\\INTRODUCTION TO ESTHER 4\\

This chapter relates the mourning of Mordecai, and of the Jews in
every province, on account of the edict to destroy them, \\#Es 4:1-3\\,
the information Esther had of it, and what passed between her and
Mordecai, through Hatach, a chamberlain, by whom he put her upon
making a request to the king in their favour, \\#Es 4:4-8\\, to which
she at first objected, because of a law in Persia which forbids any to
come to the king unless called, \\#Es 4:9-12\\, but being pressed to
it by Mordecai, she agreed, and ordered a general fast among the Jews,
\\#Es 4:13-17\\.