And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.
Mordecai grieved over the decree against the Jews and came to the king's gate in sackcloth and ashes, crying bitterly. His mourning was public, carried on before the gate in the crisis caused by Haman's plan to destroy the Jewish people. He approached as far as the entrance of the gate in that garb of grief.
No one clothed with sackcloth might enter into the king's gate, for such dress was not permitted within it. Sackcloth was forbidden there and those wearing it were barred, so entrance while wearing it was impossible. Mordecai therefore came even before the gate and only as far as its entrance, and could come no farther while wearing sackcloth.
His prayer in sackcloth at the king's gate, where he could not enter, is joined with the death of Haman and the freedom of Israel.
Mordecai grieved over the decree against the Jews and came to the king's gate in sackcloth and ashes, crying bitterly. His mourning was public, carried on before the gate in the crisis caused by Haman's plan to destroy the Jewish people. He approached as far as the entrance of the gate in that garb of grief.
No one clothed with sackcloth might enter into the king's gate, for such dress was not permitted within it. Sackcloth was forbidden there and those wearing it were barred, so entrance while wearing it was impossible. Mordecai therefore came even before the gate and only as far as its entrance, and could come no farther while wearing sackcloth.
His prayer in sackcloth at the king's gate, where he could not enter, is joined with the death of Haman and the freedom of Israel.