So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told [it] her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received [it] not.
Ver. 4. So Esther's maids came and told it her] She herself (say interpreters) was kept in a closer place than they, not having the liberty of going abroad, as others had; because the Persians that were of highest quality used so to keep in their wives; and if they went forth at any time, they were carried in a close chariot, so as that none could see them.
Then was the queen exceedingly grieved] Dolens exhorruit. So Tremellius. The Hebrew is, She grieved herself, scil. for Mordecai's heaviness; as our Saviour, when he heard of the death of his friend Lazarus, groaned in spirit, and troubled himself, John 11:33. And here we see that of Plautus disproved,
Mulier nulla cordicitus dolet ex animo,
that is, No woman can grieve heartily for anything. Holy Esther is here sick at heart of grief, as the word importeth; and yet (as one saith of the Lady Jane Grey) she made grief itself amiable; her night clothes becoming her as well as her day dressings, by reason of her gracious deportment.
And she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai] That he might be fit to come unto her, and make known the cause of his grief, for she yet knew nothing of the public calamity. And although she was so highly advanced above Mordecai, yet she condoleth with him, and honoureth him as much as ever. This was true friendship. Ego aliter amare non didici, said Basil, to one that disliked him for stooping so low to an old friend.
And to take away his sackcloth, &c.] To change his saccum in sericum, sackcloth into satin, &c. See Esther 4:2 .
But he received it not] Such was the greatness of his grief which he could not dissemble; such was his care of community, that he could not mind his own private concerns while it went ill with the public. Such also was his patient continuance in well doing, Romans 2:7, that he would not give over asking of God till he had received, seeking till he had found, knocking till the gate of grace was open. His clothes were good enough, unless his condition were more comfortable.