Esther- If I Perish, I Perish

By Mary Vee
Esther 4

From Hathach's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Hathach. I have been appointed to serve Queen Esther by King Xerxes. 

She sent me to speak with a man sitting in the open square by the king's gate. Apparently she was bothered by the sackcloth and ashes on him.

The man told me about a plan made by Haman to kill all the Jews. 

I was only the messenger. Still I knew this Haman was not a man to be challenge. He loved power and enjoyed his new position as second in command in the empire. I'm not so sure Esther was powerful enough to influence the king over Haman.

Any way, the man told me to tell Esther the situation then asked that she go to the king and plead for her people. 

Esther was very upset. She acted like the wishes of this man called Mordecai had to be honored. She sent me back to the man with a new message. The man still sat in the same place, weeping and lamenting.

"I have a message from the queen," I said.

Mordecai faced me. "Yes? What did she say?"

"She said, 'All the king's officials and people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law. That he be put to death. There is but one exception. The king can extend his gold scepter and spare the person's life. But, thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.'"

Mordecai sat quiet for a moment. I think he was formulating his answer. Then he said, "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone--of all Jews--will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place. But you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

As a servant, I am not allowed an opinion, or to change the message even one bit. So I delivered Mordecai's message exactly as he spoke it.

Not surprisingly, Esther was deeply upset. The poor thing felt the weight of the world on her shoulders. She sent me back to Mordecai with her answer.

I walked out to Mordecai and said, "The queen sends these words, 'Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.


...come back to read what happens next.

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sources: New International Version, New King James Version  

1. Why was Queen Esther upset?
2. What did Mordecai want her to do?
3. What did Queen Esther ask Mordecai and all the Jews from Susa to do?
4. What were the last words of Esther's message?
5. Would the king really kill her? She was the queen.