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Esther 5

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 5 of 10

1 ¶ And it happened on the third day that Esther put on royal clothing and stood in the inner court of the king's house, before the king's inner house. And the king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal house, in front of the entrance of the house.

2 And it happened, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she rose in favor in his eyes. And the king held out the golden scepter that was in his hand to Esther. And Esther drew near and touched the top of the scepter.

3 And the king said to her. What shall be done to you, O Queen Esther, and what is your wish? It will be given to you also, even to half of the kingdom.

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Chapter Summary

1 Esther obtains the grace of the golden scepter, and invites the king and Haman to a banquet. 6 She invites them to another banquet the next day. 9 Haman's contempt of Mordecai. 14 His wife advises that he build a gallows for him.

Key Hebrew Words

שַׁרְבִֿיט golden scepter H8275 · TWOT 2314b
מִשְׁתֶּה banquet H4960 · TWOT 2477c
בַּקָּשָׁה request H1246 · TWOT 276a
שְׁאֵלָה petition H7596 · TWOT 2303a
חֵמָה fury H2534 · TWOT 860a
עֵץ wooden gallows H6086 · TWOT 1670a

People & Context

Esther (Hadassah)

queen who wins the king's favor with the scepter and invites him and Haman to her banquets

Haman

comes joyful to the banquet but is filled with fury at Mordecai; builds a gallows for him

Ahasuerus

king who holds out the golden scepter and offers Esther up to half the kingdom

Zeresh

Haman's wife who advises building the fifty-cubit gallows to hang Mordecai

Timeline

Esther Stands in the Inner Court

On the third day of her fast, Esther puts on royal clothing and stands unsummoned in the inner court before the king's house.

Esther 5:1
The King Extends the Golden Scepter

The king sees Esther, she finds favor in his eyes, and he extends the golden scepter to her. Esther draws near and touches it.

Esther 5:2
The King Offers Half the Kingdom

The king asks Esther what her wish is, promising to grant it even up to half of his kingdom.

Esther 5:3

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