Berean Standard Bible

Esther 4

1When Mordecaiוּמָרְדֳּכַ֗יu.ma.re.do.KhaiH4782learned ofיָדַע֙ya.Da'H3045אֶת־'et-H853allכָּל־kol-H3605thatאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834had happenedנַעֲשָׂ֔הna.'a.SahH6213,heמָרְדֳּכַי֙ma.re.do.KhaiH4782אֶת־'et-H853toreוַיִּקְרַ֤עvai.yik.Ra'H7167his clothesבְּגָדָ֔יוbe.ga.DavH899,put onוַיִּלְבַּ֥שׁvai.yil.BashH3847sackclothשַׂ֖קsakH8242and ashesוָאֵ֑פֶרva.'E.ferH665,and went outוַיֵּצֵא֙vai.ye.Tze'H3318into the middleבְּת֣וֹךְbe.TokhH8432of the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892,wailingוַיִּזְעַ֛ק זְעָקָ֥הvai.yiz.'Ak ze.'a.KahH2199 H2201loudlyגְדֹלָ֖הge.do.LahH1419and bitterlyוּמָרָֽה׃u.ma.RahH4751.

2But he went onlyוַיָּב֕וֹאvai.ya.Vo'H935asעַ֖ד לִפְנֵ֣י'ad lif.NeiH5704 H6440far as the king’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428gateשַֽׁעַר־sha.'ar-H8179,becauseכִּ֣יkiH3588the law prohibitedאֵ֥ין'einH369anyone wearingבִּלְב֥וּשׁbil.VushH3830sackclothשָֽׂק׃SakH8242from enteringלָב֛וֹא אֶל־la.Vo' 'el-H935 H413thatהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428gateשַׁ֥עַרSha.'arH8179.

3In everyוּבְכָל־u.ve.Khol-H3605provinceH4082to whichמְקוֹם֙me.kOmH4725אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834the king’sהַמֶּ֤לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428commandדְּבַר־de.var-H1697and edictוְדָתוֹ֙ve.da.ToH1881cameמַגִּ֔יעַma.Gi.a'H5060,there was greatגָּדוֹל֙ga.dOlH1419mourningאֵ֤בֶל'E.velH60among the Jewsלַיְּהוּדִ֔יםlai.ye.hu.DimH3064.They fastedוְצ֥וֹםve.TzomH6685,weptוּבְכִ֖יu.ve.KhiH1065,and lamentedוּמִסְפֵּ֑דu.mis.PedH4553,and manyלָֽרַבִּֽים׃La.ra.BimH7227layיֻצַּ֖עyu.Tza'H3331in sackclothשַׂ֣קsakH8242and ashesוָאֵ֔פֶרva.'E.ferH665.

4When Esther’sאֶסְתֵּ֤ר'es.TerH635maidensנַעֲר֨וֹתna.'a.RotH5291and eunuchsוְסָרִיסֶ֙יהָ֙ve.sa.ri.Sei.haH5631cameוַ֠תָּבֹאינָהva.te.vo.'ei.nahH935and toldוַיַּגִּ֣ידוּvai.ya.Gi.duH5046her about Mordecai,the queenהַמַּלְכָּ֖הha.mal.KahH4436was overcome with distressוַתִּתְחַלְחַ֥ל מְאֹ֑דva.tit.chal.Chal me.'OdH2342 H3966.She sentוַתִּשְׁלַ֨חva.tish.LachH7971clothesבְּגָדִ֜יםbe.ga.DimH899for Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכַ֗יma.re.do.KhaiH4782to wearלְהַלְבִּ֣ישׁle.hal.BishH3847אֶֽת־'et-H853instead ofוּלְהָסִ֥ירu.le.ha.SirH5493his sackclothשַׂקּ֛וֹ מֵעָלָ֖יוsa.Ko me.'a.LavH8242 H5921,but he would notוְלֹ֥אve.Lo'H3808accept themקִבֵּֽל׃ki.BelH6901.

5Then Estherאֶסְתֵּ֨ר'es.TerH635summonedוַתִּקְרָא֩va.tik.Ra'H7121Hathachלַהֲתָ֜ךְla.ha.TakhH2047,one of the king’sהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834eunuchsמִסָּרִיסֵ֤יmi.sa.ri.SeiH5631appointedהֶעֱמִ֣ידhe.'e.MidH5975to herלְפָנֶ֔יהָle.fa.Nei.haH6440,and she dispatched himוַתְּצַוֵּ֖הוּva.te.tza.Ve.huH6680toעַֽל־'al-H5921Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכָ֑יma.re.do.KhaiH4782to learnלָדַ֥עַתla.Da.'atH3045what was troubling himמַה־ זֶּ֖הmah- zehH4100 H2088and whyוְעַל־ מַה־ זֶּֽה׃ve.'al- mah- ZehH5921 H4100 H2088.

