Esther 5

Esther’s Banquet

1 Now it happened *Esth. 4:16on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in *Esth. 4:11, 6:4the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house. 2 So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that*(Prov. 21:1)she found favor in his sight, and *Esth. 4:11, 8:4the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter.

3 And the king said to her, "What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? *Esth. 7:2; Mark 6:23It shall be given to you—up to half the kingdom!"

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

5 Then the king said, "Bring Haman quickly, that he may do as Esther has said." So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

6 At the banquet of wine *Esth. 7:2the king said to Esther, *Esth. 9:12"What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!"

7 Then Esther answered and said, "My petition and request isthis:8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the *Esth. 6:14banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said."

Haman’s Plot Against Mordecai

9 So Haman went out that day *(Job 20:5; Luke 6:25)joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, and *Esth. 3:5that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless Haman *2 Sam. 13:22restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. 11 Then Haman told them of his great riches, *Esth. 9:7–10the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had *Esth. 3:1advanced him above the officials and servants of the king.

12 Moreover Haman said, "Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her, along with the king. 13 Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate."

14 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Let a *Esth. 7:9gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning *Esth. 6:4suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet."

And the thing pleased Haman; so he had *Esth. 7:10the gallows made.