Esther 5:1-8

Esther Approaches the King

1 On the third day, Esther dressed up in her royal clothing and stood in the inner courtyard of the palace facing it. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom, facing its entrance.

2 As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, she won his approval.^[a] The king extended the golden scepter in his hand toward Esther, and she approached and touched the tip of the scepter.^[b]

3 "What is it, Queen Esther?" the king asked her. "Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be given to you."^[c]

4 "If it pleases the king," Esther replied, "may the king and Haman come today to the banquet I have prepared for them."

5 The king commanded, "Hurry, and get Haman so we can do as Esther has requested." So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared.

6 While drinking the^[d] wine, the king asked Esther, "Whatever you ask will be given to you. Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be done."^[e]

7 Esther answered, "[This is] my petition and my request:

8 If the king approves of me^[f] and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and perform my request,^[g] may the king and Haman come to the banquet I will prepare for them. Tomorrow I will do what the king has asked."

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit she obtained favor in his eyes; Est 2:15,17
• [b]. Est 4:11; 8:4
• [c]. Est 5:6; 7:2; Mk 6:23
• [d]. Lit During the banquet of
• [e]. Est 5:3; 7:2; Mk 6:23
• [f]. Lit If I have found favor in the eyes of the king
• [g]. Est 7:3; 8:5