# Esther 04 📖: Mordecai Urges Esther to Act [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-Esther Overview]] | [[Esther 04]] | [[Esther 05]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) ## Esther Decides to Risk Everything in order to Help Her People [[#Verse 01.]] Now when Mordecai became aware of all that had been done, he tore his garments and put on sackcloth and ashes. He went out into the city, crying out in a loud and bitter voice.  [[#Verse 02.]] But he went no farther than the king’s gate, for no one was permitted to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.  [[#Verse 03.]] Throughout each and every province where the king’s edict and law were announced there was considerable mourning among the Jews, along with fasting, weeping, and sorrow. Sackcloth and ashes were characteristic of many.  [[#Verse 04.]] When Esther’s female attendants and her eunuchs came and informed her about Mordecai’s behavior, 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. [[#Verse 05.]] So Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs who had been placed at her service, and instructed him to find out the cause and reason for Mordecai’s behavior.  [[#Verse 06.]] So Hathach went to Mordecai at the plaza of the city in front of the king’s gate.  [[#Verse 07.]] 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.  [[#Verse 08.]] He also gave him a written copy of the law that had been disseminated 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.  [[#Verse 09.]] So Hathach returned and related Mordecai’s instructions to Esther. [[#Verse 10.]] Then Esther replied to Hathach with instructions for Mordecai:  [[#Verse 11.]] “All the servants of the king and the people of the king’s provinces know that there is only one law applicable 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. Now I have not been invited to come to the king for some thirty days.” [[#Verse 12.]] When Esther’s reply was conveyed to Mordecai,  [[#Verse 13.]] he said to take back this answer to Esther: “Don’t imagine that because you are part of the king’s household you will be the one Jew who will escape.  [[#Verse 14.]] If you keep quiet at this time, liberation and protection for the Jews will appear from another source, while you and your father’s household perish. It may very well be that you have achieved royal status for such a time as this!” [[#Verse 15.]] Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:  [[#Verse 16.]] “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast on my behalf. Don’t eat and don’t drink for three days, night or day. My female attendants and I will also fast in the same way. Afterward I will go to the king, even though it violates the law. If I perish, I perish.” [[#Verse 17.]] So Mordecai set out to do everything that Esther had instructed him. ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ###### Verse 05. ###### Verse 06. ###### Verse 07. ###### Verse 08. ###### Verse 09. ###### Verse 10. ###### Verse 11. ###### Verse 12. ###### Verse 13. ###### Verse 14. ###### Verse 15. ###### Verse 16. ###### Verse 17. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. Sackcloth and ashes (4:1) were common signs of grief and repentance in the ancient Near East. 2. No one wearing sackcloth was allowed to enter the king's gate (4:2). 3. Esther had not been summoned by the king for thirty days (4:11). 4. The Greek historian Herodotus also describes the rule that no one could approach the Persian king without being summoned. 5. Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs, carried the messages between Esther and Mordecai (4:5-10). 6. Mordecai's words that deliverance would arise "from another place" (4:14) are often seen as a quiet reference to God, whose name the book never uses. 7. Mordecai gave Hathach a copy of the written decree to show Esther (4:8). 8. Mordecai knew the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasury (4:7). 9. The three-day fast (4:16) very likely included prayer, though the book does not mention prayer directly. 10. Since the decree went out on the thirteenth of Nisan (3:12), Jewish tradition holds that this fast took place during Passover. ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the mediator who risked everything to save His people. Esther went to the king knowing it could cost her life (4:16), but Jesus willingly gave His life and is now the one mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5-6). ## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. Mordecai said that if Esther stayed silent, deliverance would come from another place (4:14). What does that teach about God's sovereignty and our responsibility? 2. Mordecai asked whether Esther had come to her royal position for such a time as this (4:14). Where might God have placed you for a purpose? 3. Esther asked the Jews to fast for her before she acted (4:16). Why is it important to seek God with His people before stepping out in faith? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 11: Anyone who approaches the king without being summoned faces death unless the king extends his golden scepter. - 📖 verse 14: Mordecai asks whether Esther has come to her royal position for such a time as this. - 📖 verse 16: Esther calls a three-day fast and resolves to go to the king, saying, "If I perish, I perish!" ## 🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference - 🔗 [[1 Timothy 02#Verse 05.|1 Timothy 2:5-6]] - One mediator between God and humanity, Christ Jesus. - 🔗 [[Hebrews 04#Verse 16.|Hebrews 4:16]] - Approach the throne of grace with confidence. - 🔗 [[Genesis 50#Verse 20.|Genesis 50:20]] - God meant it for good. - 🔗 [[Daniel 03#Verse 17.|Daniel 3:17-18]] - Even if He does not rescue us, we will not bow. - 🔗 [[Philippians 01#Verse 21.|Philippians 1:21]] - To live is Christ and to die is gain. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection 📝 SOAP: [[Esther 04 - SOAP|You Are No Accident]] ## 📂 Internal Notes