Clothed in Protest: Syntax, Royal Space, and Social Boundaries in Esther 4:2
וַיָּבֹ֕וא עַ֖ד לִפְנֵ֣י שַֽׁעַר־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין לָבֹ֛וא אֶל־שַׁ֥עַר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בִּלְב֥וּשׁ שָֽׂק׃ Contextual Introduction Esther 4:2 describes Mordokhai's public mourning following the edict to destroy the Jews. Having clothed himself in sackcloth and ashes, he approaches the king’s gate but does not enter it. The verse highlights a critical boundary—both physical and symbolic—between royal authority and…