1 Now it came to pass on the third H7992 day, H3117 that Esther H635 put on H3847 her royal H4438 apparel, and stood H5975 in the inner H6442 court H2691 of the king's H4428 house, H1004 over against H5227 the king's H4428 house: H1004 and the king H4428 sat H3427 upon his royal H4438 throne H3678 in the royal H4438 house, H1004 over against H5227 the gate H6607 of the house. H1004
2 And it was so, when the king H4428 saw H7200 Esther H635 the queen H4436 standing H5975 in the court, H2691 that she obtained H5375 favour H2580 in his sight: H5869 and the king H4428 held out H3447 to Esther H635 the golden H2091 sceptre H8275 that was in his hand. H3027 So Esther H635 drew near, H7126 and touched H5060 the top H7218 of the sceptre. H8275
3 Then said H559 the king H4428 unto her, What wilt thou, queen H4436 Esther? H635 and what is thy request? H1246 it shall be even given H5414 thee to the half H2677 of the kingdom. H4438
4 And Esther H635 answered, H559 If it seem good H2895 unto the king, H4428 let the king H4428 and Haman H2001 come H935 this day H3117 unto the banquet H4960 that I have prepared H6213 for him.
5 Then the king H4428 said, H559 Cause Haman H2001 to make haste, H4116 that he may do H6213 as Esther H635 hath said. H1697 So the king H4428 and Haman H2001 came H935 to the banquet H4960 that Esther H635 had prepared. H6213
6 And the king H4428 said H559 unto Esther H635 at the banquet H4960 of wine, H3196 What is thy petition? H7596 and it shall be granted H5414 thee: and what is thy request? H1246 even to the half H2677 of the kingdom H4438 it shall be performed. H6213
7 Then answered H6030 Esther, H635 and said, H559 My petition H7596 and my request H1246 is;
8 If I have found H4672 favour H2580 in the sight H5869 of the king, H4428 and if it please H2895 the king H4428 to grant H5414 my petition, H7596 and to perform H6213 my request, H1246 let the king H4428 and Haman H2001 come H935 to the banquet H4960 that I shall prepare H6213 for them, and I will do H6213 to morrow H4279 as the king H4428 hath said. H1697
9 Then went H3318 Haman H2001 forth H3318 that day H3117 joyful H8056 and with a glad H2896 heart: H3820 but when Haman H2001 saw H7200 Mordecai H4782 in the king's H4428 gate, H8179 that he stood not up, H6965 nor moved H2111 for him, he H2001 was full H4390 of indignation H2534 against Mordecai. H4782
10 Nevertheless Haman H2001 refrained H662 himself: and when he came H935 home, H1004 he sent H7971 and called H935 for his friends, H157 and Zeresh H2238 his wife. H802
11 And Haman H2001 told H5608 them of the glory H3519 of his riches, H6239 and the multitude H7230 of his children, H1121 and all the things wherein the king H4428 had promoted H1431 him, and how he had advanced H5375 him above the princes H8269 and servants H5650 of the king. H4428
12 Haman H2001 said H559 moreover, Yea, Esther H635 the queen H4436 did let no man come in H935 with the king H4428 unto the banquet H4960 that she had prepared H6213 but myself; and to morrow H4279 am I invited H7121 unto her also with the king. H4428
13 Yet all this availeth H7737 me nothing, so long as H6256 I see H7200 Mordecai H4782 the Jew H3064 sitting H3427 at the king's H4428 gate. H8179
14 Then said H559 Zeresh H2238 his wife H802 and all his friends H157 unto him, Let a gallows H6086 be made H6213 of fifty H2572 cubits H520 high, H1364 and to morrow H1242 speak H559 thou unto the king H4428 that Mordecai H4782 may be hanged H8518 thereon: then go H935 thou in merrily H8056 with the king H4428 unto the banquet. H4960 And the thing H1697 pleased H3190 H6440 Haman; H2001 and he caused H6213 the gallows H6086 to be made. H6213
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Esther 5
Commentary on Esther 5 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 5
Es 5:1-14. Esther Invites the King and Haman to a Banquet.
1. Esther put on her royal apparel—It was not only natural, but, on such occasions, highly proper and expedient, that the queen should decorate herself in a style becoming her exalted station. On ordinary occasions she might reasonably set off her charms to as much advantage as possible; but, on the present occasion, as she was desirous to secure the favor of one who sustained the twofold character of her husband and her sovereign, public as well as private considerations—a regard to her personal safety, no less than the preservation of her doomed countrymen—urged upon her the propriety of using every legitimate means of recommending herself to the favorable notice of Ahasuerus.
the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house—The palace of this Persian king seems to have been built, like many more of the same quality and description, with an advanced cloister, over against the gate, made in the fashion of a large penthouse, supported only by one or two contiguous pillars in the front, or else in the center. In such open structures as these, in the midst of their guards and counsellors, are the bashaws, kadis, and other great officers, accustomed to distribute justice, and transact the public affairs of the provinces [Shaw, Travels]. In such a situation the Persian king was seated. The seat he occupied was not a throne, according to our ideas of one, but simply a chair, and so high that it required a footstool. It was made of gold, or, at least, inlaid with that metal, and covered with splendid tapestry, and no one save the king might sit down on it under pain of death. It is often found pictured on the Persepolitan monuments, and always of the same fashion.
2. the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand—This golden scepter receives an interesting illustration from the sculptured monuments of Persia and Assyria. In the bas-reliefs of Persepolis, copied by Sir Robert Ker Porter, we see King Darius enthroned in the midst of his court, and walking abroad in equal state; in either case he carries in his right hand a slender rod or wand, about equal in length to his own height, ornamented with a small knob at the summit. In the Assyrian alabasters, those found at Nimroud as well as those from Khorsabad, "the great king" is furnished with the same appendage of royalty, a slender rod, but destitute of any knob or ornament. On the Khorsabad reliefs the rod is painted red, doubtless to represent gold; proving that "the golden sceptre" was a simple wand of that precious metal, commonly held in the right hand, with one end resting on the ground, and that whether the king was sitting or walking. "The gold sceptre" has received little alteration or modification since ancient times [Goss]. It was extended to Esther as a token not only that her intrusion was pardoned, but that her visit was welcome, and a favorable reception given to the suit she had come to prefer.
touched the top of the sceptre—This was the usual way of acknowledging the royal condescension, and at the same time expressing reverence and submission to the august majesty of the king.
3. it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom—This mode of speaking originated in the Persian custom of appropriating for the maintenance of great men, or royal favorites, one city for his bread, another for his wine, a third for his clothes, &c., so that the phrase denoted great liberality.
4. let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him—There was great address in this procedure of Esther's; for, by showing such high respect to the king's favorite, she would the better insinuate herself into the royal affections; and gain a more suitable opportunity of making known her request.
8. let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare—The king ate alone, and his guests in an adjoining hall; but they were admitted to sit with him at wine. Haman being the only invited guest with the king and queen, it was natural that he should have been elated with the honor.