Esther 4 - Study the King James Bible

When 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;

all that: Esther 3:8-13
rent: 2 Samuel 1:11, Job 1:20, Jonah 3:4-9, Acts 14:14
with ashes: Esther 4:3, Joshua 7:6, 2 Samuel 13:19, Job 2:8, Job 42:6, Isaiah 58:5, Ezekiel 27:30, Daniel 9:3, Jonah 3:6, Matthew 11:21
and cried: Mordecai gave every demonstration of the most poignant grief. Nor did he hide this from the city; and the Greek says that he uttered these words aloud: יסופבי וטםןע לחהום חהיךחךןע, "A people is going to be destroyed who have done no evil." Genesis 27:34, Isaiah 15:4, Isaiah 22:4, Ezekiel 21:6, Ezekiel 27:31, Micah 1:8, Zephaniah 1:14, Revelation 18:17-19
Reciprocal: Genesis 37:34 - General Genesis 41:14 - he shaved Exodus 33:4 - and no 1 Kings 20:31 - put sackcloth 2 Kings 19:1 - covered Esther 8:16 - Jews Job 2:12 - their voice Psalms 77:2 - my soul Isaiah 61:3 - beauty Revelation 11:3 - clothed

And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

Reciprocal: Genesis 50:4 - Joseph Luke 7:25 - are in Revelation 11:3 - clothed

And 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.

in every province: Esther 1:1, Esther 3:12
great mourning: It cannot reasonably be doubted, that the mournings, fastings, and weepings of the Jews were attended by constant prayers and supplications; though all mention of them, and of the glorious God whom they worshipped, seems to have been studiously avoided. 1 Samuel 4:13, 1 Samuel 4:14, 1 Samuel 11:4, Isaiah 22:4, Isaiah 22:12, Isaiah 37:1-3
weeping: Matthew 13:42, Matthew 22:13, Matthew 25:30
many lay in sackcloth and ashes: Heb. sackcloth and ashes were laid under many, Isaiah 58:5, Daniel 9:3
Reciprocal: Nehemiah 9:1 - children Esther 4:1 - with ashes Esther 4:6 - the king's Esther 9:31 - the fastings

So 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.

chamberlains: Heb. eunuchs, Esther 1:12, 1 Samuel 8:15, *marg. 2 Kings 9:32, Isaiah 56:3, Acts 8:27
but he received it not: Genesis 37:35, Psalms 77:2, Jeremiah 31:15
Reciprocal: 2 Kings 25:29 - changed Proverbs 31:26 - openeth

Then 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.

appointed to attend upon her: Heb. set before her, Esther 1:10, Esther 1:12
to know: Romans 12:15, 1 Corinthians 12:26, Philippians 2:4, Hebrews 4:15
Reciprocal: 1 Kings 21:5 - Why is thy spirit Malachi 3:16 - spake

So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate.

the king's: Esther 4:3, Esther 7:2, Esther 9:12
Reciprocal: Proverbs 26:1 - so

And 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.

all that had: Esther 3:2-15
Reciprocal: Esther 7:4 - we are sold Proverbs 12:6 - the mouth

Also 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.

the copy: Esther 3:14, Esther 3:15
to charge: Esther 2:20, 1 Timothy 6:13, 1 Timothy 6:17
to make supplication: Job 9:15, Proverbs 16:14, Proverbs 16:15, Ecclesiastes 10:4, Acts 12:20
request: Esther 7:3, Esther 7:4, Esther 8:6, Nehemiah 2:3-5, Proverbs 21:1
Reciprocal: Jeremiah 38:26 - General Ephesians 6:18 - supplication

And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

Reciprocal: Proverbs 26:1 - so

10.

Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;

11.

All 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.

shall come: Herodotus informs us, that ever since the reign of Deioces, king of Media, for the security of the king's person, it was enacted that no one should be admitted into his presence; but that if any one had business with him, he should transact it through the medium of his ministers.
the inner court: Esther 5:1
one law: Daniel 2:9
the king shall: Esther 5:2, Esther 8:4
the golden sceptre: That the kings of Persia carried a golden sceptre, we have the following proof in Xenophon: פי ןץ פןהו פן קסץףןץם ףךחנפסןם פן לחם גבףיכויבם היבףשזןם וףפים, בככ ןי ניףפןי ציכןי ףךחנפסןם גבףיכוץףים בכחטוףפבפןם ךבי בףצבכוףפבפןם. "It is not (said Cyrus to his son Cambyses) the golden sceptre that saves the kingdom; but faithful friends are the truest and best sceptre of the kingdom."
but I: Esther 1:19, Esther 2:14, 1 Peter 3:7
Reciprocal: Genesis 18:30 - General 1 Chronicles 21:13 - I am in Nehemiah 2:20 - memorial Esther 6:4 - the outward Job 31:34 - that I Mark 8:35 - will save

12.

