Esther 5
5
Esther’s Banquet
1Now it happened #Esth. 4:16on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in #Esth. 4:11, 6:4the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house. 2So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that #(Prov. 21:1)she found favor in his sight, and #Esth. 4:11, 8:4the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter.
3And the king said to her, “What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? #Esth. 7:2; Mark 6:23It shall be given to you—up to half the kingdom!”
4So Esther answered, “If it pleases 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, that he may do as Esther has said.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6At the banquet of wine #Esth. 7:2the king said to Esther, #Esth. 9:12“What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!”
7Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and 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 fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the #Esth. 6:14banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”
Haman’s Plot Against Mordecai
9So Haman went out that day #(Job 20:5; Luke 6:25)joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, and #Esth. 3:5that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai. 10Nevertheless Haman #2 Sam. 13:22restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. 11Then Haman told them of his great riches, #Esth. 9:7–10the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had #Esth. 3:1advanced him above the officials and servants of the king.
12Moreover Haman said, “Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her, along with the king. 13Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
14Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a #Esth. 7:9gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning #Esth. 6:4suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet.”
And the thing pleased Haman; so he had #Esth. 7:10the gallows made.
Currently Selected:
Esther 5: NKJV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Esther 5
5
Esther Invites the King and Haman to a Banquet
1On the third day of her fast Esther put on her royal robes and went and stood in the inner courtyard of the palace, facing the throne room. The king was inside, seated on the royal throne, facing the entrance. 2When the king saw Queen Esther standing outside, she won his favour, and he held out to her the gold sceptre. She then came up and touched the tip of it. 3“What is it, Queen Esther?” the king asked. “Tell me what you want, and you shall have it — even if it is half my empire.”
4Esther replied, “If it please Your Majesty, I would like you and Haman to be my guests tonight at a banquet I am preparing for you.”
5The king then ordered Haman to come quickly, so that they could be Esther's guests. So the king and Haman went to Esther's banquet. 6Over the wine the king asked her, “Tell me what you want, and you shall have it. I will grant your request, even if you ask for half my empire.”
7Esther replied, 8“If Your Majesty is kind enough to grant my request, I would like you and Haman to be my guests tomorrow at another banquet that I will prepare for you. At that time I will tell you what I want.”
Haman Plots to Kill Mordecai
9When Haman left the banquet he was happy and in a good mood. But then he saw Mordecai at the entrance of the palace, and when Mordecai did not rise or show any sign of respect as he passed, Haman was furious with him. 10But he controlled himself and went home. Then he invited his friends to his house and asked his wife Zeresh to join them. 11He boasted to them how rich he was, how many sons he had, how the king had promoted him to high office, and how much more important he was than any of the king's other officials. 12“What is more,” Haman went on, “Queen Esther gave a banquet for no one but the king and me, and we are invited back tomorrow. 13But none of this means a thing to me as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the entrance of the palace.”
14So his wife and all his friends suggested, “Why don't you have a gallows built, 22 metres tall? Tomorrow morning you can ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it, and then you can go to the banquet happy.”
Haman thought this was a good idea, so he had the gallows built.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.