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Esther 5

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Esther Approaches the King 1–3

1
Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the entrance of the house. ​
2
And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. ​
3
Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be given thee even to the half of the kingdom. ​

Esther’s First Banquet and Delay 4–8

4
And Esther said, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him. ​
5
Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that it may be done as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6
And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.
7
Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is:
8
If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to-morrow as the king hath said. ​

Haman’s Pride and Plot 9–14

9
Then went Haman forth that day joyful and glad of heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up nor moved for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai. ​
10
Nevertheless Haman refrained himself, and went home; and he sent and fetched his friends and Zeresh his wife.
11
And Haman recounted unto them the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
12
Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to-morrow also am I invited by her together with the king.
13
Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate. ​
14
Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made. ​

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for Esther 5

Verse 1

on the third day — The third day of the fast she asked for in 4:16. Esther 'put on her royal apparel', literally clothed herself in royalty (malkuth), and stood in the 'inner court' of 4:11, the place where an unsummoned visitor risked death. The king's throne faced the entrance of the house, so he would see her as soon as she stood there.

Verse 2

obtained favour in his sight — Literally she 'lifted up grace' (nasa chen) in his eyes, as in 2:15 and 2:17. The 'golden sceptre' (sharbit, a word found only in Esth 4:11; 5:2; 8:4) is held out, and Esther touches its top. 'The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD' (Prov 21:1).

Verse 3

to the half of the kingdom — The offer is repeated at the banquets (5:6; 7:2). 'Request' is baqqashah, found in Esther and once in Ezra (7:6). Herod used the same words to Herodias's daughter: 'Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom' (Mark 6:23).

Verse 4

the banquet that I have prepared — Mishteh, a drinking feast, the word used for the king's feasts in 1:3, 5, 9. Esther names Haman as well as the king, and answers the offer of v.3 with an invitation rather than a request. Her petition waits for a second banquet (v.8), and the king orders Haman to make haste (v.5).

Verse 8

to morrow — Esther asks for one more day: 'let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare', and 'I will do to morrow as the king hath said'. The day ends at the second banquet (7:1–2), where the king asks again and she gives her answer (7:3). The same formula, 'if I have found favour', opens her later plea (8:5).

Verse 9

full of indignation — Chemah, heat of anger, the word of 3:5, where Haman was first 'full of wrath' at Mordecai. Mordecai 'stood not up, nor moved for him'; zua, to tremble, is found only here, in Eccl 12:3 and in Hab 2:7. The glad heart of the first half of the verse gives way within a sentence.

Verse 13

availeth me nothing — Shavah, to be of worth or profit, the verb Haman used in 3:8 ('it is not for the king's profit') and Esther in 7:4 ('could not countervail the king's damage'). 'All this' is the riches, children and promotion listed in vv.11–12, and the invitation. Mordecai is again 'sitting at the king's gate', where he sat in 2:21.

Verse 14

gallows… fifty cubits high — The Hebrew is ets, a tree or timber, the word of 2:23, where Bigthan and Teresh 'were both hanged on a tree'. Zeresh and Haman's friends propose it, and Haman has it made. In 7:9–10 'they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai', as in Ps 7:15–16, 'His mischief shall return upon his own head'.