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1On the third day, Esther dressed in her royal clothing and stood in the inner courtyard of the palace facing it. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom, facing its entrance.[#5:1 Est 4:16; #5:1 Est 4:11; #5:1 Lit house]
2As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, she gained favour with him. The king extended the gold sceptre in his hand towards Esther, and she approached and touched the tip of the sceptre.[#5:2 Est 8:4]
3‘What is it, Queen Esther? ’ the king asked her. ‘Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be given to you.’[#5:3 Est 7:2; Mk 6:23]
4‘If it pleases the king,’ Esther replied, ‘may the king and Haman come today to the banquet I have prepared for them.’[#5:4 Est 1:3,5; 2:18]
5The king said, ‘Hurry, and get Haman so we can do as Esther has requested.’ So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared.
6While drinking the wine, the king asked Esther, ‘Whatever you ask will be given to you. Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be done.’[#5:6 Lit During the banquet of; #5:6 Est 1:7–8,10; 7:1–2]
7Esther answered, ‘This is my petition and my request:
8If I have found favour in the eyes of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and perform my request, may the king and Haman come to the banquet I will prepare for them. Tomorrow I will do what the king has asked.’[#5:8 Est 7:3; 8:5; #5:8 Est 6:14]
9That day Haman left full of joy and in good spirits. , But when Haman saw Mordecai at the King’s Gate, and Mordecai didn’t rise or tremble in fear at his presence, Haman was filled with rage towards Mordecai.[#5:9 Lit left rejoicing and good of heart; #5:9 1Kg 8:66; 2Ch 7:10; Pr 15:15; #5:9 Est 2:19; 3:2,5]
10Yet Haman controlled himself and went home. He sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh to join him.[#5:10 Est 6:13]
11Then Haman described for them his glorious wealth and his many sons. He told them all how the king had honoured him and promoted him in rank over the other officials and the royal staff.[#5:11 Est 3:1]
12‘What’s more,’ Haman added, ‘Queen Esther invited no one but me to join the king at the banquet she had prepared. I am invited again tomorrow to join her with the king.
13Still, none of this satisfies me since I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the King’s Gate all the time.’
14His wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, ‘Have them build a gallows twenty-three metres tall. Ask the king in the morning to hang Mordecai on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and enjoy yourself.’ The advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows constructed.[#5:14 Lit 50 cubits; #5:14 Est 6:4; 7:9–10; #5:14 Est 6:13]