Esther 5: 1 – 14
The unanswered question
1 Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house. 2 So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter. 3 And the king said to her, “What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you—up to half the kingdom!” 4 So Esther answered, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.” 5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, that he may do as Esther has said.” So, the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared. 6 At the banquet of wine the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!” 7 Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and request is this: 8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.” 9 So Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. 11 Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king. 12 Moreover Haman said, “Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her, along with the king. 13 Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” 14 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet.” And the thing pleased Haman; so, he had the gallows made.
Are you curious about today’s title or have you already contemplated what the topic refers to? Let me give you my thoughts and see if they match yours.
In today’s scripture we are going to learn about Esther’s plan to deal with the major edict to kill every Jew in the known world. I do not think anyone of us would have come up with the same plan.
The biggest obstacle facing Esther was the fact that no one could come and see the king unless officially requested. If you just showed up without an invite you would be executed on site. There was only one way to avoid the executioner and that is from the king giving special absolution. He would hold out his scepter. If he did so you could approach him and touch the end of the scepter and all would be okay.
Now, if she got through this major obstacle what would be the course to request the cancellation of the order to murder every Jew because the king official seal was on the edict and that could not be changed.
Would your request be like Esther’s? Have a nice intimate dinner between you and your husband the king? Well some of you might say well that is one way. But the unanswered question that the king never asked her was as to why she wanted a third person at this special intimate dinner?
Today we will see how this invite plays out, but it is only part one of her plan. We will find out that there is a part two where she again has another intimate dinner with additionally inviting the third person – Haman.
Let me give you my thoughts as to what I see in her thoughts after fasting and praying. So, instead of there being three, there were four. In the background was the God of Israel, our Holy Father Yahweh, directing all of Esther’s ideas. Esther had planned her campaign carefully and she commenced by asking the king to a private banquet along with Haman. This was to be the first banquet to which the two were invited, and this one ended with Haman feeling exalted. The second would end in a very different way. We may surmise that Esther had two ends in view in these banquets. First to once more arouse in Ahasuerus the previous feelings that he had had for her, thus making him more willing to consider her request, and second to discourage any attempts by Haman to undermine her influence. Had he not been present he may well have had suspicions of what Esther intended to do. He would no doubt have learned from his spies that Mordecai was a relative of Esther’s.
1 Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house.
‘On the third day’ Esther put off her fasting garments and clothed herself in her royal apparel. She wanted the king to know that she was approaching him as his consort. She was taking every precaution. Then she approached the royal house, entering the inner court, aware that as she came to the entrance the king, seated on his throne opposite the entrance, at the far end of a line of pillars, would observe her approach. That she knew that he would be there may suggest that there were certain fixed times when he so sat in this way on his throne to receive petitions. Alternately she may have been informed that he would be there at that time by her personal servants who were in the know.
2 So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter.
To Esther’s great relief, when the king saw her standing there, clearly with a petition in mind, ‘she obtained favor in his sight’. For he held out to her the golden scepter which was in his hand. And in accord with protocol Esther then approached the king and touched the top of the scepter. Guards would no doubt be watching, ready for any unusual occurrence. And the king would not be alone.
3 And the king said to her, “What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you—up to half the kingdom!”
The fact that the king surmised that she had a request would appear to confirm that this was a time at which the king dealt with requests ad petitions submitted to him. Why else would he be on his throne ready to give audience? Such requests and petitions would come to him from all parts of his kingdom, but in the main he would have been well prepared for the contents of such requests beforehand. As we have seen an approach by a suppliant without earlier representation and permission was fraught with danger. Thus, he recognized that Esther must have something important to request.
He received her graciously, utilizing her official title, as became the situation, and asking her what her request was. He assured her that it would be granted to her ‘even to the half of the kingdom’, a phrase which simply meant ‘however great it might be within reason’. The phrase was probably a standard one indicating the largest possible grant. He would not expect Esther to take it literally. But the limit was significant in one way. It was a recognition of the fact that no king could allow another to rule over more than half of his kingdom. It would put them in a position of too much power.
