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4:9 So Hathach <02047> returned <0935> and related <05046> Mordecai’s <04782> instructions <01697> to Esther <0635>. 4:10 Then Esther <0635> replied <0559> to Hathach <02047> with instructions <06680> for <0413> Mordecai <04782>: 4:11 “All <03605> the servants <05650> of the king <04428> and the people <05971> of the king’s <04428> provinces <04082> know <03045> that <0834> there is only one <0259> law <01881> applicable to any <03605> man <0376> or woman <0802> who <0834> comes <0935> uninvited <07121> <03808> to <0413> the king <04428> in the inner <06442> court <02691>– that person will be put to death <04191>, unless <0905> the king <04428> extends <03447> to him the gold <02091> scepter <08275>, permitting him to be spared <02421>. Now I <0589> have not <03808> been invited <07121> to come <0935> to <0413> the king <04428> for some thirty <07970> days <03117>!” 4:12 When Esther’s <0635> reply <01697> was conveyed <05046> to Mordecai <04782>, 4:13 he <04782> said <0559> to take back <07725> this answer to <0413> Esther <0635>: 4:14 “Don’t imagine that because you are part of the king’s household you will be the one Jew who will escape. If <0518> you keep <02790> quiet <02790> at this <02063> time <06256>, liberation <07305> and protection <02020> for the Jews <03064> will appear <05975> from another <0312> source <04725>, while you <0859> and your father’s <01> household <01004> perish <06>. It may very well be that you have achieved <05060> royal status <04438> for such a time <06256> as this <02063>!” 4:15 Then Esther <0635> sent <0559> this reply <07725> to <0413> Mordecai <04782>: 4:16 “Go <01980>, assemble <03664> all <03605> the Jews <03064> who are found <04672> in Susa <07800> and fast <06684> in <05921> my behalf. Don’t <0408> eat <0398> and don’t <0408> drink <08354> for three <07969> days <03117>, night <03915> or day <03117>. My female attendants <05291> and I <0589> will also <01571> fast <06684> in the same <03651> way. Afterward <03651> I will go <0935> to <0413> the king <04428>, even though it violates the law <01881>. If I perish <06>, I perish <06>!” 4:17 So Mordecai <04782> set out <05674> to do <06213> everything <03605> that <0834> Esther <0635> had instructed <06680> him.

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

• 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.
  

• 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...
  

• 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...
  

• 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...
  

• 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 ...
  

• Hatach

  [ebd] verity, one of the eunuchs or chamberlains in the palace of Ahasuerus (Esther 4:5, 6, 9, 10).
  [smith] (verily), one of the eunuchs in the court of Ahasuerus. (Esther 4:5,6,9,10) (B.C. 474.)
  [nave] HATACH, a chamberlain in the court of Ahasuerus, Esth. 4:5, 6, 9, 10.
  

• Prayer

  [ebd] is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching t...
  

• Women

  [nave] WOMEN Creation of, Gen. 1:27; 2:21, 22. Named, Gen. 2:23. Fall of, and curse upon, Gen. 3:1-16; 2 Cor. 11:3; 1 Tim. 2:14. Promise to, Gen. 3:15. Had separate apartments in dwellings, Gen. 24:67; 31:33; Esth. 2:9, 11. Ve...
  

• HATHACH

  [isbe] HATHACH - ha'-thak (hathakh; Septuagint Hachrathaios): One of the chamberlains of Ahasuerus, appointed to attend on Esther (Est 4:5,6,9,10, the King James Version "Hatach"), through whom she learned from Mordecai of Haman's ...
  

• Fasting

  [nave] FASTING Observed on occasions of public calamities, 2 Sam. 1:12; afflictions, Psa. 35:13; Dan. 6:18; private afflictions, 2 Sam. 12:16; approaching danger, Esth. 4:16; ordination of ministers, Acts 13:3; 14:23. Accompanied ...
  

• Scepter

  [nave] SCEPTER A staff used by kings to signify favor or disfavor to those who desired audience, Esth. 5:2; 8:4. A symbol of authority, Num. 24:17; Isa. 14:5. Made of gold, Esth. 4:11; of iron, Psa. 2:9; Rev. 2:27; 12:5. Figurat...
  

