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4:1 Now when Mordecai <04782> became aware <03045> of all <03605> that <0834> had been done <06213>, he <04782> tore <07167> his garments <0899> and put on <03847> sackcloth <08242> and ashes <0665>. He went out <03318> into <08432> the city <05892>, crying out <02199> in a loud <01419> and bitter <04751> voice <02201>. 4:2 But he went <0935> no further <05704> than the king’s <04428> gate <08179>, for <03588> no one <0369> was permitted to enter <0935> the king’s <04428> gate <08179> clothed <03830> in sackcloth <08242>. 4:3 Throughout each <04082> and every <03605> province <04082> where <04725> the king’s <04428> edict <01697> and law <01881> were announced <05060> there was considerable <01419> mourning <060> among the Jews <03064>, along with fasting <06685>, weeping <01065>, and sorrow <04553>. Sackcloth <08242> and ashes <0665> were characteristic <03331> of many <07227>. 4:4 When Esther’s <0635> female attendants <05291> and her eunuchs <05631> came <0935> and informed <05046> her about Mordecai’s behavior, the queen <04436> was overcome <03966> with anguish <02342>. Although she sent <07971> garments <0899> for Mordecai <04782> to put on <03847> so that he could remove <05493> his sackcloth <08242>, he would not <03808> accept <06901> them.

• Est 4:1-17 -- Esther Decides to Risk Everything in order to Help Her People

• Readings, Select

  [nave] READINGS, SELECT. Judah's Defense Gen. 44:18-34 Joseph Revealing His Identity Gen. 45:1-15 The Deliverance of the Israelites from Pharaoh Ex. 14:5-30 Song of Moses When Pharaoh and His Army Were Overthrown Ex. 15:1-1...
  

• Haman

  [nave] HAMAN Prime minister of Ahasuerus, Esth. 3:1. Plotted against Esther and the Jews, thwarted by Esther and Mordecai, hanged, Esth. 3-9.
  

• Esther

  [nave] ESTHER, called also Hadassah. Niece of Mordecai, Esth. 2:7, 15. Chosen queen, Esth. 2:17. Tells the king of the plot against his life, Esth. 2:22. Fasts on account of the decree to destroy the Israelites; accuses Haman to ...
  

• Servant

  [nave] SERVANT Distinguished as bond servant, who was a slave, and hired servant. Bond Laws of Moses concerning, Ex. 21:1-11, 20, 21, 26, 27, 32; Lev. 19:20-22; 25:6, 10, 35-55; Deut. 15:12, 14, 18; 24:7. Kidnapping forbidden, D...
  

• Israel

  [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...
  

• Ashes

  [ebd] The ashes of a red heifer burned entire (Num. 19:5) when sprinkled on the unclean made them ceremonially clean (Heb. 9:13). To cover the head with ashes was a token of self-abhorrence and humiliation (2 Sam. 13:19; Esther 4:...
  [nave] ASHES Uses of, in purification, Num. 19:9, 10, 17; Heb. 9:13. A symbol of mourning, 2 Sam. 13:19; Esth. 4:1, 3. Sitting in, Job 2:8; Isa. 58:5; Jer. 6:26; Ezek. 27:30; Jonah 3:6; Luke 10:13. Repenting in, Job 42:6; Dan. 9...
  

• Sackcloth

  [ebd] cloth made of black goats' hair, coarse, rough, and thick, used for sacks, and also worn by mourners (Gen. 37:34; 42:25; 2 Sam. 3:31; Esther 4:1, 2; Ps. 30:11, etc.), and as a sign of repentance (Matt. 11:21). It was put upo...
  

• Chamberlain

  [isbe] CHAMBERLAIN - cham'-ber-lin: In the Old Testament the word rendered chamberlain, caric, is more properly "eunuch," an officer which oriental monarchs placed over their harems (Est 1:10,12,15; 2:3,14,21; 4:4 f; 6:2,14; 7:9; 2...
  [nave] CHAMBERLAIN, an officer of a king, 2 Kin. 23:11; Esth. 1:10-15; 2:3-21; 4:4, 5; Acts 12:20; Rom. 16:23.
  

• EUNUCH

  [isbe] EUNUCH - u'-nuk (caric; spadon; eunouchos): Primarily and literally, a eunuch is an emasculated man (Dt 23:1). The Hebrew word caric seems, however, to have acquired a figurative meaning, which is reflected in English Versio...
  

• Dress

  [ebd] (1.) Materials used. The earliest and simplest an apron of fig-leaves sewed together (Gen. 3:7); then skins of animals (3:21). Elijah's dress was probably the skin of a sheep (2 Kings 1:8). The Hebrews were early acquainted ...
  

• BITTER; BITTERNESS

  [isbe] BITTER; BITTERNESS - bit'-er, bit'-er-nes (mar, or marah = "bitter" (literally or figuratively); also (noun) "bitterness" or (adverb) "bitterly"; "angry," "chafed," "discontented," "heavy" (Gen 27:34; Ex 15:23; Nu 5:18,19,23...
  

• Apparel

  [ebd] In Old Testament times the distinction between male and female attire was not very marked. The statute forbidding men to wear female apparel (Deut. 22:5) referred especially to ornaments and head-dresses. Both men and women ...
  

• FAST; FASTING

  [isbe] FAST; FASTING - fast, fast'-ing (tsum; `innah nephesh, "afflict soul or self," i.e. practice self-denial; nesteia, nesteuein): It is necessary to get rid of some modern notions associated with fasting before we can form a co...
  

• GESTURE

  [isbe] GESTURE - jes'-tur, jes'-tur: The Oriental is rich in gestures by which feelings are expressed and force added to words. Of this we have abundant illustration in the Bible. Almost every available part of the body was employe...
  

• Mordecai Persuades Esther to Help

  

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