Esther 5:6

6 As they sipped wine, the king asked, "Now what is it you wish? I'll give it to you. What do you want? I'll do anything—even give you half the kingdom."

Esther 5:6 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 5:6

And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine
For such it seems the banquet was she prepared; it was not properly a meal, neither dinner nor supper, but a drinking bout; or, however, it was at that part of the banquet in which wine was drank that the king accosted Esther, when he began to be cheerful with it. The Persians at their meals had two courses: the first consisted of meats at which they drank water, the other of fruits, when they drank wine; Aelianus ^F9 says, the Persians, after they are filled with food, indulge themselves in drinking wine:

what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy
request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed;
by which it appears he retained the same affection for Esther, and the same disposition to show her kindness. See ( Esther 5:3 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F9 Var. Hist. l. 12. c. 1.

Esther 5:6 In-Context

4 Esther answered, "If the king wishes, please come today with Haman for the feast that I have prepared for him."

5 "Hurry, get Haman," the king ordered, "so we can do what Esther says." So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared.

6 As they sipped wine, the king asked, "Now what is it you wish? I'll give it to you. What do you want? I'll do anything—even give you half the kingdom."

7 Esther answered, "This is my wish and this is what I want:

8 If I please the king, and if the king wishes to grant my wish and my desire, I'd like the king and Haman to come to another feast that I will prepare for them. Tomorrow I will answer the king's questions."