Communications Between Esther And Mordecai

Topic: Mourning

Passage: Esther 4:1–11

February 11, 2023

Commentary

When Mordecai heard about the decree of Ahasuerus for the destruction of the Jews he rent his clothes and put on sackcloth with ashes, which displayed to the Jews great sorrow and grief (v. 1). He displayed his grief publicly, walking throughout the city and crying out bitterly. He was even so bold as to grieve at the entrance of the king’s gate. One more step and he would have been arrested for wearing sackcloth on the king’s property (v. 2). Throughout the entire kingdom there was similarly great mourning among the Jews (v. 3). When Queen Esther heard about Mordecai’s mourning, she sent him clothing to wear. She must have been worried that Mordecai was going to get himself into more trouble by displaying his grief so publicly. When Mordecai refused to her gift (v. 4), Esther sent Hathach, a eunuch who served her, to go to Mordecai to find out why he was grieving (v. 5). Apparently, the Queen had not yet been informed of the decree to exterminate the Jews.

Mordecai outlined Haman’s plan and how that the king had promised to pay money for the destruction of the Jews. He even sent a copy of the document to Esther so she could read it. He shared with her that the only hope for the Jewish people was for her to intercede on their behalf, and thus gain favor with the king in protecting the Jews (v. 7,8). Esther replies by stating that it was unlawful for her to approach the king unless he had desired for her to come. Since he had not asked for her in thirty days it was unlikely that he would want to see her now. The penalty for coming before the king and not receiving his favor was death (v. 11).

Application

Have I ever truly mourned over the evil in this world? What would happen if I grieved over abortion the same way Mordecai and the Jews mourned over their imminent extermination?

Esther 4:1– 11 (NET)

¹ Now 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. ² But he went no farther than the king’s gate, for no one was permitted to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth. ³ Throughout 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. ⁴ When 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. ⁵ So 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. ⁶ So Hathach went to Mordecai at the plaza of the city in front of the king’s gate. ⁷ Then 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. ⁸ He 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. ⁹ So Hathach returned and related Mordecai’s instructions to Esther.

¹⁰ Then 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 thirty days.”