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
On that night H3915 could not H5074 the king H4428 sleep, H8142 and he commanded H559 to bring H935 the book H5612 of records H2146 of the chronicles; H1697 H3117 and they were read H7121 before H6440 the king. H4428 And it was found H4672 written, H3789 that Mordecai H4782 had told H5046 of Bigthana H904 and Teresh, H8657 two H8147 of the king's H4428 chamberlains, H5631 the keepers H8104 of the door, H5592 who sought H1245 to lay H7971 hand H3027 on the king H4428 Ahasuerus. H325 And the king H4428 said, H559 What honour H3366 and dignity H1420 hath been done H6213 to Mordecai H4782 for this? Then said H559 the king's H4428 servants H5288 that ministered H8334 unto him, There is nothing H1697 done H6213 for him. And the king H4428 said, H559 Who is in the court? H2691 Now Haman H2001 was come H935 into the outward H2435 court H2691 of the king's H4428 house, H1004 to speak H559 unto the king H4428 to hang H8518 Mordecai H4782 on the gallows H6086 that he had prepared H3559 for him. And the king's H4428 servants H5288 said H559 unto him, Behold, Haman H2001 standeth H5975 in the court. H2691 And the king H4428 said, H559 Let him come in. H935 So Haman H2001 came in. H935 And the king H4428 said H559 unto him, What shall be done H6213 unto the man H376 whom the king H4428 delighteth H2654 to honour? H3366 Now Haman H2001 thought H559 in his heart, H3820 To whom would the king H4428 delight H2654 to do H6213 honour H3366 more H3148 than to myself? And Haman H2001 answered H559 the king, H4428 For the man H376 whom the king H4428 delighteth H2654 to honour, H3366 Let the royal H4438 apparel H3830 be brought H935 which the king H4428 useth to wear, H3847 and the horse H5483 that the king H4428 rideth H7392 upon, and the crown H3804 royal H4438 which is set H5414 upon his head: H7218 And let this apparel H3830 and horse H5483 be delivered H5414 to the hand H3027 of one H376 of the king's H4428 most noble H6579 princes, H8269 that they may array H3847 the man H376 withal whom the king H4428 delighteth H2654 to honour, H3366 and bring H7392 him on horseback H5483 through the street H7339 of the city, H5892 and proclaim H7121 before H6440 him, Thus shall it be done H6213 to the man H376 whom the king H4428 delighteth H2654 to honour. H3366 Then the king H4428 said H559 to Haman, H2001 Make haste, H4116 and take H3947 the apparel H3830 and the horse, H5483 as thou hast said, H1696 and do H6213 even so to Mordecai H4782 the Jew, H3064 that sitteth H3427 at the king's H4428 gate: H8179 let nothing H1697 fail H5307 of all that thou hast spoken. H1696 Then took H3947 Haman H2001 the apparel H3830 and the horse, H5483 and arrayed H3847 Mordecai, H4782 and brought him on horseback H7392 through the street H7339 of the city, H5892 and proclaimed H7121 before H6440 him, Thus shall it be done H6213 unto the man H376 whom the king H4428 delighteth H2654 to honour. H3366 And Mordecai H4782 came again H7725 to the king's H4428 gate. H8179 But Haman H2001 hasted H1765 to his house H1004 mourning, H57 and having his head H7218 covered. H2645 And Haman H2001 told H5608 Zeresh H2238 his wife H802 and all his friends H157 every thing that had befallen H7136 him. Then said H559 his wise men H2450 and Zeresh H2238 his wife H802 unto him, If Mordecai H4782 be of the seed H2233 of the Jews, H3064 before H6440 whom thou hast begun H2490 to fall, H5307 thou shalt not prevail H3201 against him, but shalt surely H5307 fall H5307 before H6440 him. And while they were yet talking H1696 with him, came H5060 the king's H4428 chamberlains, H5631 and hasted H926 to bring H935 Haman H2001 unto the banquet H4960 that Esther H635 had prepared. 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.