## Esther Chapter 4

###### Esther 4:1
[Esther 4:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Esther/r/4:1)

וּמׇרְדֳּכַ֗י יָדַע֙ אֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר נַעֲשָׂ֔ה וַיִּקְרַ֤ע מׇרְדֳּכַי֙ אֶת־בְּגָדָ֔יו וַיִּלְבַּ֥שׁ שַׂ֖ק וָאֵ֑פֶר וַיֵּצֵא֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעִ֔יר וַיִּזְעַ֛ק זְעָקָ֥ה גְדוֹלָ֖ה וּמָרָֽה׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Mordechai was apprised of everything that had transpired. Mordechai rent his garments, and garbed himself in sackloth and ashes. He proceeded into the city, and sounded a great, bitter wail.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
When Mordokhay perceived all that was done, Mordokhay 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;

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And Mordecai knew all that had been done [i.e., that this had been "acquiesced in on High" because the Jews had bowed down to the idol in the days of Nevuchadnezzar and had partaken of the feast of Achashverosh]. And Mordecai tore his garments and clothed himself in sack and ashes; and he went out in the midst of the city, and he cried out a great and bitter cry.

**Emoji Megillah:**
When 👳🏽‍♂️ perceived all that was done, 👳🏽‍♂️ rent his 👘, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the 🏙️, and cried with a 🔊 and a bitter 😭;


###### Esther 4:2
[Esther 4:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Esther/r/4:2)

וַיָּב֕וֹא עַ֖ד לִפְנֵ֣י שַֽׁעַר־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין לָב֛וֹא אֶל־שַׁ֥עַר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בִּלְב֥וּשׁ שָֽׂק׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
He came to the front of the king’s gate, for one could not enter the gateway to the king clad in sackcloth.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
and came even before the king’s gate: though none might enter the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And he came until before the king's gate, it being disrespectful to come to the king's gate dressed in sack.

**Emoji Megillah:**
and came even before the king’s ⛩️: though none might enter the king’s ⛩️ clothed with sackcloth.


###### Esther 4:3
[Esther 4:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Esther/r/4:3)

וּבְכׇל־מְדִינָ֣ה וּמְדִינָ֗ה מְקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר דְּבַר־הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ וְדָתוֹ֙ מַגִּ֔יעַ אֵ֤בֶל גָּדוֹל֙ לַיְּהוּדִ֔ים וְצ֥וֹם וּבְכִ֖י וּמִסְפֵּ֑ד שַׂ֣ק וָאֵ֔פֶר יֻצַּ֖ע לָֽרַבִּֽים׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
And in each and every colony, wherever the king’s directives and bylaws reached—there was immense grief among the Yehudim, fasting, weeping and lamenting. Sackcloth and ashes cloaked multitudes.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And in every province, wherever 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.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And in every province, wherever the king's word and his edict arrived, there was great mourning for the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; sack and ashes covered the multitude.

**Emoji Megillah:**
And in every province, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the ✡️, and fasting, and 😢, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.


###### Esther 4:4
[Esther 4:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Esther/r/4:4)

(ותבואינה) [וַ֠תָּב֠וֹאנָה] נַעֲר֨וֹת אֶסְתֵּ֤ר וְסָרִיסֶ֙יהָ֙ וַיַּגִּ֣ידוּ לָ֔הּ וַתִּתְחַלְחַ֥ל הַמַּלְכָּ֖ה מְאֹ֑ד וַתִּשְׁלַ֨ח בְּגָדִ֜ים לְהַלְבִּ֣ישׁ אֶֽת־מׇרְדֳּכַ֗י וּלְהָסִ֥יר שַׂקּ֛וֹ מֵעָלָ֖יו וְלֹ֥א קִבֵּֽל׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Esther’s maidservants and stewards came and told her about it, and the queen was extremely shaken. She dispatched garments to clothe Mordechai and remove his sackcloth, but he refused them.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
So Ester’s maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly distressed; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordokhay, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he would not accept it.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And the maidens of Esther and her eunuchs came and told her; and the queen was greatly shaken, and she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and to remove his sack from him, but he did not accept them.

**Emoji Megillah:**
So 👸🏽’s maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly distressed; and she sent raiment to 👘 👳🏽‍♂️, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he would not accept it.