6So Hathachהֲתָ֖ךְha.TakhH2047went outוַיֵּצֵ֥אvai.ye.Tze'H3318toאֶֽל־'el-H413Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכָ֑יma.re.do.KhaiH4782inאֶל־'el-H413the cityהָעִ֔ירha.'IrH5892אֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.SherH834squareרְח֣וֹבre.ChovH7339in frontלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440of the king’sהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428gateשַֽׁעַר־sha.'ar-H8179,

7and Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכַ֔יma.re.do.KhaiH4782אֵ֖ת'etH853toldוַיַּגֶּד־vai.ya.ged-H5046himallכָּל־kol-H3605thatאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834had happened to himקָרָ֑הוּka.Ra.huH7136,includingוְאֵ֣ת׀ve.'EtH853the exact amountפָּרָשַׁ֣תpa.ra.ShatH6575of moneyהַכֶּ֗סֶףha.Ke.sefH3701thatאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834Hamanהָמָן֙ha.ManH2001had promisedאָמַ֤ר'a.MarH559to payלִ֠שְׁקוֹלLish.kolH8254intoעַל־'al-H5921the royalהַמֶּ֛לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428treasuryגִּנְזֵ֥יgin.ZeiH1595in order to destroyלְאַבְּדָֽם׃le.'a.be.DamH6the Jewsבַּיְּהוּדִ֖יםbai.ye.hu.di.yimH3064.

8וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853Mordecai also gaveנִתַּ֨ןni.TanH5414Hathacha copyפַּתְשֶׁ֣גֶןpat.She.genH6572of the writtenכְּתָֽב־ke.tav-H3791decreeהַ֠דָּתHa.dotH1881אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834issuedנָ֣תַןNa.tanH5414in Susaבְּשׁוּשָׁ֤ןbe.shu.ShanH7800for the destructionלְהַשְׁמִידָם֙le.hash.mi.DamH8045of the Jews,to showלְהַרְא֥וֹתle.har.'otH7200and explainוּלְהַגִּ֣ידu.le.ha.GidH5046toאֶת־'et-H853Estherאֶסְתֵּ֖ר'es.TerH635,urgingוּלְצַוּ֣וֹתu.le.tza.VotH6680herעָלֶ֗יהָ'a.Lei.haH5921to approachלָב֨וֹא אֶל־la.Vo' 'el-H935 H413the kingהַמֶּ֧לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,implore his favorלְהִֽתְחַנֶּן־le.hit.cha.nen-H2603,and pleadוּלְבַקֵּ֥שׁu.le.va.KeshH1245before himמִלְּפָנָ֖יוmi.le.fa.NavH6440forעַל־'al-H5921her peopleעַמָּֽהּ׃'a.MahH5971.

9So Hathachהֲתָ֑ךְha.TakhH2047went backוַיָּב֖וֹאvai.ya.Vo'H935and relayedוַיַּגֵּ֣דvai.ya.GedH5046Mordecai’sמָרְדֳּכָֽי׃ma.re.do.KhaiH4782responseדִּבְרֵ֥יdiv.ReiH1697to Estherלְאֶסְתֵּ֔רle.'es.TerH635אֵ֖ת'etH853.

10Then Estherאֶסְתֵּר֙'es.TerH635spokeוַתֹּ֤אמֶרva.To.merH559to Hathachלַהֲתָ֔ךְla.ha.TakhH2047and instructed himוַתְּצַוֵּ֖הוּva.te.tza.Ve.huH6680toאֶֽל־'el-H413tell Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכָֽי׃ma.re.do.KhaiH4782,

11“Allכָּל־kol-H3605the royalהַמֶּ֡לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428officialsעַבְדֵ֣י'av.DeiH5650and the peopleוְעַם־ve.'am-H5971of the king’sהַמֶּ֜לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428provincesמְדִינ֨וֹתme.di.NotH4082knowיֽוֹדְעִ֗יםyod.'ImH3045thatאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834oneאַחַ֤ת'a.ChatH259lawדָּתוֹ֙da.ToH1881applies to everyכָּל־kol-H3605manאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376or womanוְאִשָּׁ֡הve.'i.ShahH802whoאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834approachesיָבֽוֹא־ אֶל־ya.Vo'- 'el-H935 H413the kingהַמֶּלֶךְ֩ha.me.leKhH4428inאֶל־'el-H413the innerהַפְּנִימִ֜יתha.pe.ni.MitH6442courtהֶחָצֵ֨רhe.cha.TzerH2691withoutאֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־'a.Sher lo'-H834 H3808being summonedיִקָּרֵ֗אyi.ka.Re'H7121—that he be put to deathלְהָמִ֔יתle.ha.MitH4191.Only ifלְ֠בַדLe.vadH905מֵאֲשֶׁ֨רme.'a.SherH834the kingהַמֶּ֛לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428אֶת־'et-H853extendsיֽוֹשִׁיט־yo.shit-H3447the goldהַזָּהָ֖בha.za.HavH2091scepterשַׁרְבִ֥יטshar.VitH8275may that person liveוְחָיָ֑הve.cha.YahH2421.But Iוַאֲנִ֗יva.'a.NiH589have notלֹ֤אlo'H3808been summonedנִקְרֵ֙אתי֙nik.Re.tiH7121to appearלָב֣וֹאla.Vo'H935beforeאֶל־'el-H413theזֶ֖הzehH2088kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428for the past thirtyשְׁלוֹשִׁ֥יםshe.lo.ShimH7970daysיֽוֹם׃YomH3117.”

