Esther 5

Esther in the inner court

1On the third day Esther put on royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, facing the throne hall, where the king was sitting on his royal throne, facing the entrance. 2When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won his favor, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Esther came forward and touched the tip of the scepter. 3The king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Up to half the kingdom, and it will be given you.” 4Esther said, “If it pleases the king, let the king come today, and Haman with him, to the banquet I have prepared for the king.” 5The king said, “Hurry Haman along, so that we may do as Esther says.” So the king and Haman came to the banquet Esther had prepared. 6At the wine banquet the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It will be granted you. What is your request? Up to half the kingdom, and it will be done.” 7Esther gave her answer: “My petition and my request — 8if I have found favor in the eyes of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to carry out my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet I will prepare for them. Tomorrow I will do as the king has said.” 9That day Haman went out glad and in high spirits. But when Haman saw that Mordecai at the king’s gate neither rose nor stirred for him, Haman was filled with fury against Mordecai. 10Still, Haman held himself in. He went home and sent for his friends and for Zeresh his wife, 11and Haman recounted to them the glory of his wealth, his many sons, and every way the king had promoted him and raised him above the officials and the king’s servants. 12“What is more,” Haman said, “Queen Esther invited no one but me to go with the king to the banquet she had prepared; and tomorrow I am invited to her again, with the king. 13Yet none of this is worth anything to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” 14Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak to the king, and let them hang Mordecai on it. Then go with the king to the banquet in good spirits.” The idea pleased Haman, and he had the pole made.