Esther 5

On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner courtyard of the king's house, opposite the royal hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal hall, facing its entrance. When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard, she found favor in his eyes. The king held out to Esther the gold scepter in his hand, and Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. The king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom will be given to you.” Esther said, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet I have prepared for the king.” The king said, “Have Haman hurry here to do as Esther has said.” So the king and Haman came to the banquet Esther had prepared. As they drank wine, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It will be granted you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be done.” Esther answered, “My petition and my request are these: if I have found favor in the king's eyes, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet I will prepare for them. Tomorrow I will do as the king has said.” Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai at the king's gate, and that he neither rose nor trembled before him, Haman was filled with rage against Mordecai. Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. He sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh. Haman told them of the splendor of his riches, his many sons, all the ways the king had promoted him, and how he had exalted him above the king's officials and servants. Haman added, “Queen Esther brought no one but me with the king to the banquet she prepared. And tomorrow I am invited by her again with the king. Yet all this means nothing to me whenever I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.” His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a wooden stake made, about seventy-five feet high, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go joyfully with the king to the banquet.” The proposal pleased Haman, and he had the stake made.

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