Albert Barnes Commentary Esther 4
Albert Barnes Commentary
Esther 4
Albert Barnes Commentary
Esther 4
"and he came even before the king`s gate: for none might enter within the king`s gate clothed with sackcloth." — Esther 4:2 (ASV)
None might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth - This law is not elsewhere mentioned; but its principle—that nothing of evil omen is to be imposed upon the monarch—has been recognized throughout the East in all ages.
"And Esther`s maidens and her chamberlains came and told it her; and the queen was exceedingly grieved: and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take his sackcloth from off him; but he received it not." — Esther 4:4 (ASV)
Esther’s maids ... told her - Esther’s nationality and her relationship to Mordecai were probably by this time known to her attendants, though still concealed from the king. See Esther 7:4.
"All the king`s servants, and the people of the king`s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except those to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days." — Esther 4:11 (ASV)
The golden scepter - In all the numerous representations of Persian kings at Persepolis the monarch holds a long tapering staff (probably the scepter of Esther) in his right hand. It was death to intrude on the privacy of the Persian king uninvited.
"For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then will relief and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but thou and thy father`s house will perish: and who knoweth whether thou art not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" — Esther 4:14 (ASV)
From another place – that is, “from some other quarter.” Mordecai probably concluded from the prophetic Scriptures that God would NOT allow His people to be destroyed before His purposes with respect to them were accomplished, and was therefore satisfied that deliverance would arise from one quarter or another.
Thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed – that is, “a divine vengeance will overtake you and yours, if you neglect your plain duty.” Though the name of God is not contained in the Book of Esther, there is in this verse a distinct, tacit allusion to God’s promises, and to the direction of human events by Divine Providence.
"Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast in like manner; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish." — Esther 4:16 (ASV)
Again the religious element shows itself. Esther’s fast could have no object but to obtain God’s favor and protection in the dangerous course she was about to undertake.
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