Esther 4:2 — Meaning and Application

Esther 4:1

"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;"

Esther 4:3

"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. {many...: Heb. sackcloth and ashes were laid under many}"

Esther 4:4

"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 4:5

"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...: Heb. set before her}"

Esther 4:6

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