Esther 4:5

5 Then Esther sent for Hathach. He was one of the king's eunuchs. He had been appointed to take care of her. She ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai. She wanted to know why he was so upset.

Esther 4:5 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 4:5

Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains,
whom he had appointed to attend upon her
Which, according to the Targum, was Daniel ^F1; but it is not likely that Daniel should have lived to this time; however, this officer was not only intrusted with the care of the queen by the king, but she had also an high opinion of him, and therefore employed him in this affair:

and gave a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it
was;
what was the reason of his appearing in sackcloth, and why he did not receive the clothes she sent him.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 So Midrash Esther, fol. 94. 3. & Jarchi in Dan. iv. 5.

Esther 4:5 In-Context

3 All of the Jews were very sad. They didn't eat anything. They sobbed and cried. Many of them put on black clothes. They were lying down in ashes. They did all of those things in every territory where the king's order and law had been sent.

4 Esther's eunuchs and female attendants came to her. They told her about Mordecai. So she became very troubled. She wanted him to take his black clothes off. So she sent him other clothes to wear. But he wouldn't accept them.

5 Then Esther sent for Hathach. He was one of the king's eunuchs. He had been appointed to take care of her. She ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai. She wanted to know why he was so upset.

6 So Hathach went out to see Mordecai. He was in the open area in front of the palace gate.

7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him. He told him about the exact amount of money Haman had promised to add to the royal treasures. He said Haman wanted it to be used to pay some men to destroy the Jews.