Esther 5: Esther before the king, and Haman has a gallows made
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What happens?
On the third day Esther stands in the inner court, the king holds out the golden scepter to her, and she invites the king and Haman to a banquet. At the banquet she asks them to come again the next day, and Haman goes out glad until he sees that Mordecai will not stand up or move for him. Haman tells his wife Zeresh and his friends, and on their word he has a gallows made, fifty cubits high.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story, and nothing is in gold. The king speaks in verses 3, 5 and 6. Esther speaks in verses 4, 7 and 8. Haman speaks to his friends and his wife in verses 12 and 13, and Zeresh and all his friends answer in verse 14. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now on the third day, Esther put on her royal clothing and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, next to the king’s house. The king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, next to the entrance of the house.
In plain English: On the third day Esther put on her royal clothing and stood in the inner court of the king's house, next to (or: facing) the king's house. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal house, next to (or: facing) the entrance of the house.
Good to know: The text says "on the third day" and does not say which day it counts from. has the fast of three days.
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2When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter.
In plain English: When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she won favor in his eyes. The king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand, and Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter.
The Hebrew word: "Scepter" is sharbit, which the dictionary gives as "a rod of empire". It is in 3 verses of Esther, here, and , and the WEB says "scepter" in all 3.
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3Then the king asked her, “What would you like, queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you even to the half of the kingdom.”
In plain English: The king said to her, "What is it, queen Esther? What is your request? Up to half of the kingdom, it will be given to you."
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4Esther said, “If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”
In plain English: Esther said, "If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him."
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5Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that it may be done as Esther has said.” So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
In plain English: The king said, "Bring Haman quickly, to do as Esther has said." The king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
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6The king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.”
In plain English: At the banquet of wine the king said to Esther, "What is your petition? It will be given to you. And what is your request? Up to half of the kingdom, it will be done."
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7Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and my request is this.
In plain English: Esther answered, "My petition and my request is this.
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8If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I will prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said.”
In plain English: If I have found favor in the eyes of the king, and if it seems good to the king to grant my petition and to do my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I will prepare for them. Tomorrow I will do as the king has said."
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9Then Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he didn’t stand up nor move for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.
In plain English: Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai at the king's gate, and Mordecai did not stand up or move (or: tremble) for him, Haman was filled with rage against Mordecai.
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10Nevertheless Haman restrained himself, and went home. There, he sent and called for his friends and Zeresh his wife.
In plain English: Haman held himself back and went to his house. He sent and brought in his friends and his wife Zeresh.
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11Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, the multitude of his children, all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
In plain English: Haman told them about the splendor of his wealth, how many sons (or: children) he had, everything the king had done to make him great, and how he had lifted him above the officials (or: princes) and servants of the king.
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12Haman also said, “Yes, Esther the queen let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow I am also invited by her together with the king.
In plain English: Haman also said, "Esther the queen let no one come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared, except me. And tomorrow I am invited by her as well, with the king.
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13Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
In plain English: But all this is of no use to me, every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate."
The Hebrew word: "The Jew" is Yehudi, which the dictionary gives as "a Jehudite (i.e. Judaite or Jew), or descendant of Jehudah (i.e. Judah)". It is in 46 verses of Esther, and the WEB says "Jew" or "Jews" in all of them except 1, . Here Haman uses it of Mordecai.
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14Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on it. Then go in merrily with the king to the banquet.” This pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.
In plain English: His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Let a gallows (or: a tree, a wooden stake) be made, fifty cubits high. In the morning speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on it. Then go in joyful with the king to the banquet." The word pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.
The Hebrew word: "Gallows" is ets, which the dictionary gives as "a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood". It is in 8 verses of Esther, and the WEB says "gallows" in all 8, including . "Hanging" is talah, which the dictionary gives as "to suspend (especially to gibbet)". It is in 9 verses of Esther, and the WEB says "hang", "hanged" or "hanging" in all 9.
What changes: With "gallows" it is a frame built for hanging. With the dictionary's "tree" or "wood" it is a tall piece of wood or a stake. The text gives only the height, fifty cubits, and does not say what the wood looked like.
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