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Esther
Chapter
5
{Chapters
1-5: Danger of the Jews Extermination - Continued}
{Chapters
3-5: Malevolent Plotting
of the Prime Minister Haman - Continued}
{Chapter
5 - Focal Point of the Book of Esther}
1a~~~Now
it came to pass on the third day,
{after 3 days of fasting (probably including intercessory prayer
for Esther and her people)}
that
Esther put on her royal robes,
and
stood in the inner court of the king's palace
in
front of his private room.
{Note:
Remember this fantastically beautiful woman has now been trained at
a courtesan. She is putting on her best makeup and clothes so the
king will be receptive to her. She is violating the law and could be
put to death.}
1b~~~And
the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house,
opposite
the entrance to the palace.
{Note:
The king sat where he could observe all. As Esther enters, the king
would see her in all her splendor.}
2a~~~And
it was so,
when
the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court,
that
she obtained grace/favor in his sight.
{Note:
RBT III says that in the Septuagint there is an insertion here. It
indicates that the king was initially angry at the uninvited presence
of the queen. So, Esther then fainted. And, the king rushed over to
revive her and then she 'obtained grace in his sight'. However it
happened, Esther was not executed.}
2b~~~And
the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand.
{Note:
This was the sign of clemency. So Esther was pardoned for violating
the law by entering the palace uninvited.}
2c~~~So
Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter.
{Note:
Wisely, Esther is following formal protocol. The king's court knew
she violated the king's law. So by following formal protocol, she is
saving face for the king.}
3~~~Then
said the king unto her,
"What
do you want, queen Esther?
And
what is your request?
It
shall be even given you . . .to the half of the kingdom."
{Note:
This is an idiomatic statement. It is not literal. It just means
that the king will grant the request of his queen - so tell me what
it is you need.}
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."
{Note:
This was a time when the queen got the king in a good mood. If she
blurted out, "I have a problem and the problem is YOU and this
edict you signed." She would have changed the mood of the king
and who knows what would have happened. Instead, the queen is
tantalizing the king. She knows he loves parties and he is enthralled
with her. And, she is inviting his favorite drinking buddy along
also! What a gal! And, of course Haman's ego is flattered by being
included - "boy do I have this king and queen in MY back pocket!"}
5~~~Then
the king said,
"Bring
Haman quickly,
that
he may do as Esther desires."
{the king is all for a good party!}
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,
{means the alcohol was flowing - the king was being 'primed'}
"What
is your petition?
And
it shall be granted to you.
And
what is your request?
.
. . even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed."
7-8~~~Then
answered Esther, and said,
"My
petition and my request is . . . 8~~~
if
I have found grace/favor in the sight of the king,
and
if it please the king to grant my petition,
and
to do what I request,
{he already said he would!}
may
the king and Haman come to the banquet
that
I shall prepare for them,
and
I will do tomorrow as the king has said."
{saying tomorrow will be another party and she WILL tell him then
her request}
{Note:
The queen continues to tantalize the king. He is not yet ready to be
hit with it! This builds the king's expectation - very seductive of her!}
9a~~~Then
Haman went out that day
glad
and pleased at heart.
{Note:
Haman is all puffed up at spending all this alone socialization time
with the king and queen! He truly is the second most powerful man in
the world!}
9b~~~But
when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate,
that
he stood not up, nor trembled before him,
he
was full of anger and rage against Mordecai.
{Note:
The thing about self-righteous, arrogant, controlling people is that
they can have a thousand successes, but one failure and they fall
apart. Haman was as happy as he could be. But the mere sight of
Mordecai destroyed all that happiness. And, remember, he could have
just had Mordecai killed right then and there if he decided to!}
10~~~Nevertheless
Haman refrained/controlled himself
and
when he came home,
he
sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.
{Haman
Tries to Regain His Happiness by Boasting to His Family and Friends}
11~~~And
Haman recounted unto them
of
the glory of his riches,
and
the number of his children,
and
all the things wherein the king had promoted him,
and
how he had promoted him above the princes
and
servants of the king.
{Note:
Haman is feeling insecure and hopes this will make him feel more
secure. This is the weakness of the person with approbation lust.}
12~~~Haman
also said,
"Even
Esther the queen did let no one come in with the king
unto
the banquet that she had prepared but myself
and
tomorrow am I invited by her with the king."
{A
Very Revealing Verse}
13~~~
"Yet all this does not satisfy me,
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 {75 feet high},
and
tomorrow speak you unto the king
and
request that Mordecai may be impaled thereon.
{this means 'impaling' on a 75 foot pole - not hanging by the neck}
Then
go you in merrily with the king unto the banquet."
And
the thing pleased Haman
and
he caused the gallows to be made.
{Note:
Haman deserves his wife and friends. They are as arrogant and filled
with murder lust as he is.}
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