Esther 4

Mordecai asks Esther to talk with the king even though it’s against the law

When Mordecai heard the king’s decree, he tore his clothes, put on modest clothes, went downtown and cried out bitterly. He went right up to the entrance of the king’s gate because he wasn’t allowed in wearing his modest clothes. The Jews mourned in every province that was affected by the king’s decree. They cried, fasted, mourned, and lay on the ground in ashes.

When Esther’s young servant and her castrated body guards told her the news, she was deeply distressed. She sent new clothes to Mordecai so that he could change into them, but he refused. Then Esther called Hathach (one of the kings castrated body guards who served her) and ordered him to ask Mordecai what was going on. Hathach met Mordecai in the square by the king’s gate where he heard everything including the exact sum of money that Haman promised to donate to the king for destroying the Jews. Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree to show Esther so she could go to the king and beg on behalf of her people. So Hathach went and conveyed the message to Esther. Esther told Hathach to tell Mordecai, “Everyone knows that if anyone visits the king’s inner court without being called, they are to be put to death (unless the king holds out his golden scepter and allows him to live), and the king hasn’t called me this month.”

Esther decides to approach the king

When Mordecai heard this, he replied, “Don’t think that you’ll escape just because you’re in the king’s palace. If you remain silent, something else will rise up and save the Jews, but you and your family will die. Maybe the reason you’re here is for such a time as this.” So Esther replied to Mordecai, “Go gather all the Jews you can in Susa and fast for on my behalf: don’t eat or drink anything for three days straight. My young servant and I will fast with you. Then I’ll go to the king even though it’s against the law, and if I die, I die.” Then Mordecai left and did everything that Esther wanted.

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Esther 5

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Esther 3