Mordecai’s Plea
Overview
- Testament: Old
- Book: Esther
- Chapters: Esther 4
- Summary: Mordecai urged Esther to risk approaching the king, asking whether she had come to the kingdom for such a time as this.
Details
After the genocide decree went out, Mordecai tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and mourned near the King’s Gate. Esther sent garments to clothe him, but he refused them and sent back the details of the decree.
Mordecai warned Esther not to imagine that life in the palace would save her from the fate of her people. He confessed confidence that deliverance would arise, but pressed the possibility that Esther’s position itself was providential. His plea led directly to Esther’s Fast.
Key People Involved
- Mordecai - Pleads with Esther to act
- Esther - Must decide whether to risk her life
- Haman - Author of the threat
- Ahasuerus - King Esther must approach
Key Places
- King’s Gate - Where Mordecai mourns
- The King’s Court - The dangerous place Esther must enter
Important Verses
“And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” - Esther 4:14
Cross-References
Notes
Mordecai’s language is the book’s closest explicit hint that hidden providence is governing the story.