Esther 5
Esther invites king to a feast
On the third day Esther put on her royal clothes, walked through the royal palace courtyard, and went to the throne room where the king was. She won the king’s favor as soon as he saw her, and held out his golden scepter. Esther walked forward and touched the tip of the scepter. The king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? Just tell me what your request is, and I’ll fulfill it even if it’s giving you half of my kingdom.” Then Esther said, “If you wish, you and Haman are invited to come to a feast I prepared for you.” The king said, “Someone go get Haman so we can do what Esther has asked.” So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared. As they were drinking wine after dinner, the king asked Esther, “What do you want to ask me? Just tell me what you want, and I’ll give it to you.” Then Esther answered, “If you favor me and if it pleases you, you and Haman should come to the feast that I prepare you tomorrow and then I’ll tell you my request.”
Haman prepares to hang Mordecai
Haman left that night with a happy heart, but when he passed the king’s gate and saw Mordecai who refused to stand, Haman became furious. Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. When he got home, he gathered his friends and wife Zeresh and told them all about his wealth, his sons, his promotions from the king, and his power over the other officials. Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther didn’t invite anyone to her feast except for the king and me. And she invited me to feast with them again tomorrow. Yet all of that meant nothing to me as I saw Mordecai that Jew sitting by the king’s gate.” Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, “You should setup a gallows 75 feet tall, and then in the morning you should ask the king to hang Mordecai on it. Then you’ll be able to go to the king’s feast and enjoy yourself.” Haman liked this idea, so he had the gallows made.