Midrash for II Kings 6:30

(Fol. l4b) R. Elazar said: "A prominent man must not clothe himself in sackcloth [when in distress], unless he knows for certainty that his prayers will be answered, as was the ease with King Jehoram, the son of Achab, concerning whom it is said (II Kings 6, 30) And it came to pass when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes — now he was passing by the wall and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh." R. Elazar said further: "Not everyone has the right to fall upon his face nor has everyone the right to rend his clothes, [as a sign of grief]; only for such as Moses and Aaron does it behoove to fall upon their faces; but for men like Joshua and Caleb it is fitting that they rend their garments." Moses and Aaron fell upon their faces, as it is said (Num. 14, 5) And Moses and Aaron fell, etc.; Joshua and Caleb rent their garments, b. Nachmeni, however, objected and said: and Kaleb the son of Jephune of those that had spied out the land, rent their garments. R. Zera, and according to others R. Samuel b Nachmeni, however objected and said: "If it were said. Joshua and Caleb rent their garments, the statement of R. Elazar would be correct; but as it states, And Joshua and Caleb rent, etc., [in a co-ordinate term] it signifies that they did both [fall upon their faces and rend their garments] ."

“I am black,” this is referring to Ahab, as it is stated: “It was when Ahab heard these matters that he rent his garments [and placed sackcloth upon his flesh, and he fasted]” (I Kings 21:27). How much did he fast? Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Three hours. If he was accustomed to eat his meal at three hours, he ate at six, and if he would eat at six, he ate at nine. “He lay in sackcloth, and walked slowly” (I Kings 21:27). Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: He walked barefoot.¹⁹¹One who walks barefoot often walks more slowly than usual. The point here is that although Ahab was a wicked king, and is therefore called “black,” he humbled himself before God and his repentance was accepted (see I Kings 21:29), and is therefore also “lovely.” [Similarly,] regarding Yehoram, what is written? “The people saw, and behold, the sackcloth was upon his flesh underneath” (II Kings 6:30).
Rabbi Levi Bar Ḥaita said three approaches in regard to this [verse]: I am black all the days of the week and I am lovely on Shabbat. I am black all the days of the year and I am lovely on Yom Kippur. I am black regarding the Ten Tribes and I am lovely regarding the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.
I am black in this world and I am lovely in the World to Come.

“Mordekhai knew everything that had been done, and Mordekhai rent his garments and donned sackcloth and ashes. He went out in the midst of the city and cried a loud and bitter cry” (Esther 4:1).
“Mordekhai knew everything that had been done, and Mordekhai rent his garments.” Benjamin caused the tribes [his brothers] to rend; that is what is written: “They rent their garments” (Genesis 44:13). Where was he caused to rend? It was in Shushan the citadel; that is what is written: “Mordekhai rent his garments,” and he was from the tribe of Benjamin.¹The midrash is stating that the fact that Mordekhai had to rend his garments is in some respects a punishment for Binyamin having caused his brothers to have to rend their garments. This is because he was not careful enough and did not notice that the silver goblet had been placed in his sack (Etz Yosef).
“He donned sackcloth and ashes.” Rabbi Aivu said: Once Jacob our patriarch adopted sackcloth, as it is written: “He placed sackcloth on his loins” (Genesis 37:34), it never again left his descendants. It is written about Ahab: “He placed sackcloth on his flesh” (I Kings 21:27); his son Yoram: “The people saw, and behold, the sackcloth was on his flesh” (II Kings 6:30); Mordekhai, “He donned sackcloth and ashes.”
“He [Esau] cried a loud and bitter cry” (Genesis 27:34). Where was he repaid? In Shushan, as it is stated: “[Mordekhai] cried a loud and bitter cry.” Rabbi Ḥanin said: Anyone who says that the All-Merciful is One who forgoes, his innards will be forgone. He is forbearing, but then collects His due. Know that Jacob caused Esau to cry one cry, as it is written: “He cried a loud and bitter cry” [and as a result, Jacob’s descendant, Mordekhai, cried a loud and bitter cry].