4:10 Then Esther replied to Hathach with instructions for Mordecai: 4:11 “All the servants of the king and the people of the king’s provinces know that there is only one law applicable 1 to any man or woman who comes uninvited to the king in the inner court – that person will be put to death, unless the king extends to him the gold scepter, permitting him to be spared. 2 Now I have not been invited to come to the king for some thirty days!”
4:12 When Esther’s reply 3 was conveyed to Mordecai, 4:13 he 4 said to take back this answer to Esther: 4:14 “Don’t imagine that because you are part of the king’s household you will be the one Jew 5 who will escape. If you keep quiet at this time, liberation and protection for the Jews will appear 6 from another source, 7 while you and your father’s household perish. It may very well be 8 that you have achieved royal status 9 for such a time as this!”
4:15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 4:16 “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa and fast in my behalf. Don’t eat and don’t drink for three days, night or day. My female attendants and I 10 will also fast in the same way. Afterward I will go to the king, even though it violates the law. 11 If I perish, I perish!”
4:17 So Mordecai set out to do everything that Esther had instructed him.