Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Esther 4

47 catchwords206 parallels

← Esther | ← Ch 3 | Ch 5 →

Esther 4 . 1 , The great mourning of Mordecai and the Jews; Esther 4 . 4 , Esther , understanding it , sends to Mordecai , who shews the cause , and advises her to undertake the suit; Esther 4 . 10 , She excusing herself , is threatened by Mordecai; Esther 4 . 15 , She appointing a fast , undertakes the suit.

Esther 4:1

When Mordecai learned of all that had happened, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.

Esther 4:1 · BSB

all that1 parallel

rent4 parallels

with ashes10 parallels

and cried8 parallels

Mordecai 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 . יסופבי וטםןע לחהום חהיךחךןע , "A people is going to be destroyed who have done no evil."

Reciprocal10 parallels

Esther 4:2

But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering that gate.

Esther 4:2 · BSB

Reciprocal3 parallels

Esther 4:3

In every province to which the king’s command and edict came, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

Esther 4:3 · BSB

in every province2 parallels

great mourning6 parallels

It 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

weeping3 parallels

many lay in sackcloth and ashes2 parallels

Heb. sackcloth and ashes were laid under many

Reciprocal4 parallels

Esther 4:4

When Esther’s maidens and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, the queen was overcome with distress. She sent clothes for Mordecai to wear instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.

Esther 4:4 · BSB

chamberlains5 parallels

Heb. eunuchs

but he received it not3 parallels

Reciprocal2 parallels

Esther 4:5

Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs appointed to her, and she dispatched him to Mordecai to learn what was troubling him and why.

Esther 4:5 · BSB

appointed to attend upon her2 parallels

Heb. set before her

to know4 parallels

Reciprocal2 parallels

Esther 4:6

So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square in front of the king’s gate,

Esther 4:6 · BSB

the king's3 parallels

Reciprocal1 parallel

Esther 4:7

and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury in order to destroy the Jews.

Esther 4:7 · BSB

all that had1 parallel

Reciprocal2 parallels

Esther 4:8

Mordecai also gave Hathach a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for the destruction of the Jews, to show and explain to Esther, urging her to approach the king, implore his favor, and plead before him for her people.

Esther 4:8 · BSB

the copy2 parallels

to charge3 parallels

to make supplication5 parallels

request5 parallels

Reciprocal2 parallels

Esther 4:9

So Hathach went back and relayed Mordecai’s response to Esther.

Esther 4:9 · BSB

Reciprocal1 parallel

Esther 4:11

“All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned—that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the gold scepter may that person live. But I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the past thirty days.”

Esther 4:11 · BSB

the inner court1 parallel

one law1 parallel

the king shall2 parallels

but I3 parallels

Reciprocal6 parallels

shall come Herodotus 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 golden sceptre That the kings of Persia carried a golden sceptre , we have the following proof in Xenophon . פי ןץ פןהו פן קסץףןץם ףךחנפסןם פן לחם גבףיכויבם היבףשזןם וףפים , בככ ןי ניףפןי ציכןי ףךחנפסןם גבףיכוץףים בכחטוףפבפןם ךבי בףצבכוףפבפןם. "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."

Esther 4:13

he sent back to her this reply: “Do not imagine that because you are in the king’s palace you alone will escape the fate of all the Jews.

Esther 4:13 · BSB

Think not6 parallels

Reciprocal3 parallels

Esther 4:14

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Esther 4:14 · BSB

then shall14 parallels

enlargement2 parallels

Heb. respiration

but thou4 parallels

whether4 parallels

for such a time3 parallels

  • 1 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

Reciprocal12 parallels

Esther 4:15

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:

Esther 4:15 · BSB

Reciprocal1 parallel

Esther 4:16

“Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”

Esther 4:16 · BSB

fast6 parallels

eat nor drink4 parallels

I also3 parallels

if I perish8 parallels

If 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

Reciprocal26 parallels

present Heb. found

Esther 4:17

So Mordecai went and did all that Esther had instructed him.

Esther 4:17 · BSB

went1 parallel

Heb. passed

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