Esther 4: For Such a Time as This

When Mordecai learned what was done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and cried loudly in the city, and in every province there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing. Esther sent Hathach to learn why, and Mordecai sent her a copy of the decree and urged her to go to the king to plead for her people. Esther replied that anyone who went to the king in the inner court without being called would be put to death unless the king held out the golden scepter, and she had not been called for thirty days. Mordecai answered that she should not think she would escape, and asked who knows if she had not come to the kingdom for such a time as this. Esther asked all the Jews in Susa to fast for her for three days, saying she would go in to the king, and if she perished, she perished. Mordecai did all that Esther commanded.

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World English Bible · 17 verses

¹ Now when Mordecai found out all that was done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, and wailed loudly and bitterly.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² He came even before the king’s gate, for no one is allowed inside the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ In every province, wherever 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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ Esther’s maidens and her eunuchs came and told her this, and the queen was exceedingly grieved. She sent clothing to Mordecai, to replace his sackcloth, but he didn’t receive it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, whom he had appointed to attend her, and commanded him to go to Mordecai, to find out what this was, and why it was.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ So Hathach went out to Mordecai, to the city square which was before the king’s gate.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ Mordecai told him of all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ He also gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given out in Susa to destroy them, to show it to Esther, and to declare it to her, and to urge her to go in to the king to make supplication to him, and to make request before him for her people.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ Hathach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a message to Mordecai:This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that whoever, whether man or woman, comes to the king into the inner court without being called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except those to whom the king might hold out the golden scepter, that he may live. I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² They told Esther’s words to Mordecai.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ Then Mordecai asked them to return this answer to Esther: “Don’t think to yourself that you will escape in the king’s house any more than all the Jews.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Who knows if you haven’t come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ Then Esther asked them to answer Mordecai,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ “Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Susa, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day. I and my maidens will also fast the same way. Then I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Esther 4 · Preschool

Esther Is Brave

Name Date

Color Esther getting ready to be brave!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.”

Esther 4:17 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: Esther's people were in danger. Mordecai asked her to talk to the king. That was scary! But Esther chose to be brave. God helps us to be brave too.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Esther 4 · Grade 4

Who Knows?

Name Date

Read and Think

When Mordecai learned of the decree, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth with ashes. He cried with a loud and bitter cry. In every province there was great mourning among the Jews. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes. Esther was grieved and sent clothes to Mordecai, but he would not take them.

Esther sent Hathach to learn what was wrong. Mordecai told him everything, even the sum of money Haman had promised. He sent Esther a copy of the decree. He asked her to plead with the king for her people. Esther reminded him of the law. Anyone who came to the king uncalled would die, unless he held out the golden scepter. And she had not been called for thirty days.

Mordecai's answer was bold. If Esther kept silent, help would come from another place. But she and her father's house would perish. Then he asked who knows if she had come to the kingdom for such a time as this. Esther asked all the Jews in Susa to fast for her for three days. Then she would go to the king, though it was against the law. If she perished, she perished.

Show What You Know

What did Mordecai do when he learned of the decree?
Who carried messages between Esther and Mordecai?
How long had it been since the king called Esther?
What did Mordecai say would happen if Esther kept silent?
What did Esther ask the Jews in Susa to do?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

decreeEsthersackclothashestime

When Mordecai learned of the decree, he tore his clothes and put on with ashes.
Many lay in sackcloth and .
was grieved and sent clothes to Mordecai, but he would not take them.
He sent Esther a copy of the .
Then he asked who knows if she had come to the kingdom for such a as this.

Think About It

Mordecai believed help would come even if Esther stayed silent. How does this show trust in God's plan?
God placed Esther in the palace for a purpose. Where has God placed you to help others?

Memory Verse

For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Who knows if you haven’t come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Esther 4:14 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for making me brave. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How do trusting God and acting fit together?
What does fasting show about depending on God?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Esther 4 · Grade 5

For Such a Time as This

Name Date

Read and Think

Mordecai tore his clothes, put on sackcloth with ashes, and went into the city crying with a loud and bitter cry. In every province where the decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing. The queen was exceedingly grieved and sent clothing to Mordecai, but he would not receive it.

Through Hathach, Mordecai told Esther all that had happened and the exact sum of money Haman had promised. He sent a copy of the decree and charged her to go to the king and make request for her people. Esther explained the danger. Any man or woman who came to the king into the inner court without being called faced one law: death, unless the king held out the golden scepter. She had not been called for thirty days.

Mordecai replied that Esther should not imagine she would escape because she lived in the king's house. If she remained silent, relief and deliverance would arise for the Jews from another place. Then he asked who knows if she had not come to the kingdom for such a time as this. Esther called for a three-day fast and resolved to go in to the king, which was against the law. If I perish, I perish. Christians see in the fast a dependence on God, even though His name is unspoken. Christians see here both God's sovereignty and the call to act with courage.

Show What You Know

How widespread was the mourning among the Jews?
What exact detail did Mordecai pass on about Haman?
What was the one law for those who came to the king uncalled?
Where did Mordecai say relief might come from if Esther stayed silent?
What did Esther resolve after calling the fast?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

timefastEsthersackclothdecree

Mordecai tore his clothes, put on with ashes, and went into the city crying with a loud and bitter cry.
In every province where the came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing.
Through Hathach, Mordecai told all that had happened and the exact sum of money Haman had promised.
Then he asked who knows if she had not come to the kingdom for such a as this.
Esther called for a three-day and resolved to go in to the king, which was against the law.

Think About It

Mordecai said relief would arise from another place, yet he still urged Esther to act. How do trusting God and taking action fit together?
Esther said she would go in even if it cost her life. What might courage for God look like in your life this week?

Memory Verse

Esther 4:14 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for making me brave. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Where has God placed you to help others?
What does courage for God look like for you?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Esther 4: For Such a Time as This

Read Esther 4

Worksheets

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Esther Will Go to the King

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Esther Is Brave

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Who Knows?

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Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

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Prayer

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For Such a Time as This

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

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Prayer

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