rd

Esther 4

5 Mordecái giveth the Queen knowledge of the cruel decree of the King against the Jews 16 She willeth that they pray for her.
1.Now when Mordecái perceived all that was done, Mordecái rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth, and ashes, and went out into the middes of the city, & cryed with a great cry, & a bitter.
2.And he came even before the King’s agate, but he might not enter within the King’s gate, being clothed with sackcloth.
3.And in every province, and place, whether the King’s charge and his commission came, there was great sorrow among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping and mourning, and ^many lay in sackcloth and in ashes.
4.¶ Then Estér’s maids and her eunuchs came and told it her: therefore the Queen was very heavy, and she sent raiment to cloth Mordecái, and to take away his sackcloth from him, but he received it not.
5.Then called Estér Hatách one of the King’s eunuchs, whom he ^had appointed to serve her, and gave him a commandment unto Mordecái, to know what it was, and why it was.
6.So Hatách went forth to Mordecái unto the street of the city, which was before the King’s gate.
7.And Mordecái told him of all that which had come unto him, & of the ^sum of the silver that Hamán had promised to pay unto the King’s treasuries, because of the Jews, for to destroy them.
8.Also he gave him the ^copy of the writing and commission that was given at Shushán, to destroy them that he might shewe it unto Estér and declare it unto her, and to charge her, that she should go in to the King, and make petition and supplication before him for her people.
9.¶ So when Hatách came, he told Estér the words of Mordecái.
10.Then Estér said unto Hatách, and commanded him, to say unto Mordecái,
11.All the King’s servants and the people of the King’s provinces do know, that whosoever, man or woman, that commeth to the King into the inner court, which is not called, there is a law of his, that he shal die, except him to whom the King holdeth out the golden rod, that he may live. Now I have not been called to come unto the King these thirtie days.
12.And they certified Mordecái of Estér’s words.
13.And Mordecái said, that they should answer Estér thus, Think not with thy self that thou shalt escape in the King’s house, more then all the Jews.
14.For if thou holdest thy peace at this time, ^comfort and deliverance bshal appear to the Jews out of another place, but thou and thy father’s house shal perish: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for csuch a time?
15.Then Estér commanded to answer Mordecái,
16.Go, and assemble all the Jews that are found in Shushán, & fast ye for me, and eat not, nor drink in three days, day nor night. I also and my maids will fast likewise, and so will I go in to the King, which is not according to the Law: and if I perish, dI perish.
17.So Mordecái went his way, and did according to all that Estér had commanded him.

Notes

2-a.
Because he would advertise Ester of this cruel proclamation.
3-^.
Ebr., sackcloth and ashes were spread for many.
5-^.
Ebr., had caused to stand before her.
7-^.
Ebr., declaration.
8-^.
Or, contents.
14-^.
Ebr., breathing.
14-b.
Thus Mordecai spoke in the confidence of that faith, which all God’s children ought to have which is that God will deliver them, though all worldly means fail.
14-c.
For to deliver God’s Church out of these present dangers.
16-d.
I will put my life in danger and refer the success to God, seeing it is for his glory and the deliverance of his Church.