Esther Chapter Five
Esther Prepares a Banquet
1 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, in front of the king’s quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace. 2 And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
Esther did as she said, on the third day she put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court waiting for the king to see and acknowledge her. When the king saw her, she found favor in the king’s sight and he granted her entrance. Esther came in and touched the king’s scepter, a sign of respect and honor.
3 And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.” 4 And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king.”
Apparently struck by Esther’s beauty, the king not only allows her to enter the king’s quarters, he offers her any request, up to half his kingdom. Instead of thinking of power and possessions, Esther invites the king and Haman to a banquet that day. The first of two banquets that she prepared for the king.
5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther has asked.” So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared. 6 And as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king said to Esther, “What is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.”
The king summons for Haman and the two men went to the meal Esther prepared. After the meal and while enjoying some wine, the king undoubtedly now understanding that Esther is seeking his favor for something big and important, once again asks what she desires, and once again he offers her up to half his kingdom.
7 Then Esther answered, “My wish and my request is: 8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my wish and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”
Esther acknowledges that she does indeed have a special request, but asks that they attend one more banquet that she will prepare for them the next day first. It is interesting to note how Esther worded her request. By stating, “If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my wish and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come to the feast,” Esther is implying that by accepting the invitation and indeed does attend the next banquet, the king would have agreed ahead of time to grant her wish.
Haman Plans on Executing Mordecai
9 And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh.
Undoubtedly gratified by the fact he was invited to a private banquet with the king and queen made Haman happy. However, noticing Mordecai and how he did not acknowledge or fear Haman’s presence, made him furious. Instead of confronting Mordecai, Haman goes home and seeks counsel from his wife and friends.
11 And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king. 12 Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king. 13 Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
Haman begins to boast about his wealth, his large family and his promotions. He even boasts about being the only invitee to the special banquet the queen prepared for the king. Then he discounts all those accomplishments saying that they’re worthless to him as long as Mordecai sits at the gate serving the king. To him Mordecai’s lack of respect is not only unacceptable it was unbearable. Even though Haman had successfully plotted to kill Mordecai and all of his relatives, he still is haunted by Mordecai’s behavior. Haman was full of pride and could only think of himself.
14 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast.” This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.
After listening to Haman talk about Mordecai, his wife and friends suggest that he should have him killed. They further suggest that he have a tall (approximately 75 feet high) gallows constructed and ask the king to allow Haman to put Mordecai to death. The extreme height would undoubtedly make a dramatic impact for others who might follow in Mordecai’s lack of respect before the widespread execution of the Jews was to take place. Persian “gallows” were different from “western gallows” as it consisted primarily of a tall sharpened pole with which dead bodies were impaled and then left to display (see commentary under Esther 2:23).