inner court, where unsummoned entry is punishable by death, highlights the immense personal danger Esther faces in attempting to intercede. Her lack of a summons for thirty days underscores the gravity of her situation.
  • Mordecai's ChallengeMordecai's powerful admonition to Esther emphasizes that her royal position does not guarantee safety and suggests a profound purpose behind her elevation to queen. He questions if she was placed in power "for such a time as this" to deliver her people.
  • Esther's Resolve and SacrificeDespite the mortal danger, Esther makes a courageous decision to approach the king, demonstrating immense personal bravery and a willingness to risk her life for her people. Her declaration, "if I perish, I perish," encapsulates her sacrificial commitment.
  • Corporate FastingEsther's call for all Jews in Shushan to fast for three days signifies a communal act of spiritual preparation, seeking divine intervention and demonstrating collective solidarity in the face of existential threat. This act precedes her perilous mission.
  • Providential PurposeMordecai's rhetorical question, "who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?", subtly introduces the idea of a guiding hand placing individuals in strategic positions for a specific, critical purpose.