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.
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Esther 5: NKJV
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Esther 5
5
Esther Speaks to the King
1On the third day Esther put on her royal robes. Then she stood in the inner courtyard of the king’s palace, facing the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the doorway. 2The king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard. When he saw her, he was very pleased. He held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther went up to him and touched the end of the scepter.
3Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What do you want to ask me? I will give you as much as half of my kingdom.”
4Esther answered, “My king, if it pleases you, come today with Haman to a banquet. I have prepared it for you.”
5Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly so we may do what Esther asks.”
So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared for them. 6As they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, “Now, Esther, what are you asking for? I will give it to you. What is it you want? I will give you as much as half of my kingdom.”
7Esther answered, “This is what I want and ask for. 8My king, I hope you are pleased with me. If it pleases you, give me what I ask for and do what I want. Come with Haman tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for you. Then I will answer your question about what I want.”
Haman’s Plans Against Mordecai
9Haman left the king’s palace that day happy and content. Then he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate. And he saw that Mordecai did not stand up nor did he tremble with fear before him. So Haman became very angry with Mordecai. 10But he controlled his anger and went home.
Then Haman called his friends and Zeresh, his wife, together. 11And he told them about how wealthy he was and how many sons he had. He also told them about all the ways the king had honored him. And he told them how the king had placed him higher than his important men and his royal officers. 12“And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to come with the king to the banquet she gave. And tomorrow also the queen has asked me to be her guest with the king. 13But all this does not really make me happy. I’m not happy as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”
14Then Haman’s wife Zeresh and all his friends said, “Have a platform built to hang someone. Build it 75 feet high. And in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and be happy.” Haman liked this suggestion. So he ordered the platform to be built.
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Copyright © 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.