*Esther 5:1-14
Despite the risk, Esther holds a banquet for King Ahasuerus and Haman, inviting them both on the same day.
- Esther’s Brave Decision:
- Esther puts aside her fear and bravely decides to approach King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) without being summoned, risking her life in order to intercede for her people.
- She dresses in her royal robes and stands in the inner court of the king’s palace, waiting for the king to extend his golden scepter to her, a sign of his approval and permission to approach him.
- The King’s Favor:
- King Ahasuerus sees Esther standing in the court and is pleased with her appearance, extending his golden scepter to her as a gesture of favor and acceptance.
- Esther approaches the king and touches the top of the scepter, indicating her acceptance of his invitation and her desire to speak with him.
- Esther’s Request:
- King Ahasuerus asks Esther what her request is and promises to grant it, even up to half of his kingdom, showing his willingness to fulfill her desires.
- Esther invites the king and Haman, his trusted adviser, to a banquet she has prepared for them, intending to reveal her request to the king during the banquet.
- Haman’s Pride:
- Haman is filled with pride and arrogance at being invited to the banquet by Queen Esther, considering himself to be highly favored and honored by the king and queen.
- He boasts to his friends and family about his great wealth, his numerous sons, and his elevated position in the king’s court, reveling in his perceived superiority over others.
- Mordecai’s Refusal to Bow:
- Mordecai, however, refuses to bow down or pay homage to Haman, standing firm in his loyalty to God and his refusal to worship any man as a god.
- Haman becomes enraged when he sees Mordecai’s defiance and is unable to enjoy his own success and honor because of Mordecai’s refusal to show him respect.
- Haman’s Vengeful Plot:
- Haman’s wife Zeresh and his friends suggest that he build a gallows seventy-five feet high and ask the king for permission to hang Mordecai on it the next morning, intending to eliminate his perceived enemy.
- Haman is pleased with this plan and has the gallows built in preparation for carrying out his vengeful plot against Mordecai.
Esther 5:1-14 teaches us the importance of patience, wisdom, and humility. Esther approached the king carefully and patiently instead of rushing her request, showing the value of waiting for the right time. On the other hand, Haman’s pride and selfishness led him toward destruction. This reminds us to be thoughtful in our actions, trust God’s timing, and avoid letting pride control us. When we act with wisdom and humility, we allow God to work things out in the best way.
Esther 5:1-14 (WEB)
5:1 Now 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. 2 When 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.3 Then 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.”4 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.”5 Then 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.6 The 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.”7 Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and my 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 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.”9 Then 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. 10 Nevertheless Haman restrained himself, and went home. There, he sent and called for his friends and Zeresh his wife. 11 Haman 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.12 Haman 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. 13 Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”14 Then 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.