###### Esther 4:5
[Esther 4:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Esther/r/4:5)

וַתִּקְרָא֩ אֶסְתֵּ֨ר לַהֲתָ֜ךְ מִסָּרִיסֵ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶעֱמִ֣יד לְפָנֶ֔יהָ וַתְּצַוֵּ֖הוּ עַֽל־מׇרְדֳּכָ֑י לָדַ֥עַת מַה־זֶּ֖ה וְעַל־מַה־זֶּֽה׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
She then called for Hasach, one of the king’s officials, whom he had placed at her disposal, and instructed him concerning Mordechai, to ascertain what was happening, and why.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Then Ester called for Hatakh, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a message for Mordokhay, to learn what this was, and why it was.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And Esther called to Hathach, one of the eunuchs of the kings, whom he had set before her, and she dispatched him to Mordecai to know "what is this and for what is this?"

**Emoji Megillah:**
Then 👸🏽 🗣️ for Hatakh, 1️⃣ of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a message for 👳🏽‍♂️, to learn what this was, and ⁉️ it was.


###### Esther 4:6
[Esther 4:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Esther/r/4:6)

וַיֵּצֵ֥א הֲתָ֖ךְ אֶֽל־מׇרְדֳּכָ֑י אֶל־רְח֣וֹב הָעִ֔יר אֲשֶׁ֖ר לִפְנֵ֥י שַֽׁעַר־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Hasach withdrew, and went to Mordechai, to the city thoroughfare, which was at the front of the gateway to the king.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
So Hatakh went out to Mordokhay, to the broad place of the city, which was before the king’s gate.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And Hathach went out to Mordecai to the city thoroughfare before the king's gate.

**Emoji Megillah:**
So Hatakh went out to 👳🏽‍♂️, to the broad place of the 🏙️, which was before the king’s ⛩️.


###### Esther 4:7
[Esther 4:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Esther/r/4:7)

וַיַּגֶּד־ל֣וֹ מׇרְדֳּכַ֔י אֵ֖ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר קָרָ֑הוּ וְאֵ֣ת**׀** פָּרָשַׁ֣ת הַכֶּ֗סֶף אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָמַ֤ר הָמָן֙ לִ֠שְׁק֠וֹל עַל־גִּנְזֵ֥י הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (ביהודיים) [בַּיְּהוּדִ֖ים] לְאַבְּדָֽם׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Mordechai informed him of all that he had experienced, and of the silver which Haman had explicitly promised to weigh into the royal coffers so that the Yehudim would be annihilated.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And Mordokhay told him of all that had happened to him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for destroying the Jews.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And Mordecai told him all that had befallen him, of the sum stipulated by Haman to be deposited in the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.

**Emoji Megillah:**
And 👳🏽‍♂️ told him of all that had happened to him, and of the sum of the 💵 that 👺 had promised to 💸 to the king’s treasuries for destroying the ✡️.


###### Esther 4:8
[Esther 4:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Esther/r/4:8)

וְאֶת־פַּתְשֶׁ֣גֶן כְּתָֽב־הַ֠דָּ֠ת אֲשֶׁר־נִתַּ֨ן בְּשׁוּשָׁ֤ן לְהַשְׁמִידָם֙ נָ֣תַן ל֔וֹ לְהַרְא֥וֹת אֶת־אֶסְתֵּ֖ר וּלְהַגִּ֣יד לָ֑הּ וּלְצַוּ֣וֹת עָלֶ֗יהָ לָב֨וֹא אֶל־הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ לְהִֽתְחַנֶּן־ל֛וֹ וּלְבַקֵּ֥שׁ מִלְּפָנָ֖יו עַל־עַמָּֽהּ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
A copy of the text of the legally binding writ which had been delivered in Shushan, mandating that they be destroyed, he gave to him, to show Esther, and to inform her; and to order her to gain entrance to the king, to plead with him, and to beg him to spare her people.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Also he gave him a copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to show it to Ester, and to declare it to her, and to charge her that she should go in to the king, to make supplication to him, and to entreat him for her people.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And the copy of the writ of ordinance, which had been issued in Shushan to destroy them, he gave him to show to Esther, and to tell her, and to charge her to come to the king to make supplication of him and to entreat him for her people.

**Emoji Megillah:**
Also he gave him a copy of the 📝 of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to show it to 👸🏽, and to declare it to her, and to charge her that she should go in to the king, to make supplication to him, and to entreat him for her people.


###### Esther 4:9
[Esther 4:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Esther/r/4:9)

וַיָּב֖וֹא הֲתָ֑ךְ וַיַּגֵּ֣ד לְאֶסְתֵּ֔ר אֵ֖ת דִּבְרֵ֥י מׇרְדֳּכָֽי׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Hasach came back, and conveyed, to Esther, Mordechai’s remarks.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And Hatakh came and told Ester the words of Mordokhay.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And Hathach came, and he told Esther the words of Mordecai.

