Esther 4
Esther 4 covers the moment when Esther and Mordecai make an important decision amid crisis. When Haman's plot puts the Jews in danger of being destroyed, Mordecai informs Esther of the news and asks her to go before the king and request help. The chapter's main contents include the conversation between Esther and Mordecai, Esther's hesitation and resolve, and the request for a fast.
1verseNow 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.
2verseHe came even before the king’s gate, for no one is allowed inside the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.
3verseIn 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.
4verseEsther’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.
5verseThen 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.
6verseSo Hathach went out to Mordecai, to the city square which was before the king’s gate.
7verseMordecai 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.
8verseHe also gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given out in Susa 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.
9verseHathach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
10verseThen Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a message to Mordecai:
11verse“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.”
12verseThey told Esther’s words to Mordecai.
13verseThen 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.
14verseFor 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?”
15verseThen Esther asked them to answer Mordecai,
16verse“Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Susa, 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.”
17verseSo Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
Flow and Structure of the Text
- Verses 1-3: Grief and mourning of Mordecai and the Jews - When Mordecai hears Haman's command, he puts on sackcloth, cries out within the city, and the Jews in every province also fast and mourn.
- Verses 4-9: Esther's response and the passing along of Mordecai's message - After Esther hears of Mordecai's actions and becomes worried, she sends a messenger, and Mordecai explains the crisis facing the Jews.
- Verses 10-12: Esther's fear - Esther says that if she goes before the king, she may lose her life, and she expresses her fear.
- Verses 13-17: Mordecai's faith and Esther's decision - Mordecai urges Esther to consider whether this is the time for just such a situation, and Esther decides that after fasting for three days, she will go before the king, prepared to face death.
The Overall Meaning and Message
Esther 4 shows how human fear and responsibility, along with trust and decision, can be displayed. In the midst of crisis, Mordecai places his trust in providence and encourages Esther with courage. Esther also becomes aware of her position and role, declares a fast together with the community, and shows how she intends to overcome hardship through unity and prayer. This chapter demonstrates what kind of attitude we should have to safeguard faith and a sense of calling in times of crisis.
Points for Reflection
- In a crisis, I reflect on what role and responsibility I can take on.
- Even in fear, when decisions are needed for conviction and for the community, I reflect on what kind of choice I can make.
- I revisit the meaning of prayer and fasting, and the solidarity of the community.
Applying to Myself
- In my place in life, I reflect on what attitude I have between fear and responsibility.
- I apply how I respond to the problems and pain of the community, and what kind of decision I can make before God.
- I think about whether I have found the meaning of "this time" and my calling in my life right now, and how I am responding to that call.
