SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:16
Ve, y junta a todos los judíos que se hallan en Susa, y ayunad por mí, y no comáis ni bebáis en tres días, noche ni día; yo también con mis doncellas ayunaré igualmente, y así entraré al rey, aunque no sea conforme a la ley; y si perezco, que perezca.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Esther 4:16
Verse 16. Fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days] What a strange thing, that still we hear nothing of prayer, nor of God! What is the ground on which we can account for this total silence? I know it not. She could not suppose there was any charm in fasting, sackcloth garments, and lying on the ground. If these were not done to turn away the displeasure of God, which seemed now to have unchained their enemies against them, what were they done for? If I perish, I perish.] If I lose my life in this attempt to save my people, I shall lose it cheerfully. I see it is my duty to make the attempt; and, come what will, I am resolved to do it. She must, however, have depended much on the efficacy of the humiliations she prescribed.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 16. Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan , etc.] To acquaint them with what follows; but not to continue in a body together, which might cause suspicion of an ill design in them; according to the latter Targum, 12,000 chosen priests were found in it; but that must be an exaggeration of their number; it can hardly be thought there were so many Jews in all there: and fast ye for me ; that is, pray for her, that she might have courage to go in to the king, and meet with success; for prayer was the principal thing, fasting only an accessory to it, and as fitting for it, and expressive of affliction and humiliation of soul: and neither eat nor drink three days , night nor day; it was to be a continued fast unto the third day; as Aben Ezra interprets it, they were not to eat at evening, but fast two whole days, and two whole nights, until the third day came, on which Esther went in to the king, ( Esther 5:1). I also and my maidens will fast likewise ; in the same manner and as long; these maids of honour were either proselytes, perhaps of her making, or Jewish ladies, she being allowed by the king to choose whom she pleased: and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law ; or “afterwards”, or “and then” when they, and she and her maids, had fasted and prayed so long, then she was determined in the strength of the Lord to go into the king’s presence with her petition, though it was contrary to law: and if I perish, I perish ; signifying, that she readily and cheerfully risked her life for the good of her people; and if such was the pleasure of God, that she should lose it, she was content, and acquiesced in his will, leaving herself entirely in his hands, to dispose of her as he thought fit.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5-17 - We are prone to shrink from services that are attended with peril of loss. But when the cause of Christ and his people demand it, we mus take up our cross, and follow him. When Christians are disposed to consult their own ease or safety, rather than the public good, the should be blamed. The law was express, all knew it. It is not thus in the court of the King of kings: to the footstool of his throne of grac we may always come boldly, and may be sure of an answer of peace to the prayer of faith. We are welcome, even into the holiest, through the blood of Jesus. Providence so ordered it, that, just then, the king' affections had cooled toward Esther; her faith and courage thereby wer the more tried; and God's goodness in the favour she now found with the king, thereby shone the brighter. Haman no doubt did what he could to set the king against her. Mordecai suggests, that it was a cause which one way or other, would certainly be carried, and which therefore sh might safely venture in. This was the language of strong faith, whic staggered not at the promise when the danger was most threatening, but against hope believed in hope. He that by sinful devices will save his life, and will not trust God with it in the way of duty, shall lose is in the way of sin. Divine Providence had regard to this matter, in bringing Esther to be queen. Therefore thou art bound in gratitude to do this service for God and his church, else thou dost not answer the end of thy being raised up. There is wise counsel and design in all the providences of God, which will prove that they are all intended for the good of the church. We should, every one, consider for what end God ha put us in the place where we are, and study to answer that end: an take care that we do not let it slip. Having solemnly commended ou souls and our cause to God, we may venture upon his service. All dangers are trifling compared with the danger of losing our souls. But the trembling sinner is often as much afraid of casting himself without reserve, upon the Lord's free mercy, as Esther was of comin before the king. Let him venture, as she did, with earnest prayer an supplication, and he shall fare as well and better than she did. The cause of God must prevail: we are safe in being united to it __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
לך 1980 כנוס 3664 את 853 כל 3605 היהודים 3064 הנמצאים 4672 בשׁושׁן 7800 וצומו 6684 עלי 5921 ואל 408 תאכלו 398 ואל 408 תשׁתו 8354 שׁלשׁת 7969 ימים 3117 לילה 3915 ויום 3117 גם 1571 אני 589 ונערתי 5291 אצום 6684 כן 3651 ובכן 3651 אבוא 935 אל 413 המלך 4428 אשׁר 834 לא 3808 כדת 1881 וכאשׁר 834 אבדתי 6 אבדתי׃ 6
