So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. ] Or, "to drink with her" F5, that is, wine; for in the next verse it is called a banquet of wine; so they did according to the invitation the queen had given them, ( Esther 5:8 ) .
FOOTNOTES:
F5 (twtvl) "ut biberent", V. L. Tigurine version; "ad bibendum", Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius, Vatablus.
1
When the king and Haman came in for the banquet with Queen Esther,
2
the king said to her, "This is the second day we've met for wine. What is your wish, Queen Esther? I'll give it to you. And what do you want? I'll do anything—even give you half the kingdom."
3
Queen Esther answered, "If I please the king, and if the king wishes, give me my life—that's my wish—and the lives of my people too. That's my desire.
4
We have been sold—I and my people—to be wiped out, killed, and destroyed. If we simply had been sold as male and female slaves, I would have said nothing. But no enemy can compensate the king for this kind of damage."
5
King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, "Who is this person, and where is he? Who would dare do such a thing?"