And in every province, wherever the king's command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, (A)with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them (B)lay in sackcloth and ashes.

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. 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.

Read full chapter

Bible Gateway Recommends

Psalms, ESV Illuminated Scripture Journal
Psalms, ESV Illuminated Scripture Journal
Retail: $15.99
Our Price: $8.99
Save: $7.00 (44%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
ESV Scripture Journal, Spiral-Bound Edition: Psalms
ESV Scripture Journal, Spiral-Bound Edition: Psalms
Retail: $17.99
Our Price: $10.23
Save: $7.76 (43%)
ESV MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition--hardcover
ESV MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition--hardcover
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $28.14
Save: $31.85 (53%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars
ESV Large Print Personal Size Bible--soft leather-look, caramel
ESV Large Print Personal Size Bible--soft leather-look, caramel
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $32.99
Save: $17.00 (34%)
ESV MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition--soft leather-look, brown
ESV MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition--soft leather-look, brown
Retail: $79.99
Our Price: $38.86
Save: $41.13 (51%)
5.0 of 5.0 stars