Esther 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.

And in every province {H4082}, whithersoever {H4725} the king's {H4428} commandment {H1697} and his decree {H1881} came {H5060}, there was great {H1419} mourning {H60} among the Jews {H3064}, and fasting {H6685}, and weeping {H1065}, and wailing {H4553}; and many {H7227} lay {H3331} in sackcloth {H8242} and ashes {H665}.

In every province reached by the king's order and decree, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing, as many lay down on sackcloth and ashes.

In every province to which the king’s command and edict came, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

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.

Commentary

Esther 4:3 describes the profound and widespread grief of the Jewish people throughout the vast Persian Empire upon hearing of King Ahasuerus's decree, orchestrated by Haman, to annihilate them.

Context

This verse immediately follows the issuance of Haman's genocidal decree, which commanded the destruction of all Jews on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month. News of this horrifying edict spread rapidly to every province under King Ahasuerus's rule. For the Jewish exiles living far from their homeland, this was an unprecedented and terrifying threat, signifying an existential crisis for their entire nation. Their reaction was one of complete despair and communal lamentation, reflecting the gravity of the situation.

Key Themes

  • Widespread Despair: The verse emphasizes that mourning was not confined to a single city but occurred "in every province," highlighting the vast scope of the threat and the universal anguish felt by the Jewish population.
  • Communal Lamentation: The collective actions of "fasting, and weeping, and wailing" demonstrate a deep, unified expression of sorrow and distress. This was a shared burden, not an individual one.
  • Spiritual Humiliation and Prayer: The practice of lying "in sackcloth and ashes" was a common ancient Near Eastern custom signifying deep grief, repentance, and earnest supplication to God. It was a visible sign of their brokenness and their desperate plea for divine intervention in the face of insurmountable human odds. This act sets the stage for the pivotal intercession that will follow.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "sackcloth and ashes" represents a powerful visual and tactile symbol of mourning and contrition in the ancient world. Sackcloth was a coarse, rough material, often made of goat's hair, worn directly against the skin to cause discomfort, symbolizing penitence and humility. Ashes would be sprinkled on the head or sat in, further signifying desolation, sorrow, and a recognition of one's own mortality and sinfulness before God. Together, they conveyed the utmost state of human distress and reliance on divine mercy, a practice seen throughout the Old Testament in times of national crisis or personal repentance.

Practical Application

Esther 4:3 reminds us that in moments of profound crisis and despair, a natural and often necessary response is lamentation and turning to God. The Jewish people's immediate reaction was not to strategize militarily, but to engage in spiritual disciplines—fasting, weeping, and humbling themselves. This corporate act of grief and supplication underscores the importance of:

  • Acknowledging Distress: It is healthy to express sorrow and fear in the face of overwhelming adversity.
  • Corporate Prayer: There is power in a community uniting in prayer and fasting during times of great need, as seen later when Esther calls for a three-day fast.
  • Humility Before God: The act of wearing sackcloth and ashes symbolizes a recognition of human helplessness and a complete reliance on God's sovereignty and deliverance. Even in seemingly hopeless situations, believers can find solace and strength in prayer and humility, trusting that God hears the cries of His people (Psalm 34:18).

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Cross-References

  • Isaiah 22:12

    And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:

  • Isaiah 22:4

    Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people.

  • Daniel 9:3

    And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

  • Isaiah 58:5

    Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? [is it] to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes [under him]? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?

  • Esther 1:1

    ¶ Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this [is] Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, [over] an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)

  • 1 Samuel 4:13

    And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told [it], all the city cried out.

  • 1 Samuel 4:14

    And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What [meaneth] the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli.
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