Dialogue between Mordecai and Esther
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
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Emotion
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Language
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Social
Introduction
Introduction
Story format
Character development
Problem developed
Events leading up to the Climax
Climax of the story
Resolution of the problem
Happy Ending
Problem
Haman hatched a plan to get revenge on Mordecai for not bowing to him, by destroying all the Jewish people in the empire of Persia.
Haman deceptively convinced the King to give him authority to accomplish his plan. The king agrees and gives Haman his signet ring and the authority to do as he saw fit.
Haman, using the King’s scribes and name, sends out an edict to all providences of the empire for all the Jews in the empire to be killed on the 13th day of the 12th month.
Esther 3:15 (ESV)
The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.
Distress of the Jews (4:1-3)
Distress of the Jews (4:1-3)
Esther 4:1–3 (ESV)
1 When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 2 He went up to the entrance of the king’s gate, for no one was allowed to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth. 3 And in every province, wherever the king’s command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.
Distress of Mordecai (1-2)
Deep Grief (1)
Esther 4:1 (ESV)
1 When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry.
TEARING OF CLOTHES (hבְּגָדִים קְרִיעַת, begadim qeri'ath). An action used to show mourning or repentance. Reuben (Gen 37:29), the sons of Jacob (Gen 44:13), and a messenger to Eli (1 Sam 4:12) all tore their clothes to express deep sorrow as a result of death or calamity. David tore his garments in response to a report that Absalom had murdered his brothers (2 Sam 13:31). The act also symbolized indignation (Num 14:6). The high priest tore his clothes when Jesus spoke what he thought was blasphemy (Matt 26:65). (Barry, John D. et al., eds. “Tearing of Clothes.” The Lexham Bible Dictionary 2016: n. pag. Print.)
“SACKCLOTH (שַׂק, saq; σάκκος, sakkos). A rough cloth made from animal hair, usually that of a goat or camel. In both Greek and ancient Near Eastern literature, it refers to a type of material used in various household duties such as the construction of clothing and sacks; the word can also refer to the clothing or sack itself. In the ancient Near East, the use of a garment made of sackcloth came to symbolize sorrow or submission. The Hebrew and Greek words undoubtedly share a common etymology. (Estes, Douglas. “Sackcloth.” Ed. John D. Barry et al. The Lexham Bible Dictionary 2016: n. pag. Print.)
“outcry n. — a loud utterance accusing someone or a group of people of wrong. (Biblical Sense)
Mordecai is expressing deep grief over the news of the Kings decree.
King’s Gate (2)
Esther 4:2 (ESV)
2 He went up to the entrance of the king’s gate, for no one was allowed to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.
Mordecai went to the King’s Gate to lament the decree of the King.
“King’s gate (2:19). The reference here is to the main entrance to the upper city, located in its eastern wall. This gate was excavated in the 1970s. It was a massive structure, more than 130 feet wide and 90 feet deep. There were side rooms to the north and south off the main entrance where meetings could be held or troops stationed. Frequently, business of the state was conducted at the city gates, ...” (ZIBBC, Vol 3, pg. 485)
“Men who “sat at the gate” were frequently elders and leading, respected citizens who settled disputes that were brought to them.” (Expositor’s Bible Commentary Vol 4, pg. 810)
“Given the self-indulgence of the Persian monarchs, it seems in character that they would prohibit their subjects from imposing grief on them. Herodotus writes of people with complaints gathering outside the king’s gate and wailing without bringing their trouble within the palace.” (Keener, Craig S., and John H. Walton, eds. NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016. Print.)
Wailing at the King’s gate was common for people seeking justice. The King seems to have set people in official positions to deal with these complaints for the King. According to 2:19, Mordecai was one of the official workers at the King’s gate. Now, Mordecai wails at the King’s gate because of the decree the King issued.
Distress of the Jews (3)
Esther 4:3 (ESV)
3 And in every province, wherever the king’s command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.
As the decree of the King spreads throughout the Empire, the Jewish lament.
Dialogue between Esther and Mordecai (4:4-11)
Dialogue between Esther and Mordecai (4:4-11)
Esther’s response to Mordecai’s grief (4-5)
Esther 4:4–5 (ESV)
4 When Esther’s young women and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so that he might take off his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this was and why it was.
Distressed (4a)
She is deeply affected by hearing the Mordecai (Father) tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry. (vs. 1)
“to be in anguish ⇔ writhe v., to be in a state of anguish, conceived of as writhing. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
The word is an unusual form of the verb hyl, which is used to describe a physical response to pain or anguish. (Reid, Debra. Esther: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 13. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008. Print. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries.)
Sends clothing to Mordecai (4b)
Without knowing why Mordecai is lamenting she sends him cloths to change out of sackcloth. The reason for wearing Sackcloth is to show others that you are in mourning. Esther giving cloths implies that she wants Mordecai to feel better and no longer be in mourning.
Esther 4:2 indicates that people with sackcloth could not enter through the King’s gate
“This description of Esther’s response to Mordecai’s mourning suggests that by sending Mordecai a new set of clothes Esther does not want a quick fix to Mordecai’s unseemly behaviour, but instead she wishes Mordecai to dress in a way that would qualify him for entry into the king’s gate again.” (Reid, Debra. Esther: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 13. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008. Print. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries.)
Weather Esther is sending the cloths to Mordecai to feel better or come in to the Kings palace, she is wanting to comfort him.
Mordecai refuses to change into the cloths. Indicating that he is going to continue in mourning because the edict will still be in effect.
Get’s information (5)
Esther 4:5 (ESV)
5 Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this was and why it was.
