Esther 5 – “Esther’s First Banquet; A Plan to Hang Mordecai”

FofF_wine-glassesHebrew-English Text
I. Summary

Esther regales Ahasuerus and Haman with a wine feast. Although Haman is proud to have attended the banquet, he is vexed by Mordecai’s refusal to rise for him. Haman and his family subsequently decide to have Mordecai hanged.

II. Photo
Ahasuerus is delighted to attend Esther’s banquet: “At the wine feast, the king asked Esther, ‘What is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to half the kingdom, it shall be fulfilled!'” (v. 6)

III. Important Verses
v. 2: As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won his favor. The king extended to Esther the golden scepter which he had in his hand, and Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
v. 14: Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a stake be put up, fifty cubits high, and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then you can go gaily with the king to the feast.” The proposal pleased Haman, and he had the stake put up.

IV. Outline
1-2. Esther is accepted by Ahasuerus
3-8. Esther regales Ahasuerus and Haman at a wine feast
9. Mordecai refuses to rise for Haman
10-13. Haman is vexed by Mordecai
14. A plan is made to hang Mordecai

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Murphy, Wisdom Literature (Forms of Old Testament Literature)
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