5:1 Now it came to pass on the third a 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.
(a) That is, after the Jews had begun to fast.
5:2 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 b held out to Esther the golden sceptre that
[was] in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top
of the sceptre.
(b) Which was a sign that her coming was agreeable to him,
(Es 4:11).
5:3 Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther?
and what [is] thy request? it shall be even c given thee
to the half of the kingdom.
(c) Meaning by this that whatever she asked would be granted
as in (Mk 6:23).
5:6 And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of d 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.
(d) Because they used to drink excessively in their banquets
they called the banquet by that which was most in use or
esteemed.
5:8 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 e said.
(e) I will declare what I demand.
5:11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the
multitude of his children, and all [the things] wherein the
king had f promoted him, and how he had advanced him
above the princes and servants of the king.
(f) Thus the wicked when they are promoted instead of
acknowledging their charge and humbling themselves, wax
ambitious, disdainful and cruel.
5:14 Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let
a gallows be made of fifty g 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.
