Charles Ellicott Commentary Esther 4:1

"Now when Mordecai knew all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;" — Esther 4:1 (ASV)

Mordecai rent his clothes. — This was a common sign of sorrow among Eastern nations generally. It will be noticed that the sorrow both of Mordecai and of the Jews generally (Esther 4:3) is described by external manifestations solely. There is rending of garments, putting on of sackcloth and ashes, fasting and weeping and wailing: there is nothing said of prayer and entreaty to the God of Israel, and strong crying to Him who is able to save. Daniel and Ezra and Nehemiah are all Jews who, like Mordecai and Esther, have to submit to the rule of the alien, though, unlike them, when danger threatened, they implored, and not in vain, the help of their God. (Ezra 8:23; Nehemiah 1:4, and other similar passages.)