Esther 5:1-6:12
“Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand.
So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.
Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.” (Esther 5:1-5)
Under Persian law, even the queen could be executed for interrupting the king. Ahasuerus had not spoken to her for a month, so Esther did not know if she was welcome or not, and had asked th eeople to oray for three days before she went in, that he would be receptive to her request.
When she went in, he was glad to see her and welcomed her. Esther did not simply blurt out her request but invited him to a dinner she would hold for him and Haman. She was displaying great wisdom in moving him to a more private setting.
Police officers say that a man in more than five times as likely to fight if he is afraid of being embarrassed in front of other men, and almost certain to fight rather than being embarrassed in front of a woman. By just getting the person off in private place, they can avoid about ninety percent of the fights by taking pride off the table. Had she confronted him publicly, pride might well cause him to reject her request out of hand since she was challenging one of his decisions. By including Haman, it was clear she had something important to discus and was not just going to play on her position as queen.
“And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of 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.
Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is; If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.” (Esther 5:6-8)
At the dinner, the king asked her what she wanted, offering to give her anything including half his kingdom. While she could have told him immediately, she refused, asking him to come for dinner the next night, along with Haman. In doing so, she indicated an interest in him, rather than just in getting what she wanted. It was an inspired request, although she probably didn’t realize it at the moment.
"Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.
Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife. And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king. Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.” (Esther 5:9-13)
It was a real boost to Haman’s already inflated ego to be the only guest at a private dinner with the king and queen. He couldn’t wait to get home and brag about it to his wife and friends. He was really enraged when Mordecai refused to show him the respect he felt he deserved.
“Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.” (Esther 5:14)
Haman’s wife and friends told him to build an extra tall gallows for hanging Mordecai so everyone could see what was happening, and to ask Ahasuerus for permission to hang him the next day, rather than waiting until the attack on the Jews. Haman was thrilled with the idea and got busy right away.
“On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this?
Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.” (Esther 6:1-3)
That same night, Ahasuerus couldn’t sleep and so he had the scribes read the record of things that had happened under his administration so he could glory in them. In the process they read the story about Mordecai discovering and warning about the plot to kill him. Ahasuerus had forgotten about it but felt Mordecai deserved a reward. When he inquired he learned nothing had been done. He got to thinking what kind of reward he ought to give a person who saved his life.
“And the king said, Who is in the court?
Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court.
And the king said, Let him come in.” (Esther 6:4-5)
Ahasuerus decided to ask whoever was there what they thought he should do. Haman had just arrived to ask for permission to execute Mordecai, and when they mentioned him, the king said to bring him in.
“So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour?
Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?
“And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.” (Esther 6:6-9)
In his pride, Haman could imagine no one more deserving of honor than himself, and he decided to take advantage of the opportunity to make himself important. He described what he thought would most impress people, even that he should wear the kings crown and ride the king’s horse with a herald going before to announce what it meant.
"Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.
Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.” (Esther 6:10-12)
One can only imagine the horror Haman must have felt at having to bestow the honors he wanted for himself on the man he most hated. Clearly Ahasuerus would not grant him permission to hang Mordecai after promoting him in such a fashion.
And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.” (Esther 6:10-12)
Mordecai returned to his picket line, appealing for repeal of the law to execute the Jews. Haman went home heartbroken at the thought of Mordecai receiving the honors he wanted.
“Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand.
So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.
Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.” (Esther 5:1-5)
Under Persian law, even the queen could be executed for interrupting the king. Ahasuerus had not spoken to her for a month, so Esther did not know if she was welcome or not, and had asked th eeople to oray for three days before she went in, that he would be receptive to her request.
When she went in, he was glad to see her and welcomed her. Esther did not simply blurt out her request but invited him to a dinner she would hold for him and Haman. She was displaying great wisdom in moving him to a more private setting.
Police officers say that a man in more than five times as likely to fight if he is afraid of being embarrassed in front of other men, and almost certain to fight rather than being embarrassed in front of a woman. By just getting the person off in private place, they can avoid about ninety percent of the fights by taking pride off the table. Had she confronted him publicly, pride might well cause him to reject her request out of hand since she was challenging one of his decisions. By including Haman, it was clear she had something important to discus and was not just going to play on her position as queen.
“And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of 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.
Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is; If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.” (Esther 5:6-8)
At the dinner, the king asked her what she wanted, offering to give her anything including half his kingdom. While she could have told him immediately, she refused, asking him to come for dinner the next night, along with Haman. In doing so, she indicated an interest in him, rather than just in getting what she wanted. It was an inspired request, although she probably didn’t realize it at the moment.
"Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.
Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife. And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king. Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.” (Esther 5:9-13)
It was a real boost to Haman’s already inflated ego to be the only guest at a private dinner with the king and queen. He couldn’t wait to get home and brag about it to his wife and friends. He was really enraged when Mordecai refused to show him the respect he felt he deserved.
“Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.” (Esther 5:14)
Haman’s wife and friends told him to build an extra tall gallows for hanging Mordecai so everyone could see what was happening, and to ask Ahasuerus for permission to hang him the next day, rather than waiting until the attack on the Jews. Haman was thrilled with the idea and got busy right away.
“On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this?
Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.” (Esther 6:1-3)
That same night, Ahasuerus couldn’t sleep and so he had the scribes read the record of things that had happened under his administration so he could glory in them. In the process they read the story about Mordecai discovering and warning about the plot to kill him. Ahasuerus had forgotten about it but felt Mordecai deserved a reward. When he inquired he learned nothing had been done. He got to thinking what kind of reward he ought to give a person who saved his life.
“And the king said, Who is in the court?
Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court.
And the king said, Let him come in.” (Esther 6:4-5)
Ahasuerus decided to ask whoever was there what they thought he should do. Haman had just arrived to ask for permission to execute Mordecai, and when they mentioned him, the king said to bring him in.
“So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour?
Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?
“And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.” (Esther 6:6-9)
In his pride, Haman could imagine no one more deserving of honor than himself, and he decided to take advantage of the opportunity to make himself important. He described what he thought would most impress people, even that he should wear the kings crown and ride the king’s horse with a herald going before to announce what it meant.
"Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.
Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.” (Esther 6:10-12)
One can only imagine the horror Haman must have felt at having to bestow the honors he wanted for himself on the man he most hated. Clearly Ahasuerus would not grant him permission to hang Mordecai after promoting him in such a fashion.
And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.” (Esther 6:10-12)
Mordecai returned to his picket line, appealing for repeal of the law to execute the Jews. Haman went home heartbroken at the thought of Mordecai receiving the honors he wanted.
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