Esther 4 — Overview

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible · Matthew Henry (1662–1714) · Public Domain

We left God's Isaac bound upon the altar and ready to be sacrificed, and the enemies triumphing in the prospect of it; but things here begin to work towards a deliverance, and they begin at the right end. I. The Jews' friends lay to heart the danger and lament it, ver. 1-4. II. Matters are concerted between Mordecai and Esther for the preventing of it. 1. Esther enquires into this case, and receives a particular account of it, ver. 5-7. 2. Mordecai urges her to intercede with the king for a revocation of the edict, ver. 8, 9. III. Esther objects the danger of addressing the king uncalled, ver. 10-12. IV. Mordecai presses her to venture, ver. 13, 14. V. Esther, after a religious fast of three days, promises to do so (ver. 15-17), and we shall find that she sped well.

Great Mourning among the Jews. (b. c. 510.)

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Esther 4 — OverviewEsther 4 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeEsther 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…Esther 4 — OverviewEsther 4 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThis chapter relates the mourning of Mordecai, and of the Jews in every province, on account of the edict to destroy them, Es 4:1, the information Esther had of it, and what passed between her and Mordecai, through…Esther 4:1-4Esther 4:1-4 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleHere we have an account of the general sorrow that there was among the Jews upon the publishing of Haman's bloody edict against them. It was a sad time with the church. 1. Mordecai cried bitterly, rent his…Esther 4:1Esther 4:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryMordecai rent his clothes. Compare Ezra 9:3, Ezra 9:5 with the comment. The meaning of the act was well understood by the Persians. Put on sackcloth with ashes. So Daniel (Daniel 9:3), and the king of Nineveh (Jonah…Esther 4:1-3Esther 4:1-3 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe cry of a doomed people. The decree against the Jews was not yet known in the palace; Esther herself was not yet informed of it. And the signs of sorrow and mourning were prohibited within the royal precincts;…Esther 4:1-3Esther 4:1-3 · The Pulpit CommentaryDistress. We have a very vivid picture, in these few touches, of a nation's exceeding sorrow. We are reminded of ― I. THE HEARTLESSNESS AND IMPOTENCE OF TYRANNY IN REGARD TO IT. The king could cheerfully speak the…

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