Bible Commentaries
Esther 4

Verse 1

done = being done.

bitter cry. Not (we may be sure) without confession and prayer, as with Nehemiah (Esther 1:0 ), and Daniel 9:0 ).

Verse 2

even = as far as.

Verse 3

commandments word. See note on Esther 1:12 .

decree = Imperial decree. Hebrew. dath . See notes on Esther 1:8 ; Esther 2:8 .

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), to emphasize the greatness and universality of the mourning.

fasting, &c. These were the accompaniments of true repentance.

Verse 4

maids. See note on Esther 2:4 .

chamberlains = eunuchs.

Verse 5

commandment = charge. Hebrew. zavah. See Esther 3:2 .

Verse 7

the sum of the money = the exact sum of the money. Mordecai knew of this, but how we cannot tell. He evidently did not know that the king had made Harnan a present of it (Esther 3:11 ).

Verse 11

law = Imperial decree. Hebrew. dath . See note on Esther 1:8 .

Verse 13

commanded. Hebrew. 'amar. See note on Esther 1:10 .

thyself = thy soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 14

enlargement = respite.

who knoweth . . . ? Note the Figure of speech Erotesis ( App-6 ), for emphasis. Used here of hope and trust in God and His overruling grace.

Verse 16

three days, night or day. The Jerusalem Talmud says "a day and night together make up a nulctke-meron, and that any part of such period is counted as a whole". Compare 1 Samuel 30:12 , 1 Samuel 30:13 . Jon 1:17 . Matthew 12:40 .

I perish. See note on Esther 3:13 .

Verse 17

went his way = passed over: i.e. over the river Ulai, on which Shushan is built, to the Jewish quarter, to accomplish his part of the compact.