¹⁹ Now ^(A)no blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel, because the Philistines said, “Otherwise the Hebrews will make ^[a](B)swords or spears.”

Esther Learns of Haman’s Plot

4 When Mordecai learned of ^(A)everything that had been done, ^[a]he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city and wailed loudly and bitterly.

³ In each and every province where the command and decree of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with ^(A)fasting, weeping, and mourning rites; and many had sackcloth and ashes spread out as a bed.