20141001 Wednesday, October 1 2014
Esther 04: Mordecai's Sackcloth and Ashes

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"When Mordecai perceived all that was done, 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"

In ancient times, sackcloth was often made of coarse, woven goat's hair. As the name indicates, it was used for sacks, but was also customarily worn by mourners, particularly black sackcloth (the ancient custom is still evident from mourners who wear black arm bands at funerals) or as a sign of deep repentance and humility. Ashes were often included as a further symbol of personal abhorrence and chagrin i.e. humility (see the Fact Finder question below).

When Mordecai discovered that his personal defiance toward evil Haman had escalated into an imminent genocide of the people of Judah (see Haman's Chess Board Plot), "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." Mordecai was soon joined by Jews "in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes."

"4:1 When Mordecai perceived all that was done, 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;

4:2 And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

4:3 And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes." (Esther 4:1-3 KJV)

Esther had by then been firmly established as the Queen of Persia (see How Did Vashti's Refusal Change Bible History? and How Hadassah Of Benjamin Became The Queen Of Persia). When she heard of her cousin (and adopted father i.e. Esther 2:7) Mordecai's distress, she too became filled with sorrow, for "then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not."

"4:4 So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her.

Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.

4:5 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." (Esther 4:4-5 KJV)

Mordecai then delivered the explanation to Esther in the palace at Shushan (the same royal capital from which Nehemiah had been given to lead a return of the people of Judah to Jerusalem; see Nehemiah's Prayer From Shushan).

"4:6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate.

4:7 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. 4:8 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. 4:9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

4:10 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; 4:11 All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, 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 sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days." (Esther 4:6-11 KJV)

Esther was a patriotic Queen of Persia, but she was also patriotic to her own origin (see Jews - Three Tribes and Three Meanings). Haman seemed oblivious that the Queen was herself a Jew - but he was soon to know it well.

"4:12 And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.

4:13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. 4:14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

4:15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, 4:16 Go, gather together all the Jews 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; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

4:17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him." (Esther 4:12-17 KJV)

Fact Finder: Are physical humans just "dust and ashes"?
See Dust and Ashes; see also Isaac: Rising From The Ashes