Esther 5:2-12

2 When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, ¹she obtained favor in his sight; and ²the king extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter.

3 Then the king said to her, "What is troubling you, Queen Esther? And what is your request? ³Even to half of the kingdom it shall be given to you."

4 Esther said, "If it pleases the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him."

5 Then the king said, "⁴Bring Haman quickly that we may do as Esther desires." So the king and Haman came to the banquet which Esther had prepared.

6 As they drank their wine at the banquet, ⁵the king said to Esther, "⁶What is your petition, for it shall be granted to you. And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done."

7 So Esther replied, "My petition and my request is:

8 ⁷if I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and do what I request, may the king and Haman come to ⁸the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king says."

Haman's Pride

9 Then Haman went out that day glad and pleased of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai ⁹in the king's gate and ¹⁰that he did not stand up or tremble before him, Haman was filled with anger against Mordecai.

10 Haman controlled himself, however, went to his house and sent for his friends and his wife ¹¹Zeresh.

11 Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, and the ¹²number of his sons, and every instance where the king had magnified him and how he had ¹³promoted him above the princes and servants of the king.

12 Haman also said, "Even Esther the queen let no one but me come with the king to the banquet which she had prepared; and ¹⁴tomorrow also I am invited by her with the king.

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Esther 5:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ESTHER 5

This chapter gives an account of Esther's going in to the king, and of his holding out the golden sceptre to her, on which she invited him and Haman to a banquet of wine that day, and to another the next day, Es 5:1-8, which highly delighted Haman; and he went to his house and family with great joy, and yet chagrined at Mordecai's not bowing to him; wherefore, at the advice of his wife and friends, he erected a gallows to hang him upon, proposing to get a grant for it from the king the next day, Es 5:9-14.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 14

1. Esther 2:9
2. Esther 4:11; Esther 8:4
3. Esther 7:2; Mark 6:23
4. Esther 6:14
5. Esther 7:2
6. Esther 5:3
7. Esther 7:3; Esther 8:5
8. Esther 6:14
9. Esther 2:19
10. Esther 3:5
11. Esther 6:13
12. Esther 9:7-10
13. Esther 3:1
14. Esther 5:8

Footnotes 9

[a]. Lit "the word of Esther"
[b]. Lit "at the banquet of wine"
[c]. Lit "my request"
[d]. Lit "according to the word of the king"
[e]. Or "move for"
[f]. Lit "sent and brought"
[g]. Lit "multitude"
[h]. Lit "lifted"
[i]. Lit "summoned to her"