Esther 5:1-8

Esther Plans a Banquet

1 Now it came about ¹on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood ²in the inner court of the king's palace in front of the king's rooms, and the king was sitting on his royal throne in the throne room, opposite the entrance to the palace.

2 When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, ³she obtained favor in his sight; and ⁴the 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? ⁵Even 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, "⁶Bring 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, ⁷the king said to Esther, "⁸What 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 ⁹if 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 ¹⁰the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king says."

Esther 5:1-8 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.

Cross References

• 1. Esther 4:16
• 2. Esther 4:11; Esther 6:4
• 3. Esther 2:9
• 4. Esther 4:11; Esther 8:4
• 5. Esther 7:2; Mark 6:23
• 6. Esther 6:14
• 7. Esther 7:2
• 8. Esther 5:3
• 9. Esther 7:3; Esther 8:5
• 10. Esther 6:14

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "house"
• [b]. Lit "royal house"
• [c]. Lit "the word of Esther"
• [d]. Lit "at the banquet of wine"
• [e]. Lit "my request"
• [f]. Lit "according to the word of the king"