12When Esther’sאֶסְתֵּֽר׃ פ'es.TerH635wordsדִּבְרֵ֥יdiv.ReiH1697were relayedוַיַּגִּ֣ידוּvai.ya.Gi.duH5046to Mordecaiלְמָרְדֳּכָ֔יle.ma.re.do.KhaiH4782אֵ֖ת'etH853,

13heמָרְדֳּכַ֖יma.re.do.KhaiH4782sent backוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559toאֶל־'el-H413herאֶסְתֵּ֑ר'es.TerH635this replyלְהָשִׁ֣יבle.ha.ShivH7725: “Do notאַל־'al-H408imagine thatתְּדַמִּ֣יte.da.MiH1819becauseyou areבְנַפְשֵׁ֔ךְve.naf.ShekhH5315in the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428palaceבֵּית־beit-H1004you alone will escapeלְהִמָּלֵ֥טle.hi.ma.LetH4422the fate of allמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִֽים׃hai.ye.hu.DimH3064.

14Forכִּ֣יkiH3588ifאִם־'im-H518you remain silentH2790at thisהַזֹּאת֒ha.zoTH2063timeבָּעֵ֣תba.'EtH6256,reliefרֶ֣וַחRe.vachH7305and deliveranceוְהַצָּלָ֞הve.ha.tza.LahH2020for the Jewsלַיְּהוּדִים֙lai.ye.hu.DimH3064will ariseיַעֲמ֤וֹדya.'a.ModH5975from anotherאַחֵ֔ר'a.CherH312placeמִמָּק֣וֹםmi.ma.KomH4725,but youוְאַ֥תְּve.'AtH859and your father’sאָבִ֖יךְ'a.VikhH1houseוּבֵית־u.veit-H1004will perishתֹּאבֵ֑דוּto.Ve.duH6.And whoוּמִ֣יu.MiH4310knowsיוֹדֵ֔עַyo.De.a'H3045if perhapsאִם־'im-H518you have comeהִגַּ֖עַתְּhi.Ga.'atH5060to the kingdomלַמַּלְכֽוּת׃la.mal.KhutH4438for such a timeלְעֵ֣תle.'EtH6256as thisכָּזֹ֔אתka.ZotH2063?”

15Then Estherאֶסְתֵּ֖ר'es.TerH635sentלְהָשִׁ֥יבle.ha.ShivH7725this replyוַתֹּ֥אמֶרva.To.merH559toאֶֽל־'el-H413Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכָֽי׃ma.re.do.KhaiH4782:

16“Goלֵךְ֩leKhH1980and assembleכְּנ֨וֹסke.NosH3664אֶת־'et-H853allכָּל־kol-H3605the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִ֜יםhai.ye.hu.DimH3064who can be foundהַֽנִּמְצְאִ֣יםha.nim.tze.'ImH4672in Susaבְּשׁוּשָׁ֗ןbe.shu.ShanH7800,and fastוְצ֣וּמוּve.Tzu.muH6684for meעָ֠לַי'A.laiH5921.Do notוְאַל־ve.'al-H408eatתֹּאכְל֨וּ וְאַל־to.khe.Lu ve.'al-H398 H408or drinkתִּשְׁתּ֜וּtish.TuH8354for threeשְׁלֹ֤שֶׁתshe.Lo.shetH7969daysיָמִים֙ya.MimH3117,nightלַ֣יְלָהLay.lahH3915or dayוָי֔וֹםva.YomH3117,and Iאֲנִ֥י'a.NiH589and my maidensוְנַעֲרֹתַ֖יve.na.'a.ro.TaiH5291גַּם־gam-H1571will fastאָצ֣וּם'a.TzumH6684as you doכֵּ֑ןKenH3651.After thatוּבְכֵ֞ןu.ve.KhenH3651,I will goאָב֤וֹא'a.Vo'H935toאֶל־'el-H413the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428,even thoughאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834it is againstלֹֽא־lo'-H3808the lawכַדָּ֔תkha.DatH1881.And ifוְכַאֲשֶׁ֥רve.kha.'a.SherH834I perishאָבַ֖דְתִּי'a.Vad.tiH6,I perishאָבָֽדְתִּי׃'a.Va.de.tiH6!”

17So Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכָ֑יma.re.do.KhaiH4782wentוַֽיַּעֲבֹ֖רvai.ya.'a.VorH5674and didוַיַּ֕עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213allכְּכֹ֛לke.KholH3605thatאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834Estherאֶסְתֵּֽר׃ ס'es.TerH635had instructedצִוְּתָ֥הtzi.ve.TahH6680himעָלָ֖יו'a.LavH5921.

Commentaries on Esther 4