Esther
5
- On the third day Esther put on her royal
robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king's hall.
The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance.
- When he saw Queen Esther standing in the
court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was
in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
- Then the king asked, "What is it, Queen
Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given
you."
- "If it pleases the king," replied
Esther, "let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I
have prepared for him."
- "Bring Haman at once," the king
said, "so that we may do what Esther asks." So the king and Haman
went to the banquet Esther had prepared.
- As they were drinking wine, the king again
asked Esther, "Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what
is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted."
- Esther replied, "My petition and my
request is this:
- If the king regards me with favor and if
it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king
and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will
answer the king's question."
- Haman went out that day happy and in high
spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king's gate and observed that he
neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against
Mordecai.
- Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and
went home. Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife,
- Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth,
his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated
him above the other nobles and officials.
- "And that's not all," Haman added.
"I'm the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the
banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow.
- But all this gives me no satisfaction as
long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king's gate."
- His wife Zeresh and all his friends said
to him, "Have a gallows built, seventy-five feet high, and ask the king
in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go with the king to the
dinner and be happy." This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the
gallows built.
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