Esther5
New International Version
1On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance.
2When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
3Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”
4“If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.”
5“Bring Haman at once,” the king said, “so that we may do what Esther asks.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared.
6As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, “Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”
7Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this:
8If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”
9Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai.
10Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife,
11Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials.
12“And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow.
13But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”
14His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.
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