And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.

13.

Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.

Think not: Proverbs 24:10-12, Matthew 16:24, Matthew 16:25, John 12:25, Philippians 2:30, Hebrews 12:3
Reciprocal: Esther 2:10 - had not showed Proverbs 31:8 - Open Ecclesiastes 3:7 - and a time to speak

14.

For 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?

then shall: Genesis 22:14, Numbers 23:22-24, Deuteronomy 32:26, Deuteronomy 32:27, Deuteronomy 32:36, 1 Samuel 12:22, Isaiah 54:17, Jeremiah 30:11, Jeremiah 33:24-26, Jeremiah 46:28, Amos 9:8, Amos 9:9, Matthew 16:18, Matthew 24:22
enlargement: Heb. respiration, Ezra 9:9, Job 9:18
but thou: Esther 2:7, Esther 2:15, Judges 14:15-18, Judges 15:6
whether: Genesis 45:4-8, Isaiah 45:1-5, Isaiah 49:23, Acts 7:20-25
for such a time: 1 Samuel 17:29, 2 Kings 19:3, Nehemiah 6:11, The fact related in this verse was unquestionably the reason why Esther was raised to regal honours, by the overruling providence of God: she was therefore bound in gratitude to do this service for God, else she would not have answered the end of her elevation, and she need not fear the miscarriage of the enterprise, for if God designed her for it, he would surely bear her through and give success. It appeared by the event that Mordecai spoke prophetically, when he modestly conjectured that Esther came to the kingdom that she might be the instrument of the Jews' deliverance. Mordecai thoroughly believed that it was a cause which one way or other would certainly be carried, and which, therefore, she might safely venture upon. Instruments might fail, but God's covenant cannot. There is a wise design in all the providences of God, which is unknown to us till it is accomplished; but it will prove in the issue that all is intended for and centre in the good of those who trust in Him.
Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 5:12 - his people 1 Chronicles 14:2 - because Esther 2:10 - had not showed Esther 2:17 - so that he set Job 31:34 - that I Proverbs 17:17 - General Ecclesiastes 3:7 - and a time to speak Isaiah 22:23 - a glorious Jeremiah 26:16 - General Habakkuk 1:13 - holdest Matthew 16:25 - General Romans 9:17 - I raised

15.

Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

Reciprocal: Daniel 2:18 - they would

16.

Go, 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.

present: Heb. found
fast: 2 Chronicles 20:3, Isaiah 22:12, Joel 1:14, Joel 1:15, Joel 2:12-17, Jonah 3:4-9
eat nor drink: Esther 5:1, Matthew 12:40, Acts 9:9, Acts 27:33
I also: Genesis 18:19, Joshua 24:15, Acts 10:7
if I perish: If I lose my life in the attempt to save my people, I shall lose it cheerfully. I see it is my duty to make the attempt; and, come what will, I am resolved to do it. Genesis 43:14, 1 Samuel 19:5, 2 Samuel 10:12, Luke 9:24, Acts 20:24, Acts 21:13, Romans 16:4, Philippians 2:30
Reciprocal: Genesis 43:11 - If it must be Judges 5:18 - their lives Judges 9:17 - adventured his life 1 Samuel 30:12 - three days 2 Samuel 1:2 - the third 2 Samuel 12:16 - fasted 1 Kings 20:31 - peradventure 2 Kings 7:4 - if they save us 1 Chronicles 21:13 - I am in 2 Chronicles 31:1 - present Ezra 8:23 - we fasted Nehemiah 9:1 - children Esther 1:2 - Shushan Esther 3:15 - the city Esther 8:16 - Jews Esther 9:31 - the fastings Proverbs 29:26 - ruler's favour Isaiah 58:5 - it such Jeremiah 36:9 - they Daniel 9:3 - with Jonah 1:6 - if Zephaniah 2:1 - gather together Matthew 6:16 - when Matthew 16:25 - General Luke 4:2 - he did 1 Peter 4:19 - in

17.

So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

went: Heb. passed, Esther 4:17