Esther 5

On the third day, Esther put on her royal clothes and went and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, facing the king's rooms. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the throne room, facing the entrance.

1Now 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 gate of the house.

NoteThe third day counts from the beginning of the three-day fast Esther had asked for. Going into the inner court without being summoned was the dangerous act it is here made out to be: under Persian court rules an unsummoned visitor could be put to death unless the king chose to spare them. Esther's royal clothes are her formal court dress, worn to present herself as queen rather than as a private petitioner.

2When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her. He held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the tip of the scepter.

2And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour 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.

NoteThe scepter was an ornamental rod the king held as a symbol of authority. Holding it out was the recognized signal that the visitor was accepted and would not be executed; touching its tip was the answering gesture of respect and thanks.

3Then the king said to her, "What do you want, Queen Esther? What are you asking for? Even if it is half of my kingdom, it will be given to you."

3Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.

Note"Even half of my kingdom" was a stock royal expression of extravagant generosity, a way of saying "name anything." It was not a literal offer to divide the empire, and no one hearing it would have understood it that way.

4Esther answered, "If it pleases the king, may the king and Haman come today to the banquet I have prepared for the king."

4And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.

5Then the king said, "Bring Haman quickly, so we can do what Esther has asked." So the king and Haman came to the banquet Esther had prepared.

5Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

6While they were drinking their wine, the king said to Esther, "What are you asking for? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even half of my kingdom, and it will be done."

6And 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.

NoteA Persian feast had two stages: the meal, and then the drinking that followed it. The King James "banquet of wine" names this second stage, which was the customary point in the evening for raising serious requests.

7Then Esther answered, "Here is what I am asking for, here is my request:

7Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;

8If the king is pleased with me, and if it pleases the king to give me what I ask and to do what I request, then let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king's question."

8If I have found favour 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.

NoteThe Hebrew of Esther's last sentence says only "tomorrow I will do as the king has said": that is, she will finally answer the question he has now asked twice. The wording is deliberately vague, and the story does not explain why she delays.

9That day Haman went out happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king's gate, and Mordecai did not stand up or show any fear of him, Haman was filled with rage at Mordecai.

9Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.

NoteThe gate of a Persian palace was a large building complex, not just a doorway; it served as the administrative center where officials sat to conduct business. Mordecai sitting there indicates he held some post in the king's service. His refusal to stand refers back to the king's order that everyone bow to Haman, which Mordecai had refused to obey.

10Even so, Haman held himself back. When he got home, he sent for his friends and for his wife Zeresh.

10Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.

11Haman told them about his great wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and raised him above the king's other officials and servants.

11And Haman told them of 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.

NoteA large number of sons was a recognized mark of standing in Persia, not merely a private satisfaction; ancient writers record that the Persian king gave honors to men with many sons. Haman lists it alongside his wealth and rank as part of his public importance.

12Haman also said, "What is more, Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the banquet she prepared. And tomorrow I am invited to her banquet again, along with the king.

12Haman 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 am I invited unto her also with the king.

13But none of this means anything to me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate."

13Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.

14Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Have a gallows built, fifty cubits high. In the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself." Haman liked this idea, so he had the gallows built.

14Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow 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.

NoteA cubit was about eighteen inches, the length of a forearm, so fifty cubits is roughly seventy-five feet, an absurd height, the point being public display rather than practicality. The Hebrew word translated "gallows" means a tree or a wooden pole, and the execution described was probably impalement on a stake or the hanging up of the body afterward, in either case set high where everyone could see it.