**Emoji Megillah:**
And Hatakh came and told 👸🏽 the words of 👳🏽‍♂️.


###### Esther 4:10
[Esther 4:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Esther/r/4:10)

וַתֹּ֤אמֶר אֶסְתֵּר֙ לַהֲתָ֔ךְ וַתְּצַוֵּ֖הוּ אֶֽל־מׇרְדֳּכָֽי׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Esther spoke with Hasach, and instructed him to [tell] Mordechai:

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Again Ester spoke to Hatakh, and gave him a message for Mordokhay;

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And Esther said to Hathach to relate to Mordecai:

**Emoji Megillah:**
Again 👸🏽 spoke to Hatakh, and gave him a message for 👳🏽‍♂️;


###### Esther 4:11
[Esther 4:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Esther/r/4:11)

כׇּל־עַבְדֵ֣י הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ וְעַם־מְדִינ֨וֹת הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ יֹֽדְעִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר כׇּל־אִ֣ישׁ וְאִשָּׁ֡ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָבֽוֹא־אֶל־הַמֶּ֩לֶךְ֩ אֶל־הֶחָצֵ֨ר הַפְּנִימִ֜ית אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־יִקָּרֵ֗א אַחַ֤ת דָּתוֹ֙ לְהָמִ֔ית לְ֠בַ֠ד מֵאֲשֶׁ֨ר יֽוֹשִׁיט־ל֥וֹ הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶת־שַׁרְבִ֥יט הַזָּהָ֖ב וְחָיָ֑ה וַאֲנִ֗י לֹ֤א נִקְרֵ֙אתִי֙ לָב֣וֹא אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ זֶ֖ה שְׁלוֹשִׁ֥ים יֽוֹם׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
“All of his majesty’s servants, as well as the peoples of his majesty’s colonies, know that any man or woman who comes as close to his majesty as the innermost courtyard without an invitation, suffers a single fate; execution—save for someone toward whom his majesty extends the golden sceptre, to permit him to live. And I have not been granted an invitation to visit his majesty these thirty days.”

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whoever, whether man or woman, shall come to the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law for him, namely 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 to the king these thirty days.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
All the servants of the king and the people of the king's provinces know that any man or woman who comes to the king, to the inner court, without being bidden, his penalty is one — to be killed (unless the king hold out to him the golden sceptre, that he may live), and I have not been called to come to the king these thirty days.

**Emoji Megillah:**
All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whoever, whether 👨🏽 or 👩🏽, shall come to the king into the inner court, who is not 🗣️, there is 1️⃣ law for him, namely to put him to 💀, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been 🗣️ to come in to the king these thirty days.


###### Esther 4:12
[Esther 4:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Esther/r/4:12)

וַיַּגִּ֣ידוּ לְמׇרְדֳּכָ֔י אֵ֖ת דִּבְרֵ֥י אֶסְתֵּֽר׃{פ}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
They conveyed Esther’s remarks to Mordechai.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And they told Ester’s words to Mordokhay.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And they told Mordecai the words of Esther.

**Emoji Megillah:**
And they told 👸🏽’s words to 👳🏽‍♂️.


###### Esther 4:13
[Esther 4:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Esther/r/4:13)

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר מׇרְדֳּכַ֖י לְהָשִׁ֣יב אֶל־אֶסְתֵּ֑ר אַל־תְּדַמִּ֣י בְנַפְשֵׁ֔ךְ לְהִמָּלֵ֥ט בֵּית־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מִכׇּל־הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Mordechai declared, in reply to Esther: “You had better not fantasize that in the royal palace you will escape the fate of all the other Jews.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Then Mordokhay commanded to answer Ester, Do not think in thy heart that thou shalt escape in the king’s house any more than all the other Jews.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And Mordecai said to return (answer) to Esther: Do not think to yourself that [(by not taking the risk of approaching the king)] you can escape [(on the day of the massacre)] in the king's palace more than all the (other) Jews.

**Emoji Megillah:**
Then 👳🏽‍♂️ commanded to answer 👸🏽, Do not think in thy ❤️ that thou shalt escape in the king’s 🏠 any more than all the other ✡️.


