Esther 5
5
1 After this, king Artaxerxes exalted Haman, the son of Hammedatha, who was of Agag lineage, and he set his throne above all the rulers whom he had.
2 And all the king's servants, who passed by the doors of the palace, bent their knees and adored Haman, for so the ruler had instructed them. Only Mordecai did not bend his knee, nor adore him.
3 The king's servants, who presided over the doors of the palace, said to him, "Why do you, more than the others, not observe the king's command?"
4 And when they were saying this frequently, and he would not listen to them, they reported it to Haman, desiring to know whether he would continue in his resolution, for he had told them that he was a Jew.
5 Now when Haman had heard this, and had proved by a test that Mordecai did not bend his knee to him, nor adore him, he was very angry.
6 And he considered it pointless to lay his hands on Mordecai alone, for he had heard that he was part of the Jewish people. And so he wanted more: to destroy the entire nation of the Jews, who were in the kingdom of Artaxerxes.
7 In the first month, which is called Nisan, in the twelfth year of the reign of Artaxerxes, the lot was cast into an urn, which in Hebrew is called Pur, in the presence of Haman, to determine on what day and in which month the Jewish people should be destroyed. And it turned out to be the twelfth month, which is called Adar.
8 And Haman said to king Artaxerxes, "There is a people dispersed throughout all the provinces of your kingdom and separated one from another, who make use of unusual laws and ceremonies, and who, in addition, show contempt for the king's ordinances. And you know very well that it is not expedient for your kingdom that they should become insolent through independence.
9 If it pleases you, declare that they may be destroyed, and I will weigh out ten thousand talents to the keepers of your treasury."
10 And so the king took the ring that he used, from his own hand, and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha, of Agag lineage, enemy of the Jews.
11 And he said to him, "Let the silver, which you promise, be for yourself. As for the people, do with them as it pleases you."
12 And the scribes of the king were summoned, in the first month Nisan, on the thirteenth day of the same month. And it was written, as Haman had commanded, to all the king's governors, and to the judges of the provinces, and to various peoples, so that each people could read and hear according to their various languages, in the name of king Artaxerxes. And the letters were sealed with his ring.
13 These were sent by the king's messengers to all the provinces, so as to kill and destroy all the Jews, from children all the way to the elderly, even little children and women, on one day, that is, on the thirteenth of the twelfth month, which is called Adar, and to plunder their goods, even their necessities.
Currently Selected:
Esther 5: CPDV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
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:
:
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.