Esther — Chapter 5
Loading ESV text...
1On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace across from the king’s quarters. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom, facing the entrance.
2As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she found favor in his sight. The king extended the gold scepter in his hand toward Esther, and she approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
3“What is it, Queen Esther?” the king inquired. “What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you.”
4“If it pleases the king,” Esther replied, “may the king and Haman come today to the banquet I have prepared for the king.”
5“Hurry,” commanded the king, “and bring Haman, so we can do as Esther has requested.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6And as they drank their wine, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.”
7Esther replied, “This is my petition and my request:
8If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, may the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”
9That day Haman went out full of joy and glad of heart. At the king’s gate, however, he saw Mordecai, who did not rise or tremble in fear at his presence. And Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai.
10Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. And calling for his friends and his wife Zeresh,
11Haman recounted to them his glorious wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored and promoted him over the other officials and servants.
12“What is more,” Haman added, “Queen Esther invited no one but me to join the king at the banquet she prepared, and I am invited back tomorrow along with the king.
13Yet none of this satisfies me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
14His wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, “Have them build a gallows fifty cubits high, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and enjoy yourself.” The advice pleased Haman, and he had the gallows constructed.
1Now 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.
2And 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.
3Then 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.
4And 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.
5Then 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.
6And 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.
7Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;
8If 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.
9Then 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.
10Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.
11And 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.
12Haman 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.
13Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.
14Then 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.
1Now 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 entrance of the house.
2And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor 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.
3Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be given thee even to the half of the kingdom.
4And Esther said, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.
5Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that it may be done as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6And 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.
7Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is:
8if 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 to-morrow as the king hath said.
9Then went Haman forth that day joyful and glad of heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king`s gate, that he stood not up nor moved for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.
10Nevertheless Haman refrained himself, and went home; and he sent and fetched his friends and Zeresh his wife.
11And Haman recounted unto them 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.
12Haman 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 also am I invited by her together with the king.
13Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king`s gate.
14Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning 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.
1It so happened that on the third day Esther put on her royal attire and stood in the inner court of the palace, opposite the king’s quarters. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the palace, opposite the entrance.
2When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she met with his approval. The king extended to Esther the gold scepter that was in his hand, and Esther approached and touched the end of the scepter.
3The king said to her, “What is on your mind, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even as much as half the kingdom will be given to you.”
4Esther replied, “If the king is so inclined, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for the king.”
5The king replied, “Find Haman quickly so that we can do as Esther requests.”So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6While at the banquet of wine, the king said to Esther, “What is your request? It shall be given to you. What is your petition? Ask for as much as half the kingdom, and it shall be done.”
7Esther responded, “My request and my petition is this:
8If I have found favor in the king’s sight and if the king is inclined to grant my request and approve my petition, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet that I will prepare for them. At that time I will do as the king wishes.”
9Now Haman went forth that day pleased and very much encouraged. But when Haman saw Mordecai at the king’s gate, and he did not rise or tremble in his presence, Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai.
10But Haman restrained himself and went on to his home.He then sent for his friends to join him, along with his wife Zeresh.
11Haman then recounted to them his fabulous wealth, his many sons, and how the king had magnified him and exalted him over the king’s other officials and servants.
12Haman said, “Furthermore, Queen Esther invited only me to accompany the king to the banquet that she prepared. And also tomorrow I am invited along with the king.
13Yet all this fails to satisfy me so long as I have to see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
14Haman’s wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a gallows 75 feet high built, and in the morning tell the king that Mordecai should be hanged on it. Then go with the king to the banquet contented.” It seemed like a good idea to Haman, so he had the gallows built.
1Now on the third day, Esther put on her royal clothing, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, next to the king’s house. The king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, next to the entrance of the house.
2When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther came near, and touched the top of the scepter.
3Then the king asked her, “What would you like, queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you even to the half of the kingdom.”
4Esther said, “If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”
5Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that it may be done as Esther has said.” So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6The king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.”
7Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and my request is this.
8If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I will prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said.”
9Then Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he didn’t stand up nor move for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.
10Nevertheless Haman restrained himself, and went home. There, he sent and called for his friends and Zeresh his wife.
11Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, the multitude of his children, all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
12Haman also said, “Yes, Esther the queen let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow I am also invited by her together with the king.
13Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
14Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on it. Then go in merrily with the king to the banquet.” This pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.
Summary
On the third day, Esther approaches the king's inner court uninvited, risking her life, but he extends his golden scepter and grants her favor, inviting her to name any request (vv. 1-3). Rather than stating her petition, she invites the king and Haman to a banquet that day, and there again defers, asking them to return the next day for a second banquet (vv. 4-8). Haman leaves the first banquet elated, but his joy turns to fury when he passes Mordecai at the king's gate and Mordecai still refuses to honor him (v. 9). At home, Haman boasts to his wife Zeresh and friends about his wealth, his many sons, and his unique invitation to Esther's banquets, yet admits none of it satisfies him as long as Mordecai remains unpunished (vv. 10-13). Zeresh and his friends suggest building a gallows seventy-five feet high and asking the king to hang Mordecai on it the next morning; pleased with the idea, Haman has the gallows built (v. 14).
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- Susa (Shushan) — the Persian royal capital and winter residence, located in modern southwestern Iran.
- The story takes place entirely within the Persian palace/citadel complex — throne room, inner court, royal garden, and the king's gate.
- The Persian Empire stretched from India to Ethiopia (Cush) — 127 provinces (1:1), the largest empire the world had yet seen.
Places on this map
- SusaShush, IranAn ancient Elamite capital on the plain east of the Tigris, used by the Persian kings as a winter residence. Esther's court and Nehemiah's cupbearing both happen here, about 1,000 miles from Jerusalem. Wikipedia
- PersiaFars, IranThe empire's ceremonial center was Persepolis in the Iranian highlands, but it governed from Susa and Babylon and ran roads from the Indus to the Aegean. Its scale is the point of Esther's opening: 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia. Wikipedia
- CushSudan / northern NubiaThe Nile kingdom upstream of Egypt beyond the first cataract, taken as the far southern edge of the known world in the same way Tarshish marks the west. Wikipedia
Towns sit on their excavated or traditional site. Regions, rivers and seas are ringed rather than dotted, because for those a single point is only an anchor. Coastlines from Natural Earth.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik notes Esther's remarkable strategic patience — she did not blurt her request immediately but created conditions for maximum impact. Her delay also unwittingly created the space for God's providential intervention in chapter 6. He emphasizes that Haman's misery (v.13) despite extraordinary privilege reveals the self- destructive nature of pride: it converts blessing into torment by fixating on the one thing it cannot control.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
- Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.
Videos
Articles
- GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Esther -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.
Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.
Reflection
- Grace Extended to the Unworthy (v.2) — Esther approaches the king under penalty of death, yet he extends the golden scepter and receives her. Do you approach God boldly, trusting His welcome, or do you hold back as though you have to earn an audience with Him?
- Wisdom Sometimes Waits for the Right Moment (vv.7-8) — Esther delays her request through two banquets, and that patience creates space for events to unfold that she couldn't have engineered herself. Are you willing to wait for the right timing instead of rushing to say everything you're feeling right now?
- One Grievance Can Poison Every Blessing (v.13) — Haman has wealth, status, and a rare invitation from the queen, yet declares it all worthless because of one man's disrespect. Is there a single unresolved grievance keeping you from enjoying the genuine blessings already in front of you?
- What You Build for Others Can Become Your Own Undoing (v.14) — Haman eagerly builds gallows for his enemy, not realizing he's preparing his own downfall. Where might scheming against someone else actually be setting a trap for yourself?