Esther, Chapter 4:
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Verses from Esther, Chapter 4 of the book of Esther in the Bible.
Mordecai persuades Esther to intervene
- 1. When Mordecai heard all that had happened, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and covered himself with ashes. Then he went out into the city, weeping bitterly aloud.
- 2. He went to the gate of the royal palace, but did not enter, as no one dressed in sackcloth was allowed to enter.
- 3. In all the provinces, upon receiving the king's decree, the Jews began to mourn greatly, fasting, weeping and lamenting. Many lay down in sackcloth and covered themselves with ashes.
- 4. When Esther's maids and the harem officials told her what was happening to Mordecai, she was deeply distressed and sent him clothes to put on and take off the sackcloth. But he refused to accept them.
- 5. Then Esther summoned Hatah, one of the king's officials who was helping her, and gave him instructions to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why he was acting the way he did.
- 6. Hatá went to Mordecai in the city square, in front of the door of the royal palace.
- 7. Mordecai told him everything that had happened and also mentioned the amount of silver that Haman had promised to deposit in the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews.
- 8. He gave Hatá a copy of the extermination decree that had been proclaimed in Susa, so that he could show it to Esther and insist that she go to the king's presence to beg for mercy and intercede on behalf of her people.
- 9. Hatah returned and reported to Esther everything Mordecai had said.
- 10. Esther instructed Hatah to respond to Mordecai as follows:
- 11. “All the king's officials and the people of the provinces of the empire know that there is a law that any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner courtyard without being called will be killed, unless the king extends his scepter of gold and spare his life. And I have not been called before the king in the last thirty days.”
- 12. When Mordecai received Esther's answer,
- 13. He said to him, “Do not think that because you are in the king's palace, you will be the only one among the Jews to escape.
- 14. For if you remain silent at this time, help and deliverance will come from another source for the Jews, but you and your father's house will perish. Who knows if you reached the position of queen precisely to act at this crucial moment?”
- 15. Then Esther sent this answer to Mordecai:
- 16. “Gather together all the Jews who are in Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days and three nights. My maids and I will also fast. After that, I will go to the king, even if it is against the law. If I have to die, I will die.”
- 17. Mordecai withdrew and carried out all Esther's instructions.