This is the first of two banquets which Esther prepares for the king and Haman. As a consequence of it Haman feels exalted at the special privilege that has been given him, to dine ‘alone’ with the king and his consort at the consorts special request. But instead of being satisfied with his privilege he is still mean minded enough to plot the downfall of Mordecai. Thus, at the second banquet all will be reversed. That banquet will end with his disgrace, and his death on the stake that he had erected for Mordecai. And in between the two banquets he will have to pay due honor to Mordecai. God has an unquestionable sense of what is apposite.
4 So Esther answered, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”
The king would recognize from Esther’s reply that what she had to request was something intimate. She would prefer to make the request at a private banquet rather than in public. But her request that Haman be present would indicate that it was not too intimate, and that it had to do with the running of the kingdom. The king clearly recognized this for he called on Haman to act with all speed to fulfil Esther’s request. He was clearly not put out by the invitation to Haman. He would recognize that if Esther’s request was in any way political, Haman would necessarily be involved as first minister.
Esther’s request may in fact contain within it other than what can be gathered from its face value. Many ancient Jews saw the divine name as being included in the opening consonants of four words in this verse (Psalm 96.11) which were spoken by Esther. These words were, Yabo’ Hamelech Wehemen Hayom (YHWH) that is, ‘let the king come, and Haman, this day’. This was seen by many as indicating secretly to Jews that YHWH would also be present. The words are especially significant because, apart from the usual opening courtesy ‘if it seems good to the king’, they are the first words addressed by Esther in her approach to the king.
5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, that he may do as Esther has said.” So, the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
In response to Esther’s request the king summoned Haman to act with all speed so that what Esther had requested might be fulfilled. It may be deliberate irony that the two occasions on which Haman is called on to act ‘with all speed’ are about Esther here and with regard to honoring Mordecai in 6.10. He may be second to the throne in men’s eyes, but he is still required to show due diligence towards God’s servants. That he obeyed is clear, and we learn later that he was delighted to do so. He had no idea of the impending doom that hung over his head. So, the king and Haman came to the banquet which Esther had prepared.
6 At the banquet of wine the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!”
Having enjoyed his queen’s presence, during which time she had no doubt partially restored her intimacy with him, and during which time he had no doubt imbibed a good deal of wine making him complaisant the king again turned to Esther and asked her what her petition was. In true oriental fashion the matter was not being hurried. Unlike in western society, to have hurried it would have been seen as impolite, and anyway it must await the kings pleasure. And once again the king stressed that there were few limits on his willingness to grant her request.
7 Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and request is this: 8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”
To the western mind this reply might have smacked of delaying tactics. Esther commences as though she will make her request, ‘my petition and request is --,’ and then subsequently delays the occasion to a second feast. But to the mind of an oriental king it would indicate pleasing humility. He would see in it the fact that she did not want to appear forward in making her request and was acknowledging his superior position. She wanted to treat him with due deference. He would thus be pleased. Meanwhile she acknowledged her gratitude that he was so willing to grant her request, and requests the pleasure of a further banquet on the morrow. At that banquet, she informs him, she will reveal her request. Meanwhile she would be aware that she was once more pleasing to the king and that their intimacy was being renewed. On the morrow, then, he would be readier to hear her.
9 So Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai.
Meanwhile Haman was delighted with how things were going. Seemingly he now enjoyed not only the king’s patronage but also the queen’s. In consequence he was joyful and glad of heart. He saw himself as even more on the up. Surely there was nothing now that would be withheld from him. Therefore, he became complaisant, which explains why he acted so foolishly in the next chapter. Little did he realize that this was the last time that he would be joyful and glad of heart. That would instead be the experience of those whom he was seeking to destroy.
It was in his exultant state that he passed through the king’s gate, and there he saw Mordecai, who had completed his fast, and was once more seated in his place of authority. And to his chagrin Mordecai ‘did not stand up or tremble for him’. We must not necessarily assume that this had been Mordecai’s previous attitude, for this is the first time that we learn of Mordecai’s position as being openly apparent to Haman. Previously he had not noticed it. This suggests that Mordecai had previously behaved differently but had now decided to reveal a new attitude towards him. Whereas he had previously been courteous, now he wanted to express his open contempt for Haman. After all he now had nothing to lose. His fate, and the fate of his people was already determined. Because of this Haman was filled with anger. But that Mordecai must have been a man of high standing comes out in that Haman felt himself powerless to do very much without the king’s consent. For his revenge on Mordecai he would require the king’s permission. A lesser man would probably have been arrested on the spot.
