1When Mordecai learned about everything that had happened, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, went into the middle of the city, and cried out loudly and bitterly.
2He went as far as the king’s gate, for no one dressed in sackcloth was allowed to enter the king’s gate.
3In every province where the king’s command and decree arrived, there was great sadness among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and loud lamenting. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
4Esther’s female servants and eunuchs came and told her this, and the queen was extremely distressed. She sent clothes for Mordecai to wear instead of his sackcloth, but he refused to accept them.
5Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs whom he had assigned to serve her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to find out what was happening and why.
6So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square in front of the king’s gate.
7Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to put into the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.
8He also gave Hathach a copy of the written decree that had been issued in Susa for their destruction. This was for Hathach to show to Esther, explain to her, and urge her to go to the king to plead with him and ask for mercy for her people.
9Hathach returned and told Esther what Mordecai had said.
10Then Esther spoke to Hathach and gave him a message for Mordecai:
11“All the king’s officials and the people in the king’s provinces know that there is one law for anyone—man or woman—who goes to the king in the inner court without being called: they will be put to death. The only exception is if the king holds out his golden scepter to them, allowing them to live. I have not been called to go to the king for thirty days now.”
12They reported Esther’s words to Mordecai.
13Then Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think that you, in the king’s palace, will escape any more than all the other Jews.
14For if you remain silent at this time, relief and rescue for the Jews will come from another place, but you and your father’s family will die. And who knows whether you have achieved your royal position for such a time as this?”
15Then Esther sent this answer back to Mordecai:
16“Go, gather all the Jews who are in Susa and fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days, night or day. My female servants and I will fast in the same way. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law; and if I die, I die.”
17So Mordecai left and did everything Esther had commanded him.