1 WHEN Mordecai perceived all that was done, [ Does this mena that Mordecai is beginning to understand that it is all because of him and him not being willing to bow to Haman. While the King did pronounce the decree, there is something else going on for this action to just come out of thin air. So he might be asking himself was I wrong to stand up to Haman? Did I bring all of this on? Should I have acted like I told Ester to do? ] 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; [ All of the signs of great morning. Obviously he is in morning based on what he knows is going to happen here. All of his people will be destroyed. ]

2 And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.

3  And in every province, [ There are 127 provinces in the Persian empire, it goes everywhere. So the scope would be that possibly all of the remaining house of Israel could be completely destroyed. ] whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, [ Note that they took to fasting as well. So they were asking for God's help while they where in morning of what was going to happen. Fasting denotes a prayer for hope the other actions reflect despair. ] and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

4 ¶ So Esther’s maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. [ So Ester hears that Mordecai is wearing sackcloth. ] Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, [ So she sends new clothes to Mordecai. ] and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not. [ Mordecai will not accept the clothes. ]

5 Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was. [ So Ester tells her servant to go to Mordecai and ask him why the sackcloth and why he will not take the clothes that she has offered. What was going on and why it was happening. ]

6 so Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king’s gate.

7 And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.

8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people. [ So Mordecai tells Ester's servant that she needs to go tell the King that he will be hurting her people, and plead for them to be delivered maybe he will listen to her. In addition, she is a Jew and the target is painted on her back as well. ]

9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

10 ¶ Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;

11 All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, [ What she is going to say here is common knowledge for everyone in the Persian empire, they know the following: ] that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden [ Mordecai you know the law here. If I go to the King without him asking me to be there he will put me to death. He has not asked to see me so you are asking me to have a death sentence on me. There is an exception that he can hold out the golden sceptre, but the rule is that he puts me to death. The idea is that as soon as someone enters the room that is not invited then they become the center of attention, if even for a moment, This is a great way to stop that from happening. The King calls the shots, if he wants you to come you come (remember Vashti?), and if he does not call you do not come. Period. ] sceptre , [ A rod or staff which represented authority. ] that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. [ It has been a month and he has not wanted to be with me at all during the period. I don't even know where I stand with him right now. ]

12 And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words.

13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. [ Oh Ester or should I say Hadassah you are in this the same as the rest of us. What happens to us will happen to you. It might not be today but the truth will most likely come out and you will face the same consequences. ]

14  For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, < [ If you do decide to not say anything at this time. ] then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; [ Or:"Rescue and liberation". I have faith that God will provide another solution, both eternal and mortal to the problem that we are in. While a good many may be destroyed, he knew that God had promised that they would not all be destroyed. ] but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: [ Who knows which of your friends, your brothers and sister will die in the process. ] and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? [ This phrase is really interesting to me. Which of us really knows if the position or situtation that we find our self in is one in which the Lord has purposefully put us in at the time, as we are the one who can touch another's life, we can complete a certain project with our talents (Elder Bednar to me Feb 2022). God haas prepared you even though you do not realize it maybe, you have been prepared over time for this work. ]

15 ¶ Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

16  Go, gather together all the Jews [ They will take action on their part as much as they can and the let God prevail. ] 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 likewise; [ I am not asking you to do something that I am not willing to do as well. ] and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: [ I will offer up my life by going to the King without him calling me to do so, which will put myself in the peril of death. Unless the King extends his hand to save me, and so be it. ] and if I perish, I perish. [ She will exercise her faith here as she says My life has no value if I do not use it for good at this point. ]

17 so Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.