Esther 5

Queen Esther putteth on Royal apparel, and goeth to the King, verse 1. Who holdeth out the golden sceptre to her, inviteth the king and Haman to a banquet, 4. The king being come with Haman to Esthers banquet, 5. Promiseth again to grant her request, 6. She inviteth the king and Haman the second time, 7. Haman is exceeding joyful at this, but is highly provoked to wrath, when he saw that Mordecai did not honour him, 9. He relateth all this unto his wife and to his friends, 10. They counsel him to set up a gallows of fifty cubits high, to hand Mordecai thereon, which counsel he felloweth, 14.

1. Now it came to pass on the third day, [To wit, on the third day of the feast, chap.4.16.] that Esther put on (her) Royal apparel, [Heb. clothed her self (with) the kingdom: that is, with the apparel of the kingdom: as it is set down to the full below, chap.6.8. See the place there, with the annotate.] and stood in the inner Court of the kings house, over against the kings house; [that is, that part of the house where the king had held his residence] now the king sat on his Royal throne, in the Royal house, over against the door of the house.

2. And it came to pass, when the king saw Esther the Queen, standing in the Court, [Understand here the inner-hall of the Palace, where the king had his chambers] she obtained favour in his eyes: so that was in his hand; [this was a token, that he gave her leave to draw neer unto him, and that he was willing and ready to hear what she should request of him] and Esther sceptre. [In token of obedience and reverence.]

3. Then said the king unto her, What ailest thou, Queen Esther? Or what is thy request? It shall be given thee, also to the half of the kingdom. [So likewise verse 6. The sentence would be fuller and compleater thus: If thou shouldest require the half part of kingdom, it should be granted thee. See the like promise of Herod, Mark 6:23.]

4. Now Esther said, If it seem good unto the king, then let the king come with Haman this day unto the banquet, that I have prepared him, [Or, for him, to wit, for the king.]

5. Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do the command [Hebr. the word,] of Esther: Now when the king was come with Haman to the banquet, that Esther had prepared,

6. Then the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, [That is, when the wine was carried up, or served up to the table, and they began to be merry with drinking of wine. They were wont among the Persians (as some Histories write) not to bring the wine to the table until the sweet meats and fruit were served up: for else or at other times they drank water: the kings drink was sod or boiled water out of the river Chaspe] What is thy petition? And it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? It shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.

7. Then Esther answered and said. My petition and request is,

8. If I have found grace in the eyes of the king, and it seem good unto the king, to grant me my petition, and to perform my request, then let the king come with Haman to the banquet that I shall prepared for him, then I will do tomorrow according to the command of the king. [Hebr. according to the word of the king, that is, I will tomorrow put up my petition to the king, and acquaint him what the thing is the thing is that I desire of him.]

9. Then went Haman forth that day, joyful [To wit, because he had the honour to be alone invited to the kings banquet] and full of courage: [Hebr. good at heart, or good of heart] but when Haman saw Mordecai in the kings gate [that is, in the gate of the kings house] and that he stood not up, nor moved himself for him, [See above chap.3. verse 2.] he was filled with indignation against Mordecai.

10. Never the less, Haman refrained himself, [That is, he refrained and bridled his anger, so that he did not immediately and without delay revenge himself on Mordechai] and he came home to his house; and he sent, and caused his friends to come, and Zeres his wife.

11. And related unto them the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his sons, [He had ten sons, chap.9.10. Of his daughters there is no where mention made. Oth. greatness] and all things wherein the king had made him great, and wherein he had exalted him above the Princes and servants of the king. [See above ch.3.1.]

12. Haman said moreover, also Esther the Queen caused no man to come with the king to the banquet that she had prepared, but me: and I am also invited by her [Or, unto her] with the king against tomorrow. [Hebr. I am also tomorrow her called one, or, invited one, guest.]

13. Yet all this availeth me nothing [That is, it cannot make me truly cheerful] so long as I see Mordechai the Jew sitting in the kings gate.

14. Then said Zeres his wife, together with all his friends unto him, Let a Gallows [Hebr. a wood: And so in the following words] be made fifty ells (or cubits) high, and speak tomorrow unto the king, that Mordechai may be hanged thereon, then go thou merrily with the king to that banquet: Now this counsel [Hebr. this word; that is, this advice] seemed good unto Haman, and he caused the gallowes to be made. [Hebr. he made the wood; that is, he caused it to be sitted and prepared for a gallowes.]