10 Nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh.
Fuming though he was Haman restrained himself from doing anything about Mordecai. He recognized that with such an important person he would have to act legally. So, he went home, and once there called together his friends, and Zeresh his wife, to bring the matter up with them, and seek their advice.
11 Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king.
In 6.13 we discover that his friends are ‘wise men’. We might therefore translate ‘friends’ as ‘supporters. And to these men, and his wife, he outlined his full recent history, contrasting all his good fortune with the fact that Mordecai was proving to be a thorn in his side. He was so resentful that he could concentrate on nothing else.
As a prelude to expressing his resentment about Mordecai he described all the good things that he had experienced. This included the vast amount of his riches, the large number of children that he had and the promotions that he had received from the king, the last to such an extent that the king had advanced him above all the other princes and servants of the king. He had been loaded with blessings and honors and given immense power. Soon his vast wealth would be given to Esther the Jewess, his ten sons would be impaled as he would be, and his exalted position would be given to Mordecai. The description is thus ironic. Haman does not realize that he is boasting concerning what he is about to lose. It indicates that what the world offers is not lasting.
12 Moreover Haman said, “Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her, along with the king.
But there was more, and it was something of which Haman was inordinately proud, especially as it was so recent. For he explained to them how the queen herself had requested his presence, and his alone, at a banquet that she was holding for the king. No one else was to be allowed to go. Only Haman and the king. And he had been there that very day. And what was more he had also been invited to a similar private banquet on the morrow. He was clearly a queen’s favorite.
The privilege was a great one. It was rarely that someone was honored by being invited to a private banquet held by the queen for the king. Persian women, especially royal ones, tended to guard their privacy. He might have felt a little less happy had he known that she was a Jewess, but this was still only known to a few. By him therefore the specific invitation by the queen was a high honor. Little did he realize that this above all would lead to his downfall.
13 Yet all this avail me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
And it is at this point that the meanness of his spirit comes out. All these privileges, even the most recent, had been insufficient to enable him to block from his memory his hatred of the man who had refused him total obeisance and subservience. It was not enough that he had been shown respect. He wanted full submission and he could thus never be fully satisfied until Mordecai the Jew was dead. Every time he saw Mordecai ‘sitting at the king’s gate’, that is, bearing authority there on behalf of the king, possibly as a judge, he was filled with an overwhelming resentment. For he felt that this man had not given him the honor due to his exalted position as the superior of all men in the empire. It is probable that he basically wanted to be treated as semi-divine. And Mordecai was not willing to treat him in that way.
The fact that he called Mordecai ‘the Jew’, combined with the fact that he intended to annihilate all Jews, suggests a hatred of Jews. This had apparently initially arisen from Mordecai’s refusal to render him due obeisance but may well have been fanned because he learned that the Jews had been granted special privileges about how they had to render homage to the king, (and therefore to Haman). The granting of such a privilege, while not anywhere attested, would have been typical of Cyrus the Great’s attitude towards the religions of his subjects. Something like it is required to make full sense of this story.
14 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet.” And the thing pleased Haman; so, he had the gallows made.
Recognizing the depths of his resentment, and the great authority that had been given to him, Zeresh his wife, and the wise men who were his supporters, urged him to set up a prominent stake on which to impale Mordecai. Impalement was a recognized Persian form of execution. Then he was to use his influence with the king to obtain the authority to impale Mordecai on it. Once he had obtained that authority he could then go merrily with the king to the banquet arranged by the queen. They were keen to please Haman. Later they would be equally eager to disassociate themselves from it and warn him against meddling with the Jews (6.13). The mention of Zeresh first may indicate that she played a leading part in persuading him to set up the impalement stake.
Haman was easily persuaded to take this opportunity of revenge. He saw their advice as fully satisfactory, and very pleased with it he caused the stake to be set up. No doubt he slept well that night, satisfied that he was about to gain his revenge.
‘The stake was to be set up seventy-five feet high. Outwardly it was a huge stake. But the fifty cubits may include the eminence on which the stake was set up. However, such a huge stake might well have been pleasing to Haman’s vanity. And it would be consonant with the exaggerated splendor of the oriental court. Compare how Nebuchadnezzar’s image was sixty cubits high (Daniel 3.1). The whole idea was for the exposure of the impaled person to the taunts of the crowd.
