Esther 4

Mordecai Appeals to Esther

1When MordecaiH4782 learned ofH3045 allH3605 thatH834 had happenedH6213, heH4782 toreH7167 his clothesH899, put onH3847 sackclothH8242 and ashesH665, and went outH3318 into the middleH8432 of the cityH5892, wailingH2199H2201 loudlyH1419 and bitterlyH4751. 2But he went onlyH935 asH5704H6440 far as the king’sH4428 gateH8179, becauseH3588 the law prohibitedH369 anyone wearingH3830 sackclothH8242 from enteringH935H413 that gateH8179.

3In everyH3605 provinceH4082 to whichH4725 the king’sH4428 commandH1697 and edictH1881 cameH5060, there was greatH1419 mourningH60 among the JewsH3064. They fastedH6685, weptH1065, and lamentedH4553, and manyH7227 layH3331 in sackclothH8242 and ashesH665.

4When Esther’sH635 maidensH5291 and eunuchsH5631 cameH935 and toldH5046 her about Mordecai, the queenH4436 was overcome with distressH2342H3966. She sentH7971 clothesH899 for MordecaiH4782 to wearH3847 instead ofH5493 his sackclothH8242H5921, but he would notH3808 accept themH6901.

5Then EstherH635 summonedH7121 HathachH2047, one of the king’sH4428 eunuchsH5631 appointedH5975 to herH6440, and she dispatched himH6680 toH5921 MordecaiH4782 to learnH3045 what was troubling himH4100H2088 and whyH5921H4100H2088. 6So HathachH2047 went outH3318 toH413 MordecaiH4782 inH413 the cityH5892 squareH7339 in frontH6440 of the king’sH4428 gateH8179, 7and MordecaiH4782 toldH5046 him allH3605 thatH834 had happened to himH7136, includingH853 the exact amountH6575 of moneyH3701 thatH834 HamanH2001 had promisedH559 to payH8254 intoH5921 the royalH4428 treasuryH1595 in order to destroyH6 the JewsH3064.

8

Mordecai also gaveH5414 Hathach a copyH6572 of the writtenH3791 decreeH1881 issuedH5414 in SusaH7800 for the destructionH8045 of the Jews, to showH7200 and explainH5046 toH853 EstherH635, urgingH6680 herH5921 to approachH935H413 the kingH4428, implore his favorH2603, and pleadH1245 before himH6440 forH5921 her peopleH5971.

9So HathachH2047 went backH935 and relayedH5046 Mordecai’sH4782 responseH1697 to EstherH635.

10Then EstherH635 spokeH559 to HathachH2047 and instructed himH6680 toH413 tell MordecaiH4782, 11“AllH3605 the royalH4428 officialsH5650 and the peopleH5971 of the king’sH4428 provincesH4082 knowH3045 thatH834 oneH259 lawH1881 applies to everyH3605 manH376 or womanH802 whoH834 approachesH935H413 the kingH4428 inH413 the innerH6442 courtH2691 withoutH834H3808 being summonedH7121—that he be put to deathH4191. Only ifH905 the kingH4428 extendsH3447 the goldH2091 scepterH8275 may that person liveH2421. But IH589 have notH3808 been summonedH7121 to appearH935 beforeH413 theH2088 kingH4428 for the past thirtyH7970 daysH3117.”

12When Esther’sH635 wordsH1697 were relayedH5046 to MordecaiH4782, 13heH4782 sent backH559 toH413 her this replyH7725: “Do notH408 imagine thatH1819 because you areH5315 in the king’sH4428 palaceH1004 you alone will escapeH4422 the fate of allH3605 the JewsH3064. 14ForH3588 ifH518 you remain silentH2790 at thisH2063 timeH6256, reliefH7305 and deliveranceH2020 for the JewsH3064 will ariseH5975 from anotherH312 placeH4725, but youH859 and your father’sH1 houseH1004 will perishH6. And whoH4310 knowsH3045 if perhapsH518 you have comeH5060 to the kingdomH4438 for such a timeH6256 as thisH2063?”

15Then EstherH635 sentH7725 this replyH559 toH413 MordecaiH4782: 16“GoH1980 and assembleH3664 allH3605 the JewsH3064 who can be foundH4672 in SusaH7800, and fastH6684 for meH5921. Do notH408 eatH398H408 or drinkH8354 for threeH7969 daysH3117, nightH3915 or dayH3117, and IH589 and my maidensH5291 will fastH6684 as you doH3651. After thatH3651, I will goH935 toH413 the kingH4428, even thoughH834 it is againstH3808 the lawH1881. And ifH834 I perishH6, I perishH6!1”

17So MordecaiH4782 wentH5674 and didH6213 allH3605 thatH834 EstherH635 had instructedH6680 himH5921.