Esther 5

Esther 5:1 On the third day, Esther donned her royal clothes and stood in the inner courtyard of the house, facing it. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the palace’s courtroom, facing its entrance.

Esther 5:2 As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, she gained favor in his eyes. The king extended the gold scepter in his hand toward Esther, and she approached and touched the scepter’s tip.

Esther 5:3 “What is it, Queen Esther?” the king asked her. “Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be given to you.”

Esther 5:4 “If it pleases the king,” Esther replied, “may the king and Haman come today to the banquet I have prepared for them.”

Esther 5:5 The king said, “Hurry, and get Haman so we can do as Esther has requested.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared.

Esther 5:6 While drinking the wine, the king asked Esther, “Whatever you ask will be given to you. Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be done.”

Esther 5:7 Esther answered, “This is my petition and my request:

Esther 5:8 If I have found favor in the eyes of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and perform my request, may the king and Haman come to the banquet I will prepare for them. Tomorrow, I will do what the king has asked.”

Esther 5:9 That day, Haman left full of joy and with a pleased heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai at the King’s Gate, and Mordecai didn’t rise or tremble in fear at his presence, Haman was filled with rage toward him.

Esther 5:10 Yet Haman controlled himself and went to his house. He sent the ones he cared for and his wife, Zeresh, to join him.

Esther 5:11 Then Haman described his impressive wealth and many sons for them. He told them how the king had honored him and promoted him in rank over the other captains and the royal slaves.

Esther 5:12 “What’s more,” Haman added, “Queen Esther invited no one but me to join the king at the banquet she had prepared. I am asked again tomorrow to join her with the king.

Esther 5:13 Still, none of this satisfies me since I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the King’s Gate all the time.”

Esther 5:14 His wife Zeresh and all the ones he cared for told him, “Have them build a gallows seventy-five feet tall. Ask the king in the morning to hang Mordecai on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and enjoy yourself.” The advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows constructed.

links:

the blindness of envy

The Esther shelf in my library