| Esther 4:16
| Go, and gather together all the Jews whom thou shalt find in Susan, and pray ye for me. Neither eat, nor drink, for three days and three nights: and I, with my handmaids, will fast in like manner, and then I will go in to the king, against the law, not being called, and expose myself to death and to danger.
| Pray. Hebrew, "fast." They might take some refreshment in the evening, (Lyranus) of dried meats. (Josephus) (Grotius) --- Few constitutions could have done without any thing. Yet after two nights and one full day were elapsed, Esther ventured to go to the king, Esther 5:1. We have here another instance of places for prayer, Judith 6:21. The old Vulgate has, "publish a fast, and tell the ancients to fast. Let the infants be kept from the breast during the night, and let no food be given to the oxen and other animals, while I and my maids shall fast," etc. Then at the end of this chapter, in the Septuagint, follow the prayers of Mardochai and of Esther, (chap. 13:8., and Esther 14.; Haydock) which is their proper place. (Calmet)
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