Esther Chapter 5 — Esther’s Request and Haman’s Pride
Queen Esther bravely approaches King Xerxes to invite him and Haman to a special banquet, while Haman plots to build a gallows for Mordecai.
1Now on the third day, Esther put on her royal clothing and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, next to the king’s house. The king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, next to the entrance of the house.
2When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter.
3Then the king asked her, “What would you like, queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you even to the half of the kingdom.”
4Esther said, “If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”
5Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that it may be done as Esther has said.” So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6The king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.”
7Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and my request is this.
8If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I will prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said.”
9Then Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he didn’t stand up nor move for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.
10Nevertheless Haman restrained himself, and went home. There, he sent and called for his friends and Zeresh his wife.
11Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, the multitude of his children, all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
12Haman also said, “Yes, Esther the queen let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow I am also invited by her together with the king.
13Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
14Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows be made fifty cubits*A cubit is the length from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow on a man’s arm, or about 18 inches or 46 centimeters. high, and in the morning speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on it. Then go in merrily with the king to the banquet.” This pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Esther 5:2
“When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand.”
This verse marks the critical moment where Esther's life is spared and her mission to save her people begins.
Esther 5:13
“Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
This verse illustrates the depth of Haman's pride and how his hatred for one man overshadowed all his wealth and status.
Chapter Summary
Following three days of fasting, Esther puts on her royal robes and enters the inner court of the palace. Although approaching the king without a summons is a capital offense, King Xerxes shows her favor by extending his golden scepter. He offers to grant her any request, even up to half his kingdom. Esther simply asks for the king and Haman to attend a banquet she has prepared. During the banquet, the king again asks for her petition, but Esther requests they attend a second banquet the next day before she reveals her true plea. Haman leaves the palace feeling honored and joyful, but his mood sours when he sees Mordecai at the gate refusing to bow. At the suggestion of his wife Zeresh and his friends, Haman orders the construction of a massive gallows, fifty cubits high, intending to ask the king’s permission to hang Mordecai the following morning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Persian law dictated that anyone who entered the king's inner court without being summoned would be put to death unless the king extended his golden scepter. Esther took this risk to eventually plead for the lives of the Jewish people.
The text does not state her specific reason, but the delay creates a narrative turning point that allows Haman's pride to reach its peak while setting the stage for the king's upcoming restless night.
The gallows were fifty cubits high, which is approximately 75 feet or 23 meters. This extreme height was likely intended to make Mordecai's execution a public spectacle visible from a great distance.
Study Note
The 'third day' mentioned in verse 1 directly links back to the duration of the fast Esther requested from the Jewish community in Susa.
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