Esther 4

4 ¹ When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his clothes and put on mourning clothes and ashes. He went out into the middle of the city and let out a loud, bitter wail. ² He came only as far as the king's gate, for no one was allowed to enter the king's gate dressed in mourning clothes. ³ And in every province, wherever the king's word and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and wailing; many lay in mourning clothes and ashes.

⁴ When Esther's young women and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply shaken. She sent clothing to dress Mordecai and take off his mourning clothes, but he would not accept it. ⁵ Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs whom he had appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to find out what this was and why. ⁶ So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city, in front of the king's gate, ⁷ and Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, and the exact amount of silver Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. ⁸ He also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, to show Esther and explain it to her, and to urge her to go to the king, to plead with him and beg for her people.

⁹ Hathach came back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. ¹⁰ Then Esther spoke to Hathach and gave him this message for Mordecai: ¹¹ "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that for any man or woman who goes to the king in the inner court without being summoned, there is one law: they are to be put to death—unless the king holds out the golden scepter to them, that they may live. And I myself have not been summoned to come to the king for thirty days now."

¹² When they told Mordecai what Esther had said, ¹³ Mordecai sent back this reply to Esther: "Do not imagine that because you are in the king's palace you alone of all the Jews will escape. ¹⁴ For if you stay silent at a time like this, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for a time just like this?" ^a a v14 Our Father is never named in the whole book of Esther, yet his unseen hand moves through every turn — Mordecai is certain rescue will come, because he knows the Father will not abandon his people.

¹⁵ Then Esther sent back this reply to Mordecai: ¹⁶ "Go, gather all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me—do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will fast in the same way. Then I will go to the king, even though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish." ¹⁷ So Mordecai went away and did everything Esther had commanded him.