John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. When Mordecai perceived all that was done , etc.] By the king, at the instigation of Haman, against the Jews; which he came to the knowledge of, either by some of the conflicts or by common fame, or on the sight of the edicts which were published in Shushan; though the Jews think it was made known to him in a supernatural way, either by Elijah, as the former Targum f124 , or by the Holy Ghost, as the latter: Mordecai rent his clothes : both behind and before, according to the same Targum; and this was a custom used in mourning, not only with the Jews, but with the Persians also, as Herodotus relates: and put on sackcloth with ashes ; upon his head, as the former Targum; which was usual in mourning, even both; ( Job 2:12 Daniel 9:3) and went out into the midst of the city ; not Elam the province, as Aben Ezra, but the city Shushan: and cried with a loud and bitter cry ; that all the Jews in the city might be alarmed by it, and inquire the reason of it, and be affected with it; and a clamorous mournful noise was used among the Persians, as well as others, on sad occasions f126 .
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-4 - Mordecai avowed his relation to the Jews. Public calamities, tha oppress the church of God, should affect our hearts more than an private affliction, and it is peculiarly distressing to occasio sufferings to others. God will keep those that are exposed to evil by the tenderness of their consciences.
Original Hebrew ומרדכי4782 ידע3045 את853 כל3605 אשׁר834 נעשׂה6213 ויקרע7167 מרדכי4782 את853 בגדיו899 וילבשׁ3847 שׂק8242 ואפר665 ויצא3318 בתוך8432 העיר5892 ויזעק2199 זעקה2201 גדולה1419 ומרה׃4751
