Chapter Overview
Summary
Mordecai's mourning and Esther's decision to approach the king. The LXX follows the MT closely but adds explicit prayers and references to God throughout. Addition C (the prayers of Mordecai and Esther, 30 verses) follows 4:17 in the LXX.
Notable Variants
The LXX adds God-language to Mordecai's argument in 4:14 — where the MT famously says 'from another place' (makom acher), the LXX makes the divine agency more explicit. Addition C (30 verses of prayers) follows this chapter in the LXX.
Structural Notes
Both versions have 17 verses. Addition C (30 verses) follows v. 17.
When Mordecai learned everything that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, went out into the middle of the city, and cried out with a loud and bitter wail.
No significant variant between the LXX and the MT for this verse.
He came as far as the front of the king's gate, since no one was permitted to enter the king's gate wearing sackcloth.
No significant variant between the LXX and the MT for this verse.
In every province, wherever the king's command and his decree reached, there was deep mourning among the Jews — fasting, weeping, and lamentation. Many spread out sackcloth and ashes as their bed.
No significant variant between the LXX and the MT for this verse.
Esther's young women and her eunuchs came and told her, and the queen was deeply distressed. She sent garments for Mordecai to put on and remove his sackcloth, but he refused them.
No significant variant between the LXX and the MT for this verse.
Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs who had been assigned to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to find out what was happening and why.
No significant variant between the LXX and the MT for this verse.
Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city, in front of the king's gate.
No significant variant between the LXX and the MT for this verse.
Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of silver that Haman had promised to deposit in the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.
No significant variant between the LXX and the MT for this verse.
He also gave him a copy of the written decree that had been issued in Susa for their destruction, to show Esther and explain it to her, and to instruct her to go to the king, plead with him for mercy, and petition him on behalf of her people.
Masoretic (WLC)
לְהִתְחַנֶּן לוֹ וּלְבַקֵּשׁ מִלְּפָנָיו
to plead with him and entreat him
Septuagint (LXX)
ἐπικαλέσασθαι τὸν κύριον... δεηθῆναι
LXX: 'to call upon the Lord and to entreat the king'
The LXX adds 'to call upon the Lord' — introducing explicit prayer where the MT only mentions petitioning the king.
Hathach returned and reported Mordecai's words to Esther.
No significant variant between the LXX and the MT for this verse.
Esther spoke to Hathach and instructed him to relay a message to Mordecai:
No significant variant between the LXX and the MT for this verse.
"All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned, there is one law: death — unless the king extends the golden scepter and spares their life. And I have not been summoned to come to the king for thirty days."
No significant variant between the LXX and the MT for this verse.
Esther's words were reported to Mordecai.
No significant variant between the LXX and the MT for this verse.
Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: "Do not imagine that because you are in the king's palace you will escape any more than the rest of the Jews.
No significant variant between the LXX and the MT for this verse.
If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows — perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this."
Masoretic (WLC)
מִמָּקוֹם אַחֵר
from another place
Septuagint (LXX)
ἐξ ἄλλου τόπου / LXX expanded with ὁ θεός
LXX: explicit divine reference
This is the most theologically significant verse in Esther. The MT's deliberately ambiguous 'from another place' (makom acher) avoids naming God — possibly the most famous divine circumlocution in the Bible. Some LXX manuscripts make the reference to God explicit: 'help will come from God.' The MT preserves a masterful theological ambiguity that the LXX resolves.
Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:
No significant variant between the LXX and the MT for this verse.
"Go, gather all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast on my behalf. Do not eat and do not drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast in the same way. Then I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."
No significant variant between the LXX and the MT for this verse.
Mordecai left and did everything Esther had commanded him.
No significant variant between the LXX and the MT for this verse.