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¶ Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal
apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against
the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house,
over against the gate of the house.
2.And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. |
Third
day Esther and her attendants had eaten nothing for three days.
See es0416.
Stood She stood in or near the doorway (gate) to the inner court. The king was at the other end of the room facing the doorway. Compare es0105. Held out ... touched Acceptance. She had violated the law es0411, es0604. |
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Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is
thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.
4 And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him. |
Request?
it shall be granted This promise was a common option of Oriental
monarchs.
Come this day This was an unusual invitation especially when another man was also invited. Planning it for the same day may have also been unusual. Time to solve the genocide problem was short. |
| 5 Then the king said, Cause
Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and
Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
.6 And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. |
Cause
Haman This would have made him sense a little insecurity.
What is thy petition? He realized that it was for more than entertainment. |
| 7 Then answered Esther, and
said, My petition and my request is;
8 If I have found favour 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 to morrow as the king hath said. |
Banquet ... to morrow Why two banquets? Perhaps the situation with Haman was not yet adequately developed for her to expose him. |
| 9 ¶ Then went Haman forth
that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the
king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved 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 his wife. |
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| 11 And Haman told them of
the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, 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, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king. |
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| 13 Yet all this availeth me
nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
.14 Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made. |
Zeresh She had apparently already gotten the consent of his friends. The men thought that they were operating the kingdom all alone but it doesn't work this way. Also this suggests care in choosing a spouse. |
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