Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Esther 4:8

Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to show [it] unto Esther, and to declare [it] unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.

8. to make request before him, for her people ] See Est 2:10. It was now necessary for Esther to declare her nationality. It was only by identifying herself with the imperilled nation that their deliverance could be hoped for.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Est 4:8

And to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him.

A resolute will

In the meantime, this lesson may be drawn from his conduct–that a resolute will, when it is exerted for the accomplishment of any purpose, is usually successful in the end. The triumphs of the Reformation, for example, in our own country and in other lands, where it did triumph, while they are really to be ascribed to the overruling providence of God, are instrumentally to be attributed to this, that God raised up and qualified for the work certain men of determined will and unflagging energy, who kept before them the great purpose which they sought to effect, and would be turned aside by no danger or difficulty from working it out. And I would remark, that in things spiritual–in things affecting the eternal salvation of man–resoluteness of will and indomitable energy are as indispensable as in the pursuit of temporal good. (A. B. Davidson, D. D.)

Human sympathy

How ardently Mordecai is coveting the sympathy of one whom his self-sacrifice elevated to a position above his own! Human sympathy, exhibited in practical ways, proves wondrous in power, multiplying joys and dividing sorrows. It is like sunshine upon rosebuds, unfolding hidden beauty and evoking new fragrance. Like May breezes upon consumptive cheeks, it brings back the glow of health where pallor of death has been, and paints cheerfulness where despondency has been brooding too long already. It is a contribution of the heart more priceless than the wealth of the Indies. It may be incapable of explaining the mysteries of providence; it may be disqualified for recommending resignation to the Divine will; possibly it may be powerless in affecting deliverance; but when genuine it possesses inestimable value, though it may not open avenues from Marah to the land of Beulah. (J. S. Van Dyke, D. D.)

Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell

Verse 8. That she should go in unto the king] The Greek adds, “Remember the time of your low estate, and in what manner you have been nourished, and carried in my arms; and that Haman, who is next to the king, has got a decree for our destruction. Pray, therefore, to the Lord, and plead with the king, that we may be delivered from death.” But there is not a word of this either in the Hebrew, Syriac, or Vulgate.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

To charge her; not only in his own name, to whom she manifested a singular respect, though his relation to her was yet unknown, but also in the name of the great God.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

8. charge her that she should go inunto the kingThis language is exceedingly strong. As it canscarcely be supposed that Mordecai was still using authority overEsther as his adopted daughter, he must be considered as imploringrather than commanding her, in the name of her brethren and in thename of her God, to make a direct appeal to the feelings of her royalhusband.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them,…. Which had now been published in the city; by which means Mordecai had had a sight of it, and had transcribed it; see Es 3:14

to show it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her; what Haman intended against the people of the Jews; as the Targum adds:

and to charge her; in his name; whose charges she had always regarded, both before and since she was queen; or in the name of God:

that she should go in unto the king to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people; signifying there was a necessity of doing it speedily, and of urging her request with great earnestness and importunity, since it was not the life of a single person, but the lives of a body of people, and her own, that lay at stake.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

8. Charge her to make supplication A perilous undertaking to urge upon her. But Mordecai’s faith already began to discern a divine reason for her elevation in the kingdom at that time. See Est 4:14.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Est 4:8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew [it] unto Esther, and to declare [it] unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.

Ver. 8. Also he gave him the copy of the writing ] That she might see it, and rest assured that it was even so, and no otherwise; and that therefore now or never she must bestir herself for the labouring Church.

That was given at Shushan ] Which if ever it were full of judgment, and white as a lily (according to the name), is now stained with blood of innocents; if ever righteousness did lodge in it, yet now murderers, as Isa 1:21 .

To show it unto Esther ] That her eye might affect her heart, Lam 3:51 , and her heart set all awork for her people; that is, herself, according to that, “Physician, heal thyself”; that is, thine own countrymen, Luk 4:23 .

And to declare it unto her ] In the cause, viz. his refusing to bow to Haman against his conscience (whereof it no whit repented him); and in the several circumstances laid forth in the liveliest colours, for her thorough information.

And to charge her that she should go in unto the king ] Hoc perquam durum est, sed ita lex scripta est, This was extremely hard, but so the law was written, saith the civilian. This Mordecai knew would hardly be done; he, therefore, makes use of his ancient authority, and sets it on with greatest earnestness. So St Paul, “I charge you by the Lord,” 1Th 5:27 . And, again, “I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ,” &c., 2Ti 4:1 . So St Austin to his hearers, Per tremendum Dei iudicium vos adiuro, I require and charge you by that dreadful day of judgment, when that doom’s day book shall be opened, &c. It is a weakness to be hot in a cold matter, but it is a wickedness to be cold in a hot matter. He that is earnest in good, though he may carry some things indiscreetly, yet is he far better than a time server, and a cold friend to the truth; like as in falling forward is nothing so much danger as in falling backward. Eli was to blame with his – Do no more so, my sons. And so was Jehoshaphat with his – Let not the king say so. And the people in Ahab’s time, who, when they were pressed to express whom they were for, God or Baal? they answered not a word, 1Ki 18:21 . And yet how many such cold friends hath the truth today! lukewarm Laodiceans, neuter passive Christians! &c. When Callidus once declared against Gallus with a faint and languishing voice, Oh, saith Cicero, Tu nisi fingeres, sic ageres? Wouldest thou plead on that manner if thou wert in good earnest? Men’s faint appearing for God’s cause shows they do but feign; their coldness probably concludeth they do but counterfeit. Mordecai plays the man, and chargeth Esther to improve her interest in the king, her husband, for the Church’s deliverance. See here how he turneth every stone, tradeth every talent, leaveth no means unused, no course unattempted for the saints’ safety. And this the Spirit of God hath purposely recorded, that all may learn to lay out themselves to the utmost for the public; to be most zealous for the conservation and defence of the Church when it is afflicted and opposed by persecutors; seeing they cannot be saved unless she be in safety; neither can they have God for their Father unless they love and observe this their dear mother. Utinam, iterum autem utinam diligentius a cunctis ordinibus haec hodie considerarentur, saith one. Oh that these things were duly considered by all sorts today!

To make supplication unto him ] Heb. To deprecate displeasure and mischief, as 1Ki 8:28 Zec 12:10 .

And to make request before him ] Ad quaerendum a facie eius; so Pagnine from the Hebrew, to seek for good from his face, an effectul smile, a gracious aspect, that they may live in his sight. For, “in the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain,” Pro 16:15 . The ancient Persian kings were most fond of their wives, doing them all the honour possible in court, as partakers of all their fortunes, and carried them and their children into their farthest wars; by the presence of so dear pledges, the more to encourage their minds in time of battle. Now, therefore, Esther (whom Herodotus also witnesseth to have been Xerxes’ best beloved) is to try what she can do with him for her people, who were haply grown too secure upon Esther’s preferment; as the French Churches also were upon the queen of Navarre’s greatness, and the promise of peace by that match. God, therefore, shortly after shook them up, not by shaking his rod only at them, as here at these Jews, but by permitting that bloody massacre.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

the copy: Est 3:14, Est 3:15

to charge: Est 2:20, 1Ti 6:13, 1Ti 6:17

to make supplication: Job 9:15, Pro 16:14, Pro 16:15, Ecc 10:4, Act 12:20

request: Est 7:3, Est 7:4, Est 8:6, Neh 2:3-5, Pro 21:1

Reciprocal: Jer 38:26 – General Eph 6:18 – supplication

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge