1 NOW it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
3 Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.
4 And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.
5 Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6 And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.
7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;
8 If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.
9 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.
10 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.
11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
12 Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king.
13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.
14 Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

1Now it came to passe on the third day, that Esther put on her royall apparell, and stood in the inner court of the kings house, ouer against the kings house: and the King sate vpon his royall throne in the royall house, ouer against the gate of the house.

2And it was so, when the king saw Esther the Queene standing in the court, that shee obtained fauour in his sight: and the king helde out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand: So Esther drew neere, and touched the top of the scepter.

3Then sayd the King vnto her, What wilt thou, Queene Esther? and what is thy request? it shall bee euen giuen thee to the halfe of the kingdome.

4And Esther answered, If it seeme good vnto the King, let the King and Haman come this day vnto the banquet that I haue prepared for him.

5Then the King sayd, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may doe as Esther hath said: So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

6 And the king said vnto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, and it shall be granted thee? and what is thy request? euen to the halfe of the kingdome it shall be performed.

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

8If I haue found fauour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to performe my request, let the king, and Haman, come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I wil do to morow, as the king hath said.

9 Then went Haman foorth that day, ioyfull, and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the kings gate, that hee stood not vp, nor mooued for him, hee was full of indignation against Mordecai.

10Neuerthelesse Haman refrained himselfe, and when he came home, hee sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.

11And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had aduanced him aboue the Princes, and seruants of the king.

12Haman said moreouer, Yea Esther the Queene did let no man come in with the king vnto the banquet that she had prepared, but my selfe; and to morrow am I inuited vnto her also with the king.

13Yet all this auaileth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Iew sitting at the kings gate.

14 Then saide Zeresh his wife, and all his friends vnto him, Let a gallous be made of fifty cubits hie, and to morrow speake thou vnto the king, that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then goe thou in merily with the king vnto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman, and hee caused the gallous to be made.

I == Esth 4:11 , 16 6:4

 

 

 

II == Esth 4:11 ; 8:4 ; Prov 21:1

 

 

 

III == Mark 6:23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VI == Esth 7:2 ; 9:12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IX == Esth 3:5

 

 

 

 

X == 2nd Sam 13:22

 

 

XI == Esth 3:1 ; 9:7-10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIV == Esth 6:4 ; 7:9-10

 

 

 

1 [Now on the third day, Esther put on her royal garments and stood in the inner courtyard, looking toward the royal palace, while the king was seated on his royal throne in the audience chamber, facing the palace doorway.

2 He saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, and made her welcome by extending toward her the golden staff which he held. She came up to him, and touched the top of the staff.]

3 Then the king said to her, "What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even if it is half of my kingdom, it shall be granted you."

4 "If it please your majesty," Esther replied, "come today with Haman to a banquet I have prepared."

5 And the king ordered, "Have Haman make haste to fulfill the wish of Esther." So the king went with Haman to the banquet Esther had prepared.

6 During the drinking of the wine, the king said to Esther, "Whatever you ask for shall be granted, and whatever request you make shall be honored, even if it is for half my kingdom."

7 Esther replied: "This is my petition and request:

8 if I have found favor with the king and if it pleases your majesty to grant my petition and honor my request, come with Haman tomorrow to a banquet which I shall prepare for you; and then I will do as you ask."

9 That day Haman left happy and in good spirits. But when he saw that Mordecai at the royal gate did not rise, and showed no fear of him, he was filled with anger toward him.

10 Haman restrained himself, however, and went home, where he summoned his friends and his wife Zeresh.

11 He recounted the greatness of his riches, the large number of his sons, and just how the king had promoted him and placed him above the officials and royal servants.

12 "Moreover," Haman added, "Queen Esther invited no one but me to the banquet with the king; again tomorrow I am to be her guest, with the king.

13 Yet none of this satisfies me as long as I continue to see the Jew Mordecai sitting at the royal gate."

14 His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Have a gibbet set up, fifty cubits in height, and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go to the banquet with the king in good cheer." This suggestion pleased Haman, and he had the gibbet erected.

v 1-3. This is the turning point in the book of Esther in which good begins to take the place of evil. She attired herself in her best in order to be appealing to the king. In Jewish terms, three days and three nights, or the third day, were the same. Any part of a day was considered a whole day, so this would have actually been on the third day of fasting. Perhaps the king had been playing around with other women of his harem for a month, but he was pleased to see Esther and welcomed her. He correctly assumed she had a request or she would not have come in such a way, and by his proverbial expression, he gave her generous leeway in what she could ask.

v 4,5. She had already prepared a banquet in anticipation that he, with Haman, would accept the invitation. It must have been close to time for the meal,  because Haman was instructed to hurry. It was a high honor for Haman to sit before the queen.

v 6-8. We can speculate why Esther chose to delay her request and ask that the king and Haman come to a banquet to be prepared the next day. She realized timing is important. This evening would just be to show her respect and honor. She would not be too forward with her request. It was probably the Lord’s way of her piquing the king’s interest. It also had to be delayed to give time for the rest of God’s plan of circumstances to unfold. Haman was her enemy, but instead of asking a private meeting with the king, she had the courage to prepare the way to challenge her enemy, not shrink from him. This would best be done another day.

v 9-13. Haman left the banquet exuberantly, but all that left him when he went past Mordecai and he did not bow before him. He told his wife and friends of all his riches, honors and invitation to the queen’s banquets, but all that meant nothing as long as Mordecai did not do him obeisance.

v 14. Haman’s wife and friends restored his good humor when they suggested he build a 75 foot gallows on which to hang Mordecai. With his “pull” it should not be hard to get the king’s permission to hang Mordecai, and he could go to the banquet in good spirits. He must have ordered preparation for the gallows begun immediately, and with work begun at first light.