Esther 4:3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

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.

In every province

Esther 1:1

Esther 3:12

Great mourning

Weeping

Matthew 13:42

Matthew 22:13

Matthew 25:30

Many lay in sackcloth and ashes

Isaiah 58:5

Daniel 9:3

General references

Genesis 37:34

Bible References

In every province

It was in the days of Ahasuerus (Xerxes) who reigned from India to Ethiopia (Cush) over 127 provinces,

Then the king’s scribes (secretaries) were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written just as Haman commanded to the king’s satraps (chief rulers), and to the governors who were over each province and to the officials of each people, each province according to its script (writing), each people according to their own language; being written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring.

Great mourning

When he arrived, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road, keeping watch, because his heart was anxious about the ark of God. When the man arrived to report [the news] in the city, everyone in the city cried out [to God, for help].

Then the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the news to the people; and all the people raised their voices and wept aloud.

Therefore I say, “Look away from me;
Let me weep bitterly.
Do not try to comfort me over the destruction of the daughter of my people.”

And when King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth and went into the house of the Lord.

Weeping

and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].

Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the darkness outside; in that place there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].’

And throw out the worthless servant into the outer darkness; in that place [of grief and torment] there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].

Many lay in sackcloth and ashes

“Is a fast such as this what I have chosen, a day for a man to humble himself [with sorrow in his soul]?
Is it only to bow down his head like a reed
And to make sackcloth and ashes as a bed [pretending to have a repentant heart]?
Do you call this a fast and a day pleasing to the Lord?

So I directed my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.

General references

So Jacob tore his clothes [in grief], put on sackcloth and mourned many days for his son.