Esther 5

New American Standard Bible 1995

Esther Plans a Banquet

1Now it came about 1on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood 2in the inner court of the king’s palace in front of the king’s 3rooms, and the king was sitting on his royal throne in the 4throne room, opposite the entrance to the palace. 2When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, 5she obtained favor in his sight; and 6the king extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter. 3Then the king said to her, “What is troubling you, Queen Esther? And what is your request? 7Even to half of the kingdom it shall be given to you.” 4Esther said, “If it pleases the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”

5Then the king said, “8Bring Haman quickly that we may do 9as Esther desires.” So the king and Haman came to the banquet which Esther had prepared. 6 10As they drank their wine at the banquet, 11the king said to Esther, “12What is your petition, for it shall be granted to you. And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done.” 7So Esther replied, “My petition and my request is: 8 13if I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and do 14what I request, may the king and Haman come to 15the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do 16as the king says.”

Haman’s Pride

9Then Haman went out that day glad and pleased of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai 17in the king’s gate and 18that he did not stand up or 19tremble before him, Haman was filled with anger against Mordecai. 10Haman controlled himself, however, went to his house and 20sent for his friends and his wife 21Zeresh. 11Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, and the 22 23number of his sons, and every instance where the king had magnified him and how he had 24 25promoted him above the princes and servants of the king. 12Haman also said, “Even Esther the queen let no one but me come with the king to the banquet which she had prepared; and 26tomorrow also I am 27invited by her with the king. 13Yet all of this 28does not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at 29the king’s gate.” 14Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “30Have a 31gallows fifty cubits high made and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it; then go joyfully with the king to the banquet.” And the 32advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.

Notes

1. Esther 5:1 Esth 4:16 ↩
2. Esther 5:1 Esth 4:11; 6:4 ↩
3. Esther 5:1 Lit house ↩
4. Esther 5:1 Lit royal house ↩
5. Esther 5:2 Esth 2:9 ↩
6. Esther 5:2 Esth 4:11; 8:4 ↩
7. Esther 5:3 Esth 7:2; Mark 6:23 ↩
8. Esther 5:5 Esth 6:14 ↩
9. Esther 5:5 Lit the word of Esther ↩
10. Esther 5:6 Lit at the banquet of wine ↩
11. Esther 5:6 Esth 7:2 ↩
12. Esther 5:6 Esth 5:3 ↩
13. Esther 5:8 Esth 7:3; 8:5 ↩
14. Esther 5:8 Lit my request ↩
15. Esther 5:8 Esth 6:14 ↩
16. Esther 5:8 Lit according to the word of the king ↩
17. Esther 5:9 Esth 2:19 ↩
18. Esther 5:9 Esth 3:5 ↩
19. Esther 5:9 Or move for ↩
20. Esther 5:10 Lit sent and brought ↩
21. Esther 5:10 Esth 6:13 ↩
22. Esther 5:11 Lit multitude ↩
23. Esther 5:11 Esth 9:7-10 ↩
24. Esther 5:11 Lit lifted ↩
25. Esther 5:11 Esth 3:1 ↩
26. Esther 5:12 Esth 5:8 ↩
27. Esther 5:12 Lit summoned to her ↩
28. Esther 5:13 Lit is not suitable to me ↩
29. Esther 5:13 Esth 5:9 ↩
30. Esther 5:14 Esth 6:4; 7:9, 10 ↩
31. Esther 5:14 Lit tree ↩
32. Esther 5:14 Lit thing ↩

Esther Plans a Banquet

Haman’s Pride

Notes

Commentaries on Esther 5