G² K 1,2. King on royal throne.
L q 3. King Inquiry.
r 4. Esther. Invitation given.
q 5-. King. Compliance.
r -5. Esther. Invitation accepted.
K 6-. King at Esther's banquet.
L s -6. King. Promise.
t 7,8. Esther. 2nd invitation.
s 9-. Haman's joy.
t -9-14. Esther. 2nd invitation.
March 24th, 462 B.C.
Esther 5)
1 Now it came to pass on the third day (the beginning of a new life for Israel), that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house (all the houses had courts; a palace had several), right opposite the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne (to transact business) in the royal house, over against the porch of the house.
2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she won favor in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter.
3 Then said the king to her, "What will you, queen Esther? and what is your request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom." (Fig. of speech put for a year's revenue. Cp. Mark 6:23.)
4 And Esther answered, "If it seem good to the king, LET THE KING AND HAMAN COME THIS DAY (this is the 2nd of the 5 Acrostics of the Divine name in this book. The 2nd pivot on which the history turns) to the banquet that I have prepared for him."
5 Then the king said, "Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther has said."
So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6 And the king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, "What is your question? (He must have seen the was something behind the mere banquet) and it shall be granted you: and what is your wish?
even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed."
7 Then answered Esther, and said, "My petition 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 petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said." (She still keeps back her petition showing the king that he has rightly divined that there was something important behind it.)
9 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart:
t u -9. Mordecai. Haman's indignation.
v 10,11. Haman. Ostentation.
v 12, Haman. Pride.
u 13,14. Mordecai. Haman's gallows.
but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up (notwithstanding the crisis reached; and well knowing the cause of it), nor stirred for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.
10 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh (by Gematria = 507 [13¹ x 3]. See 9:10) his wife.
11 And Haman recounted them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his sons (he had 10 sons. See 9:10), and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
12 Haman said moreover, "Yes, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow am I invited to her also with the king.
13 Yet ALL THIS AVAILS ME NOTHING (this is the 3rd of the 5 Acrostics of this book, exhibiting the Divine names to the eye), so long as I see Mordecai the Judean sitting at the king's gate." (The enmity was not mearly personal, but religious; which is the worse form enmity can take.)
14 Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends to him, "Let a tree (i.e. a stake to which a criminal was fastened till he died. The same word for the cross. Cp. 2:23; 7:9; and see Acts 5:30; 10:39; 13:29. 1 Pet. 2:24) be made of fifty cubits high (= 75 feet), and tomorrow speak you to the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon (there was no delay; but, quick as the action was, it was none too soon for its real usefulness.): then go you in merrily with the king to the banquet." And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the tree to be made.