Esther 5:10

Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.

Nevertheless Haman {H2001} refrained {H662} himself: and when he came {H935} home {H1004}, he sent {H7971} and called {H935} for his friends {H157}, and Zeresh {H2238} his wife {H802}.

Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, where he summoned and brought his friends and Zeresh his wife.

Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. And calling for his friends and his wife Zeresh,

Nevertheless Haman refrained himself, and went home; and he sent and fetched his friends and Zeresh his wife.

Commentary on Esther 5:10

Esther 5:10 provides a crucial insight into the character of Haman, the chief antagonist in the Book of Esther. This verse immediately follows Haman's intense elation at being invited to an exclusive banquet with Queen Esther and King Ahasuerus (Esther 5:9), which quickly turned into bitter indignation upon seeing Mordecai at the king's gate. Mordecai, a Jew, consistently refused to bow or show reverence to Haman, a practice that infuriated the arrogant vizier (Esther 3:2).

Context

Despite the immense honor and public favor Haman had just received, his joy was completely overshadowed by Mordecai's defiance. The phrase "Haman refrained himself" suggests a powerful internal struggle to control his immediate rage while in the public eye. Rather than acting rashly in the palace, Haman chose to suppress his anger temporarily and retreat to his home. Once there, his first action was to summon his most trusted confidantes: his friends and his wife, Zeresh. This indicates his need to vent his frustration, boast about his status, and, most importantly, seek validation and counsel regarding his obsessive hatred for Mordecai.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Destructive Nature of Pride: Haman's overwhelming pride is a central theme throughout the Book of Esther. Here, it's evident that even unparalleled success and royal favor could not satisfy his ego when one individual, Mordecai, refused to acknowledge his supremacy. This illustrates how unchecked pride can poison joy and lead to consuming bitterness and vengeful desires.
  • Seeking Counsel (or Validation): Haman's immediate summoning of his friends and wife highlights a common human tendency to seek counsel and affirmation from our closest circles, especially when emotionally agitated. However, Haman was not seeking wise or tempering advice; rather, he was looking for validation for his anger and encouragement for his destructive intentions, which would become clear in the subsequent verses.
  • The Influence of Inner Circles: The fact that Haman immediately turned to Zeresh and his friends sets the stage for their significant influence on his next, terrible decision. Their counsel would further fuel Haman's vengeful plans, demonstrating how our intimate relationships can either temper or exacerbate our negative impulses.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "refrained himself" is וַיִּתְאַפַּק (vayyit'appak), meaning he "held himself back," "controlled himself," or "exercised self-restraint." This word implies a conscious and often difficult effort to suppress an emotion or action. In Haman's case, it highlights the depth of his fury that he managed to contain only temporarily, setting the stage for an explosive outburst of planning and malice.

Practical Application

Esther 5:10 offers a timeless lesson about the dangers of unchecked pride and the company we keep. Haman's inability to find joy amidst his many blessings because of one perceived slight is a stark reminder that true contentment comes from within and is not dependent on external validation or the absence of opposition. Furthermore, this verse underscores the critical importance of seeking wise counsel when we are upset or angry. Unlike Haman, who sought validation for his vengeful desires, we should strive to seek counsel that leads to peace, wisdom, and righteous action, as encouraged in Proverbs 15:22.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Esther 6:13

    And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every [thing] that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai [be] of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.

  • Ecclesiastes 7:9

    Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

  • Genesis 43:30

    And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought [where] to weep; and he entered into [his] chamber, and wept there.

  • Genesis 43:31

    And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.

  • Genesis 45:1

    ¶ Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.

  • 2 Samuel 13:22

    And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

  • 2 Samuel 13:23

    And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which [is] beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.

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