1. When Mordecai found out about everything that had been done, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes. He went into the middle of the city and cried loudly and bitterly.
2. He even went right up to the king’s gate. (No one could enter it wearing sackcloth.)
3. In every province touched by the king’s command and decree, the Jews went into mourning, fasting, weeping, and wailing. Many put on sackcloth and ashes.
4. Esther’s servants and eunuchs came and informed her ⌊about Mordecai⌋. The queen was stunned. She sent clothing for Mordecai to put on in place of his sackcloth, but he refused to accept it.
5. Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs appointed to serve her. She commanded him to go to Mordecai and find out what was going on and why.
6. So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square in front of the king’s gate.