Esther 4:4–8

Mordechai's response

When Esther’s maids and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.

6 So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to urge her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.

Once again, is it good that Mordecai was in distress? That is, does it show concern for others and for the promise of the Messiah to the Jewish nation? Or does his distress show his lack of faith? The text does not say.

When Mordecai urges Esther to go to the king and plead with him, is this desperation or devotion? Was he praying too? The text does not say.