Esther5
American Standard Version · Public Domain
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 entrance of the house.
2And 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.
3Then 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.
4And 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.
5Then 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.
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.
7Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is:
8If 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.
9Then 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.
10Nevertheless Haman refrained himself, and went home; and he sent and fetched his friends and Zeresh his wife.
11And 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.
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 also am I invited by her together with the king.
13Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.
14Then 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.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Esther 5.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Esther's application received. (1–8). Haman prepares to hang Mordecai. (9–14).
vv1-8
Esther having had power with God, and prevailing, like Jacob, had power with men too. He that will lose his life for God, shall save it, or find it in a better life. The king encouraged her. Let us from this be encouraged to pray always to our God, and not to faint. Esther came to a proud, imperious man; but we come to the God of love and grace. She was not called, but we are; the Spirit says, Come, and the Bride says, Come. She had a law against her, we have a promise, many a promise, in favour of us; Ask, and it shall be given you. She had no friend to go with her, or to plead for her; on the contrary, he that was then the king's favourite, was her enemy; but we have an Advocate with the Father, in whom he is well pleased. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace. God put it into Esther's heart to delay her petition a day longer; she knew not, but God did, what was to happen in that very night.
vv9-14
This account of Haman is a comment upon Pr 21:24. Self-admirers and self-flatterers are really self-deceivers. Haman, the higher he is lifted up, the more impatient he is of contempt, and the more enraged at it. The affront from Mordecai spoiled all. A slight affront, which a humble man would scarcely notice, will torment a proud man, even to madness, and will mar all his comforts. Those disposed to be uneasy, will never want something to be uneasy at. Such are proud men; though they have much to their mind, if they have not all to their mind, it is as nothing to them. Many call the proud happy, who display pomp and make a show; but this is a mistaken thought. Many poor cottagers feel far less uneasiness than the rich, with all their fancied advantages around them. The man who knows not Christ, is poor though he be rich, because he is utterly destitute of that which alone is true riches.
Key Words
שְׁלִישִׁי: third; feminine athird (part); by extension, a third (day, year or time); specifically, a third-story cell)
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
אֶסְתֵּר: Ester, the Jewish heroine
לָבַשׁ: properly, wrap around, i.e. (by implication) to put on agarment or clothe (oneself, or another), literally or figuratively
מַלְכוּת: a rule; concretely, a dominion
עָמַד: to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
פְּנִימִי: interior
חָצֵר: a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls)
מֶלֶךְ: a king
בַּיִת: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Cross References
Esther 5Esther enters the court on the 'third day' of the fast she previously initiated.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Esther risks the death penalty mentioned earlier by entering the inner court uncalled.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
God disposes the king's heart to favor Esther, illustrating divine sovereignty over rulers.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The very gallows Haman builds here becomes the instrument of his own execution.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The golden sceptre is extended again later to grant Esther safety and favor.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Herod's similar oath of 'half of the kingdom' echoes the proverbial Persian royal largesse.
Supported by JFB
The king's chamberlains hasten Haman to the second banquet Esther prepared.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Mordecai's refusal to bow or move repeats the stance that originally enraged Haman.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Haman consults the same advisors and wife who later predict his downfall.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The king repeats his offer of half the kingdom at the second wine banquet.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Esther's one-day delay allows the critical sleepless night of the king to occur.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Ahab's childish misery over Naboth's vineyard parallels Haman's joyless discontent.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Haman boasts of his many sons, who are all eventually slain.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Haman boasts of tomorrow's banquet, ignorant of his impending ruin.
Supported by Matthew Henry