Esther — Chapter 4
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1When 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.
5Then 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.
1Now when Mordecai knew 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 he came even before the king`s gate: for none might enter within 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.
4And Esther`s maidens and her chamberlains came and told it her; and the queen was exceedingly grieved: and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take his sackcloth from off him; but he received it not.
5Then called Esther for Hathach, one of the king`s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and charged him to go to Mordecai, to know what this was, and why it was.
6So Hathach went forth to Mordecai unto the broad place of the city, which was before the king`s gate.
7And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and the exact 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 out in Shushan to destroy them, to show 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 Hathach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
10Then Esther spake unto Hathach, and gave him a message unto Mordecai [saying]:
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 for him, that he be put to death, except those 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 bade them return answer unto 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 will relief and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but thou and thy father`s house will perish: and who knoweth whether thou art not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
15Then Esther bade them return answer unto Mordecai,
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 in like manner; 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.
1Now 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.
2But he went no farther than the king’s gate, for no one was permitted to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.
3Throughout 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.
4When 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.
5So 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.
6So Hathach went to Mordecai at the plaza of the city in front of the king’s gate.
7Then 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.
8He 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.
9So Hathach returned and related Mordecai’s instructions to Esther.
10Then Esther replied to Hathach with instructions for Mordecai:
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 30 days.”
12When Esther’s reply was conveyed to Mordecai,
13he 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.
14If 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!”
15Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:
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.”
17So Mordecai set out to do everything that Esther had instructed him.
1Now when Mordecai found out all that was done, Mordecai tore his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, and wailed loudly and bitterly.
2He came even before the king’s gate, for no one is allowed inside the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.
3In every province, wherever 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.
4Esther’s maidens and her eunuchs came and told her this, and the queen was exceedingly grieved. She sent clothing to Mordecai, to replace his sackcloth; but he didn’t receive it.
5Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, whom he had appointed to attend her, and commanded him to go to Mordecai, to find out what this was, and why it was.
6So Hathach went out to Mordecai, to city square which was before the king’s gate.
7Mordecai told him of all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.
8He also gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given out in Shushan to destroy them, to show it to Esther, and to declare it to her, and to urge her to go in to the king, to make supplication to him, and to make request before him, for her people.
9Hathach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
10Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a message to Mordecai:
11“All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, know, that whoever, whether man or woman, comes to the king into the inner court without being called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except those to whom the king might hold out the golden scepter, that he may live. I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.”
12They told to Mordecai Esther’s words.
13Then Mordecai asked them to return this answer to Esther: “Don’t think to yourself that you will escape in the king’s house any more than all the Jews.
14For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Who knows if you haven’t come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
15Then Esther asked them to answer Mordecai,
16“Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day. I and my maidens will also fast the same way. Then I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.”
17So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
Summary
Mordecai mourns publicly and challenges Esther to intercede with the king, declaring that deliverance will come from another place if she remains silent, and that perhaps she has come to the kingdom for such a time as this. Esther calls for a three-day fast before she approaches the king uninvited.
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- Susa (Shushan) — the Persian royal capital and winter residence, located in modern southwestern Iran.
- The story takes place entirely within the Persian palace/citadel complex — throne room, inner court, royal garden, and the king's gate.
- The Persian Empire stretched from India to Ethiopia (Cush) — 127 provinces (1:1), the largest empire the world had yet seen.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik emphasizes Mordecai's remarkable faith expressed in v.14 — his certainty that deliverance would come "from another place" reveals absolute confidence in God's covenant faithfulness without ever naming Him. He notes Esther's transformation in this chapter from passive beauty queen to courageous leader — her fast and resolution mark the turning point of the narrative, where human initiative cooperates with divine sovereignty.
- Charles Spurgeon: "'If I perish, I perish.' This is the language of heroic faith. Esther does not say, 'I shall certainly be delivered.' She says, 'I will do my duty, and leave the result with God.' This is the highest form of courage — not the confidence that guarantees safety, but the resolution that acts rightly regardless of outcome. Such was the faith of the three Hebrews: 'Our God is able to deliver us. But if not...' Such must be thy faith, O Christian. Not the assurance that obedience will always produce comfort, but the determination that thou wilt obey whether it brings deliverance or death. 'If I perish, I perish' — but I will not perish in silence while my people die."
Reflection
- 1. You are positioned "for such a time as this" (v.14). Every circumstance of your life — education, relationships, career, abilities, even hardships — has positioned you for specific moments of service. When crisis reveals the purpose of your positioning, do not shrink back. Ask: "What situation in my sphere of influence is God calling me to address right now?"
- 2. Silence in crisis is not neutral (v.14). Mordecai warns Esther: if she remains silent, she will not escape. Passivity in the face of injustice is not safety — it is complicity. When God's people are threatened, when injustice prevails, when your voice could make a difference — silence is a choice with consequences.
- 3. Spiritual preparation precedes courageous action (v.16). Esther did not rush to the king immediately. She called for three days of fasting — spiritual preparation before physical action. When facing your own crisis moments, do not skip the preparation. Fast. Pray. Gather community support. Then act from a place of spiritual strength rather than panic.
- 4. Courage is not the absence of fear but the choice to act despite it (v.16). Esther was clearly afraid — the thirty-day absence and death penalty were real threats. Yet she resolved to act anyway. True courage acknowledges the danger honestly ("if I perish") and moves forward anyway. Do not wait until fear disappears to obey God — it may never disappear. Act despite it.
- 5. God's deliverance is certain even when His method is unknown (v.14). Mordecai's confidence is remarkable: he does not know how God will deliver, but he knows God will deliver. His faith rests not on a visible plan but on God's covenant character. When you cannot see the solution, trust that God has one. Your job is faithful action; His job is deliverance.