The Pulpit Commentary — Esther — Section 83

moo.ning of the o.ct was well understood by by Mordecai to incur a great danger, since he tho Persians. Put on saokoloth with ashes. requested her to go at once to the king, and So Daniel (Dan. ix. 3), and the king of to intercede with him for her people (ver. 8). Nineveh (Jon11.h iii. 6). Either act by itself wo.s a sign of deep griof; both combined In reply, the queen pointed out the extreme betokened the deepest grief possible. And risk which she would run in enterin" the went out into the midst of the oity. The royal pre~ence uninvited, and the little chance palace was not to be saddened by privo.te that there was of her receiving a summons, griefs (see the next verse). Mordecai, there- since she had not had one for thirty days fore, having assumed the outwo.rd signs of ex- treme sorrow, quitted the J,'alace, and entered (ver. 11). Mordecai, however, was inexor- the streets of the town. !'here, overcome by able. He reminded Esther that she herself his feelings, he vented them, as Asia ties are was threatened by the decree, and was not wont to do, in loud and piercing cries (comp. more likely to escape than any other Jew Neh. v. 1). or Jewess ; declared his belief that, if she Ver. 2.-And came even before the king's gate. After some aimless wandering Mor- withheld her aid, deliverance would arise decai returned toward the palace, either as from some other quarter ; warned her that his proper place, or with some incipient neglect of duty was apt to provoke a notion of obtaining Esther's help. He was heavy retribution, and suggested that she not allowed, however, to pass ·the outer gate might have been raised to her queenly dig- on account of his garb of woe, and so remained outside (see ver. 6). nity for the express purpose of her being Ver. 3.-And in every province. As fast thus able to save her nation (vers. 13, 14). as the news spread, as province after pro- The dutiful daughter, the true Jewess, could vince received the decree, the Jews sponta- resist no longer ; she only asked that :Mor- neously did as Mordecai had done-evcry- decai and the other Jews in Susa would fast whero there was great sorrow, shown com- monly by fasting, weeping, and wailing, for her three days, while she and her maidens while in numerous in.stances the mourners also fasted, and then she would take her life even went the length of putting on saok- in her hand, and enter the royal presence cloth and ashes. Thus an ever-increasing uninvited, though it was contrary to the cloud of grief overshadowed the land. law; the risk should be run, and then, as she said with a simple pathos never excelled, § 8. GRIEF OF ESTHER. HER COMMUNICA• "if I perish, I perish" (ver. 16). Satis- TIONS WITH MORDEOAI. SHE CONSENTS TO fied with this reply, Mordecai "went his RISK MAKING AN APPEAL TO THE KING ( eh. way," and held the ,throe days' fast which iv. 4-17). Esther, in the seclusion of the Esther had requested (ver. 17). harem, knew nothing of what the king and Haman had determined on. No one in the Ver. 4.-Esther's maids and her chamber• palace suspected how vitally she we.s concerned •1ains. A queen consort at an Oriental court is sure to have, besides her train of maids, a in the matter, since none knew that she was numerous body of eunuchs, who are at her a Jewess, and state affairs are not commonly entire disposal, and a.re especially employed discussed between an Oriental monarch and in going her errands and maintaining her a young wife. It was known, however, that communications with the outer world. Told she took an interest in Mordecai ; and when her. Esther's interest in Mordecai would be known to the ma.ids and eunuchs by that official was seen outside tho palace gate llfordecai's inquiries about her (eh. i. 11) in his mourning garb, it was reported to the and communications with her (ibid. ver. 22). queen. Not being aware why he grieved, Ver. 5.-To know what it was, and why but thinking that perhaps it was some light it was. I. e. "to know what the mourning matter which he took too much to heart, she garb exactly meant, and for what reason he had assumed it." sent him a cha.ngo of raiment, and requested Ver. 6.-The street of the city. Rather, him to put off his sackcloth. But Mordecai, " the square." without assigning any reason, refused (ver. 4). Ver. 7.-The sum of money. Mordecai Esther upon this caused inquiry to be ma.de evidently considered that the money was o.n of Mordecai concerning the reason of his important item in the transaction, and had mo.inly influenced Aho.suerus. This would mourning, and in this wny beco.me o.cquainted not ho.ve been tho case if Ahasuerus had at with what had happened (vers. 6-9). At once given it back (see the comment on eh. the same time she foul\d herself calleu Oil iii. 9), o2  THE BOOK OF ESTHER. [CII. IV, 1-17,