8 and the copy of the writing of the law that had been given in Shushan to destroy them he hath given to him, to shew Esther, and to declare `it' to her, and to lay a charge on her to go in unto the king, to make supplication to him, and to seek from before him, for her people.
The fury of a king `is' messengers of death, And a wise man pacifieth it. In the light of a king's face `is' life, And his good-will `is' as a cloud of the latter rain.
and say to the king, `Let the king to the age live! wherefore should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of the graves of my fathers, `is' a waste, and its gates have been consumed with fire?' And the king saith to me, `For what art thou seeking?' and I pray unto the God of the heavens, and say to the king, `If to the king `it be' good, and if thy servant be pleasing before thee, that thou send me unto Judah, unto the city of the graves of my fathers, and I built it.'
a copy of the writing to be made law in every province and province is revealed to all the peoples, to be ready for this day. The runners have gone forth, hastened by the word of the king, and the law hath been given in Shushan the palace, and the king and Haman have sat down to drink, and the city Shushan is perplexed.
And Esther the queen answereth and saith, `If I have found grace in thine eyes, O king, and if to the king `it be' good, let my life be given to me at my petition, and my people at my request; for we have been sold, I and my people, to cut off, to slay, and to destroy; and if for men-servants and for maid-servants we had been sold I had kept silent -- but the adversity is not equal to the loss of the king.'
Whom, though I were righteous, I answer not, For my judgment I make supplication.
Rivulets of waters `is' the heart of a king in the hand of Jehovah, Wherever He pleaseth He inclineth it.
And Herod was highly displeased with the Tyrians and Sidonians, and with one accord they came unto him, and having made a friend of Blastus, who `is' over the bed-chambers of the king, they were asking peace, because of their country being nourished from the king's;
I charge thee, before God, who is making all things alive, and of Christ Jesus, who did testify before Pontius Pilate the right profession,
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Esther 4
Commentary on Esther 4 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 4
We left God's Isaac bound upon the altar and ready to be sacrificed, and the enemies triumphing in the prospect of it; but things here begin to work towards a deliverance, and they begin at the right end.
Est 4:1-4
Here we have an account of the general sorrow that there was among the Jews upon the publishing of Haman's bloody edict against them. It was a sad time with the church.
Est 4:5-17
So strictly did the laws of Persia confine the wives, especially the king's wives, that it was not possible for Mordecai to have a conference with Esther about this important affair, but divers messages are here carried between them by Hatach, whom the king had appointed to attend her, and it seems he was one she could confide in.