Hathach - her personal servant who will become the mediator of the conversation between Esther and Mordecai.
Mordecai informs Esther of the edict (6-8)
Esther 4:6–8 (ESV)
6 Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate,
7 and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.
8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him on behalf of her people.
Haman’s Payment (7a)
Esther 4:7 (ESV)
7 and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.
the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries.
“10,000 talents of silver” (3:9)
Haman’s Plan (7b)
Esther 4:7 (ESV)
7 and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.
The destruction of the Jews.
Edict (8a)
Esther 4:8 (ESV)
8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him on behalf of her people.
Gives him a copy of the edict to bring to Esther.
Command to Esther (8b)
Esther 4:8 (ESV)
8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him on behalf of her people.
Beg for the king’s favor.
To plead for compassion v., to earnestly request compassion. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
He is expressing to Esther that she should go to the King and plead for the king to stop this.
On behalf of her people.
This edict is directly affecting her people. He commanded her to hide her nationality, but now indicated that she should beseech the King for her people.
Esther’s Response to Mordecai’s command (9-11)
Esther 4:9–10 (ESV)
9 And Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said.
10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to go to Mordecai and say,
Esther 4:11 (ESV)
11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.”
Known expectations (11)
“Etiquette in the Persian court was very strict. Except for the “seven nobles” (see Esther 1:14), no one could approach the king unless they were summoned by him. The punishment for entering without being summoned was death, the same punishment given for murder or rebellion. The intruder was instantly put to death by the court attendants unless the king extended his golden scepter to the person to show approval, or at least acceptance, of the act. It was well understood, therefore, that whoever so appeared before the king risked his life.” (Freeman, James M., and Harold J. Chadwick. Manners & Customs of the Bible. North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1998. Print.)
Esther expresses this well understood Etiquette to Mordecai’s command of her to go before the King to plead for her people. This also was applied to the queen. She knows that if she shows up before the King without his calling her, she will be put to death/
Esther has not been called in to be with the King for 30 days.
Decision of Esther and Mordecai (4:12-17)
Decision of Esther and Mordecai (4:12-17)
Mordecai’s explanation for command (12-14)
Esther 4:12–14 (ESV)
12 And they told Mordecai what Esther had said.
13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews.
14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Esther will be included in the execution of the edict (13)
Although Esther has not made her nationality known. Mordecai is explaining to her that it will become known and she will experience the same fate as all the Jews.
Just because she is Queen does not exempt her from the decree.
Relief and Deliverance will rise (14a)
Esther 4:14 (ESV)
14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
“If you keep silent...”
Relief and Deliverance
deliverance n., recovery or preservation from loss or danger, whether physical or spiritual. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
“Mordecai knew God’s covenant with Abraham, that He would never allow the nation to perish.” (Wiersbe, Warren W. Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1993. Print.)
“You and your father’s house will perish.”
Mordecai was convinced that God would deliver the Jews from this problem, but Esther’s family will perish. As Mordecai explained earlier, the edict affects all Jews. She is a Jew. Even being the Queen will not save her from the edict.
Such a time as this (14b)
Esther 4:14 (ESV)
14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Mordecai is helping Esther understand that it is potential that God worked through the events of her life to elevate her to a position to be the human agent used by God to deliver His people.
“Without explicitly spelling out in detail how he came to his convictions, Mordecai reveals that he believes in God, in God’s guidance of individual lives, and in God’s ordering of the world’s political events, irrespective of whether those who seem to have the power acknowledge him or not.” (Baldwin, Joyce G. Esther: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 12. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1984. Print. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries.)
Esther’s decision (15-16)
Esther 4:15–16 (ESV)
15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”
Fast and Pray (16a)
to fast v., to abstain from certain foods, as for religious reasons (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
The purpose of fasting is to focus on seeking the Lord’s wisdom and guidance through prayer in times of distress and tough decisions.
“Reasons for fasting – Bereavement, Distress, Penitence, Seeking God’s intervention, Seeking guidance. Practice of fasting - Fasting as empty ritual is condemned and fasting as mere show is condemned, Fasting imposed for false motives. Attitudes appropriate to fasting – Humility and Repentance.” (Manser, Martin H. Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser, 2009. Print.)
Go before the King (16b)
Esther commits to going before the King after the time alloted for fasting and prayer.
“Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”
Fasting and praying for 3 days then going to the King to die.
“1. Divine providence. While God is never mentioned in the book, there are many hints of his presence. 2. Human responsibility. Although the story shows that the outcome is a divine gift rather than a human achievement, Esther and Mordecai do show great initiative and courage, and their actions are obviously significant.” (Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008. Print.)
Balance between the Work of God with the Work of Humans.
Mordecai obeys Esther (17)
Esther 4:17 (ESV)
17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.
Lessons from Esther and Mordecai
Lessons from Esther and Mordecai
In tough times or times of distress, look at how God has worked in your life or situation to see if He has you here to deal with this situation.
Esther and Mordecai looked at the situation and noticed that God has worked in their lives to place then in unique positions to address this problem. They did not simply say, “oh, woe is me.” They looked at their lives and situations to see if they are to do something.
Do we look at how God has prepared or positioned us to deal with the problem we find ourselves or just cry out, “Why me, God?”?
Fast and Pray to seek the Lord.
Esther and Mordecai fasted and prayed to God for wisdom and guidance for what they believed God has positioned them to do.
In distress, we should dedicate time to seek the Lord for Wisdom and Guidance.
James 1:2–5 (ESV)
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Commit to act when we know what to do.
Esther committed to going before the King after a time of fasting and prayer.
Are we committed to acting when God makes it clear what we are to do?