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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Esther 4 Christian Standard Bible</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/esther/4.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/esther/4-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CSB</a> > Esther 4</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="../menu.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../esther/3.htm" title="Esther 3">◄</a> Esther 4 <a href="../esther/5.htm" title="Esther 5">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">Christian Standard Bible</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/csb/esv/esther/4.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Verses"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><section epub:type="chapter" id="csb-Esther.4" /><h3 class="head1">Mordecai Appeals to Esther</h3><p class="noind"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.4.1" /><A name="2"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/4-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>When Mordecai learned all that had occurred,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.4.1.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> he tore his clothes,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.4.1.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> put on sackcloth and ashes,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.4.1.3"><span class="xrfAlphabet">c</span></a> went into the middle of the city, and cried loudly and bitterly.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.4.1.4"><span class="xrfAlphabet">d</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.4.2" /> <A name="3"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/4-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>He went only as far as the King’s Gate,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.4.2.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> since the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering the King’s Gate. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.4.3" /> <A name="4"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/4-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>There was great mourning among the Jewish people in every province where the king’s command and edict<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.4.3.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> reached. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.4.3.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a></p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.4.4" /> <A name="5"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/4-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>Esther’s female servants and her eunuchs came and reported the news to her, and the queen was overcome with fear.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.4.4.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> She sent clothes for Mordecai to wear so that he would take off his sackcloth, but he did not accept them. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.4.5" /> <A name="6"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/4-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs who attended her, and dispatched him to Mordecai to learn what he was doing and why.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Esther.4.5.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.4.6" /> <A name="7"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/4-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square in front of the King’s Gate. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.4.7" /> <A name="8"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/4-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>Mordecai told him everything that had happened as well as the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay the royal treasury for the slaughter of the Jews.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.4.7.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.4.8" /> <A name="9"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/4-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa ordering their destruction, so that Hathach might show it to Esther, explain it to her, and command her to approach the king, implore his favor, and plead with him personally for her people.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.4.8.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.4.9" /> <A name="10"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/4-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Hathach came and repeated Mordecai’s response to Esther.</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.4.10" /> <A name="11"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/4-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to tell Mordecai, <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.4.11" /> <A name="12"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/4-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>“All the royal officials and the people of the royal provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner courtyard<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.4.11.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> and who has not been summoned — the death penalty<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.4.11.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> —  unless the king extends the gold scepter, allowing that person to live.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.4.11.3"><span class="xrfAlphabet">c</span></a> I have not been summoned to appear before the king<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.4.11.4"><span class="xrfAlphabet">d</span></a> for the last<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Esther.4.11.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a> thirty days.” <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.4.12" /> <A name="13"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/4-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>Esther’s response was reported to Mordecai.</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.4.13" /> <A name="14"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/4-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Mordecai told the messenger to reply to Esther, “Don’t think that you will escape the fate of all the Jews because you are in the king’s palace. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.4.14" /> <A name="15"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/4-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.4.14.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> but you and your father’s family will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this.”<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.4.14.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a></p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.4.15" /> <A name="16"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/4-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.4.16" /> <A name="17"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/4-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>“Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa and fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.4.16.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> night or day. I and my female servants will also fast<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.4.16.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> in the same way. After that, I will go to the king even if it is against the law.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.4.16.3"><span class="xrfAlphabet">c</span></a> If I perish, I perish.”<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Esther.4.16.4"><span class="xrfAlphabet">d</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Esther.4.17" /> <span class="reftext"><a href="/esther/4-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>So Mordecai went and did everything Esther had commanded him.</p><br /><section id="footnotes-Esther.4" class="fnSection"><aside id="fn.Esther.4.5.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.4.5">4:5</a></span> Lit <span class="italic">what is this and why is this</span></aside><aside id="fn.Esther.4.11.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.4.11">4:11</a></span> Lit <span class="italic">king these</span></aside><br /><section id="cross-references-Esther.4" class="xrfSection"><aside id="xrf.Esther.4.1.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.4.1">4:1</a></span> Est 3:7–15</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.4.1.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.4.1">4:1</a></span> 2Sm 1:11; 3:31; Ezr 9:3</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.4.1.3"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.4.1">4:1</a></span> Is 58:5; Dn 9:3</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.4.1.4"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.4.1">4:1</a></span> Ex 11:6</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.4.2.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.4.2">4:2</a></span> Est 2:19; 3:2</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.4.3.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.4.3">4:3</a></span> Est 3:12–15</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.4.3.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.4.3">4:3</a></span> Est 8:17; Is 58:5; Dn 9:3; Jnh 3:5–6</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.4.4.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.4.4">4:4</a></span> Est 7:6</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.4.7.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.4.7">4:7</a></span> Est 3:9–15</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.4.8.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.4.8">4:8</a></span> Est 7:3–4</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.4.11.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.4.11">4:11</a></span> Est 5:1</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.4.11.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.4.11">4:11</a></span> Dn 2:9,12–13</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.4.11.3"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.4.11">4:11</a></span> Est 5:2; 8:4</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.4.11.4"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.4.11">4:11</a></span> Est 2:14</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.4.14.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.4.14">4:14</a></span> Gn 50:20</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.4.14.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.4.14">4:14</a></span> Gn 45:5–7</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.4.16.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.4.16">4:16</a></span> Est 5:1; Jl 1:14</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.4.16.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.4.16">4:16</a></span> Est 9:31</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.4.16.3"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.4.16">4:16</a></span> Est 5:1–2</aside><aside id="xrf.Esther.4.16.4"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Esther.4.16">4:16</a></span> Gn 43:14</aside><br /><section id="study-notes-Esther.4" class="snSection"><br /></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Christian Standard Bible. 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