• Shushan

  [nave] SHUSHAN 1. Capital of the Medo-Persian empire, Esth. 1:2, 3; 8:15. 2. King's palace at, Neh. 1:1; Esth. 1:2, 5; 2:5, 8; 4:8, 16; 8:14, 15; 9:11, 15.
  

• Self-denial

  [nave] SELF-DENIAL. Gen. 22:12 with vs. 1-12.2 Sam. 24:24; Psa. 132:3-5; Prov. 16:32; Prov. 23:2; Dan. 10:3; Matt. 5:29, 30 Mark 9:43. Matt. 8:19, 20 [Luke 9:57, 58.] Matt. 8:21, 22 Luke 9:59, 60. Matt. 10:37-39; Matt. 13:44-46; M...
  

• Faith

  [nave] FAITH. 2 Sam. 22:31; Psa. 5:11; Psa. 7:1; Psa. 9:9, 10; Psa. 18:30; Psa. 32:10; Psa. 33:18, 19; Psa. 34:8, 22 vs. 1-8;; Psa. 2:12. Psa. 36:7; Psa. 40:4; Psa. 64:10; Psa. 78:7 vs. 5-7.; Psa. 84:5, 12; Psa. 112:5, 7, 8; Psa. ...
  

• Resignation

  [nave] RESIGNATION. Job 5:17; Job 34:31; Psa. 4:4; Psa. 46:10; Prov. 3:11; Prov. 18:14; Jer. 51:50; Lam. 3:39; Mic. 6:9; Matt. 6:10 Luke 11:2. Luke 21:19; Rom. 12:12; Phil. 2:14; Phil. 4:11-13; Col. 1:11; 1 Thess. 3:3; 2 Tim. 2:3;...
  

• Courage

  [nave] COURAGE Enjoined upon Joshua, Deut. 31:7, 8, 22, 23; Josh. 1:1-9; the Israelites, Lev. 26:6-8; 2 Chr. 32:7, 8; Solomon, 1 Chr. 22:13; 28:20; Asa, 2 Chr. 15:1-7. Enjoined by Jehoshaphat upon the judicial and executive office...
  

• FEASTS AND FASTS

  [isbe] FEASTS AND FASTS - fests (mo`edh, "an appointed day" or "an assembling," chagh, from chaghagh, "to dance" or possibly "to make a pilgrimage"; tsom, "fast," ta`anith, "a day of affliction"): I. PRE-EXILIC A) Annual 1. Passove...
  

• 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...
  

• ESTHER, THE REST OF

  [isbe] ESTHER, THE REST OF - || Introductory 1. Name 2. Contents 3. Original Language 4. Versions 5. Date LITERATURE Introductory. The Book of Esther in the oldest manuscripts of the Septuagint (B,A,N, etc.) contains 107 verses mor...
  

• ENLARGE; ENLARGEMENT

  [isbe] ENLARGE; ENLARGEMENT - en-larj', en-larj'-ment: "To enlarge" is very frequently used figuratively: "God enlarge Japheth" (Gen 9:27), i.e. "make him a great nation"; or "Thou hast enlarged my steps under me" (2 Sam 22:37), i....
  

• Mordecai Persuades Esther to Help

  

• [Est 4:16] Come, Humble Sinner

  Come, humble sinner, in whose breast, A thousand thoughts revolve, Come, with your guilt and fear oppressed, And make this last resolve. I’ll go to Jesus, though my sin Like mountains round me close; I know His courts, I’ll enter in, Whatever may oppose. Prostrate I’ll lie before His throne, And there my guilt confess, I’ll tell Him, I’m a wretch undone, Without His sovereign grace. I’ll to the gracious King approach, Whose scepter pardon gives; Perhaps he command my touch, And then the suppliant lives. Perhaps He will admit my plea, Perhaps will hear my prayer; But, if I perish, I will pray, And perish only there. I can but perish if I go; I am resolved to try; But if I stay away, I know I must forever die. But, if I die with mercy sought, When I the King have tried, This were to die (delightful thought!) As sinner never died.

  Play

  source: Cyberhymnal

• Were the three days and three nights that Jesus was in the grave a full 72 hours?
  There has been a long standing debate over the meaning of Matthew 12:40, "for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart ...

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