A Place In The Palace

Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchsassigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecaiand why. So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in frontof the king’s gate. Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him,including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royaltreasury for the destruction of the Jews. He also gave him a copy of the textof the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to showto Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into theking’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people. Hathak wentback and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. Then she instructed him tosay to Mordecai, “All the king’s officials and the people of the royalprovinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the innercourt without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put todeath unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives.But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” WhenEsther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do notthink that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews willescape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for theJews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family willperish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such atime as this?” Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather togetherall the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for threedays, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done,I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, Iperish.” So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.
- Esther 4:5-17

On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance.
‍- Esther 5:1