4:1 The great mourning of Mordecai and the Jews; 4:4 Esther, understanding it, sends to Mordecai, who shews the cause, and advises her to undertake the suit; 4:10 She excusing herself, is threatened by Mordecai; 4:15 She appointing a fast, undertakes the suit.
Verse 1all thatEsther 3:8-13rent2 Samuel 1:11; Job 1:20; Jonah 3:4-9; Acts 14:14with ashesEsther 4:3; Joshua 7:6; 2 Samuel 13:19; Job 2:8, 42:6; Isaiah 58:5; Ezekiel 27:30; Daniel 9:3; Jonah 3:6; Matthew 11:21and criedMordecai 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: Αιρεται εθνος μηδεν ηδικηκος, "A people is going to be destroyed who have done no evil." Genesis 27:34; Isaiah 15:4, 22:4; Ezekiel 21:6, 27:31; Micah 1:8; Zephaniah 1:14; Revelation 18:17-19ReciprocalGenesis 37:34 - General; 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; Psalm 77:2 - my soul; Isaiah 61:3 - beauty; Revelation 11:3 - clothedVerse 2ReciprocalGenesis 50:4 - Joseph; Luke 7:25 - are in; Revelation 11:3 - clothedVerse 3in every provinceEsther 1:1, 3:12great mourningIt 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, 4:14, 11:4; Isaiah 22:4, 22:12, 37:1-3weepingMatthew 13:42, 22:13, 25:30many lay in sackcloth and ashesHeb. sackcloth and ashes were laid under many, Isaiah 58:5; Daniel 9:3ReciprocalNehemiah 9:1 - children; Esther 4:1 - with ashes; 4:6 - the king's; 9:31 - the fastingsVerse 4chamberlainsHeb. eunuchs, Esther 1:12; 1 Samuel 8:15 *marg. 2 Kings 9:32; Isaiah 56:3; Acts 8:27but he received it notGenesis 37:35; Psalm 77:2; Jeremiah 31:15Reciprocal2 Kings 25:29 - changed; Proverbs 31:26 - openethVerse 5appointed to attend upon herHeb. set before her, Esther 1:10, 1:12to knowRomans 12:15; 1 Corinthians 12:26; Philippians 2:4; Habakkuk 3:1Reciprocal1 Kings 21:5 - Why is thy spirit; Malachi 3:16 - spakeVerse 6the king'sEsther 4:3, 7:2, 9:12ReciprocalProverbs 26:1 - soVerse 7all that hadEsther 3:2-15Reciprocal7:4 - we are sold; Proverbs 12:6 - the mouthVerse 8the copyEsther 3:14, 3:15to charge2:20; 1 Timothy 6:13, 6:17to make supplicationJob 9:15; Proverbs 16:14, 16:15; Ecclesiastes 10:4; Acts 12:20requestEsther 7:3, 7:4, 8:6; Nehemiah 2:3-5; Proverbs 21:1ReciprocalJeremiah 38:26 - General; Ephesians 6:18 - supplicationVerse 9ReciprocalProverbs 26:1 - soVerse 11shall comeHerodotus 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 courtEsther 5:1one lawDaniel 2:9the king shallEsther 5:2, 8:4the golden sceptreThat the kings of Persia carried a golden sceptre, we have the following proof in Xenophon: Οτι ου τοδε το χρυσουν σκηπτρον το μην βασιλειαν διασωζον εστιν, αλλ οι πιστοι φιλοι σκηπτρον βασιλευσιν αληθεστατον και ασφαλεστατον. "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 I1:19, 2:14; 1 Peter 3:7ReciprocalGenesis 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 saveVerse 13Think notProverbs 24:10-12; Matthew 16:24, 16:25; John 12:25; Philippians 2:30; Habakkuk 3:1ReciprocalEsther 2:10 - had not showed; Proverbs 31:8 - Open; Ecclesiastes 3:7 - and a time to speakVerse 14then shallGenesis 22:14; Numbers 23:22-24; Deuteronomy 32:26, 32:27, 32:36; 1 Samuel 12:22; Isaiah 54:17; Jeremiah 30:11, 33:24-26, 46:28; Amos 9:8, 9:9; Matthew 16:18, 24:22enlargementHeb. respiration, Ezra 9:9; Job 9:18but thouEsther 2:7, 2:15; Judges 14:15-18, 15:6whetherGenesis 45:4-8; Isaiah 45:1-5, 49:23; Acts 7:20-25for such a time1 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.Reciprocal2 Samuel 5:12 - his people; 1 Chronicles 14:2 - because; Esther 2:10 - had not showed; 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 raisedVerse 15ReciprocalDaniel 2:18 - they wouldVerse 16presentHeb. foundfast2 Chronicles 20:3; Isaiah 22:12; Joel 1:14, 1:15, 2:12-17; Jonah 3:4-9eat nor drinkEsther 5:1; Matthew 12:40; Acts 9:9, 27:33I alsoGenesis 18:19; Joshua 24:15; Acts 10:7if I perishIf 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, 21:13; Romans 16:4; Philippians 2:30ReciprocalGenesis 43:11 - If it must be; Judges 5:18 - their lives; 9:17 - adventured his life; 1 Samuel 30:12 - three days; 2 Samuel 1:2 - the third; 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; 3:15 - the city; 8:16 - Jews; 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; 16:25 - General; Luke 4:2 - he did; 1 Peter 4:19 - inVerse 17wentHeb. passed, Esther 4:17
4:4 Esther, understanding it, sends to Mordecai, who shews the cause, and advises her to undertake the suit;
4:10 She excusing herself, is threatened by Mordecai;
4:15 She appointing a fast, undertakes the suit. Verse 1all thatEsther 3:8-13 rent2 Samuel 1:11; Job 1:20; Jonah 3:4-9; Acts 14:14 with ashesEsther 4:3; Joshua 7:6; 2 Samuel 13:19; Job 2:8, 42:6; Isaiah 58:5; Ezekiel 27:30; Daniel 9:3; Jonah 3:6; Matthew 11:21 and criedMordecai 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:
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.Reciprocal2 Samuel 5:12 - his people; 1 Chronicles 14:2 - because; Esther 2:10 - had not showed; 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 Verse 15ReciprocalDaniel 2:18 - they would Verse 16presentHeb. foundfast2 Chronicles 20:3; Isaiah 22:12; Joel 1:14, 1:15, 2:12-17; Jonah 3:4-9 eat nor drinkEsther 5:1; Matthew 12:40; Acts 9:9, 27:33 I alsoGenesis 18:19; Joshua 24:15; Acts 10:7 if I perishIf 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, 21:13; Romans 16:4; Philippians 2:30ReciprocalGenesis 43:11 - If it must be; Judges 5:18 - their lives; 9:17 - adventured his life; 1 Samuel 30:12 - three days; 2 Samuel 1:2 - the third; 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; 3:15 - the city; 8:16 - Jews; 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; 16:25 - General; Luke 4:2 - he did; 1 Peter 4:19 - in Verse 17wentHeb. passed, Esther 4:17