###### Esther 4:14
[Esther 4:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Esther/r/4:14)

כִּ֣י אִם־הַחֲרֵ֣שׁ תַּחֲרִ֘ישִׁי֮ בָּעֵ֣ת הַזֹּאת֒ רֶ֣וַח וְהַצָּלָ֞ה יַעֲמ֤וֹד לַיְּהוּדִים֙ מִמָּק֣וֹם אַחֵ֔ר וְאַ֥תְּ וּבֵית־אָבִ֖יךְ תֹּאבֵ֑דוּ וּמִ֣י יוֹדֵ֔עַ אִם־לְעֵ֣ת כָּזֹ֔את הִגַּ֖עַתְּ לַמַּלְכֽוּת׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
For, if you keep silent at this time, release and liberation will materialize for the Yehudim from some other source, and you and your father’s lineage will perish. Who knows whether, at this time next year, you will retain your royal position.”

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
For if thou dost at all remain silent at this time, then shall relief and deliverance arise to the Jews from elsewhere; but thou and thy father’s house shall perish: and who knows whether thou art not come to royal estate for such a time as this?

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father's house will go lost. And who knows if next year at this time [(when the massacre is to occur)] you will attain to the [degree of] queenliness [(in the king's eyes that you possess now — he might not even desire you then!)]

**Emoji Megillah:**
For if thou dost at all remain 🤐 at this 🕰️, then shall relief and deliverance arise to the ✡️ from elsewhere; but thou and thy father’s 🏠 shall perish: and who knows whether thou art not come to royal estate for such a 🕰️ as this?


###### Esther 4:15
[Esther 4:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Esther/r/4:15)

וַתֹּ֥אמֶר אֶסְתֵּ֖ר לְהָשִׁ֥יב אֶֽל־מׇרְדֳּכָֽי׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Esther declared, in reply to Mordechai:

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Then Ester bade them return Mordokhay this answer,

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And Esther said to return (answer) to Mordecai:

**Emoji Megillah:**
Then 👸🏽 bade them return 👳🏽‍♂️ this answer,


###### Esther 4:16
[Esther 4:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Esther/r/4:16)

לֵךְ֩ כְּנ֨וֹס אֶת־כׇּל־הַיְּהוּדִ֜ים הַֽנִּמְצְאִ֣ים בְּשׁוּשָׁ֗ן וְצ֣וּמוּ עָ֠לַ֠י וְאַל־תֹּאכְל֨וּ וְאַל־תִּשְׁתּ֜וּ שְׁלֹ֤שֶׁת יָמִים֙ לַ֣יְלָה וָי֔וֹם גַּם־אֲנִ֥י וְנַעֲרֹתַ֖י אָצ֣וּם כֵּ֑ן וּבְכֵ֞ן אָב֤וֹא אֶל־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־כַדָּ֔ת וְכַאֲשֶׁ֥ר אָבַ֖דְתִּי אָבָֽדְתִּי׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
“Go, gather all the Yehudim found in Shushan, and fast for my sake. Take neither food nor drink for three days, night and day. I and my maidservants will also fast this way. Having done this, I will come to the king even though it is unlawful and as I am bereft, so must I be further bereft.”

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night and day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise, and so I will go in to the king, though it is against the law: and if I perish, I perish.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Go, gather all of the Jews that are found in Shushan, and fast for me. Do not eat and do not drink three days, night and day. Also I and my maidens will fast thus. And thus shall I come to the king, not as ordained [i.e., without being summoned], and as I have [begun] to go lost, I shall go lost [i.e., I am prepared to die.]

**Emoji Megillah:**
Go, gather together all the ✡️ who are present in Shushan, and ⏩ for me, and neither eat nor 🥂 for three days, 🌃 and day: I also and my maidens will ⏩ likewise, and so I will go in to the king, though it is against the law: and if I perish, I perish.


###### Esther 4:17
[Esther 4:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Esther/r/4:17)

וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֖ר מׇרְדֳּכָ֑י וַיַּ֕עַשׂ כְּכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוְּתָ֥ה עָלָ֖יו אֶסְתֵּֽר׃{ס}

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Mordechai passed through [the city], and implemented all of Esther’s instructions to him.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
So Mordokhay went his way, and did according to all that Ester had commanded him.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And Mordecai transgressed [(by fasting on the first day of Pesach, the fifteenth of Nissan, the decree being issued on the thirteenth of Nissan, and the fast spanning the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth of Nissan)], and he did according to all that Esther charged him.

**Emoji Megillah:**
So 👳🏽‍♂️ went his way, and did according to all that 👸🏽 had commanded him.