1 When Mordecai learned what was going on, he tore his clothes, dressed in mourning clothes, and put ashes on his head. Then he went out into the heart of the city and cried out loudly, "An innocent nation is being destroyed."
2 He went only as far as the king’s gate and stood there because it was against the law for anyone to pass through it wearing mourning clothes and ashes.
3 In every region wherever the orders were posted, the Jews gave themselves over to crying and wailing out loud. They clothed themselves in mourning clothes and ashes.
4 When Esther’s female servants and eunuchs came and told her, the queen was noticeably shaken after hearing the news. She sent someone to clothe Mordecai in regular clothes instead of mourning clothes, but he couldn’t be persuaded.
5 Esther then sent for Hathach the royal eunuch who served her. She sent him to discover from Mordecai what was going on.