Chapter Five

1–2. Fifth addition to the book: details of Esther’s visit to King Ahasuerus. 3–8. First feast for the king and Haman at Esther’s. 9–14. Another clash of Haman with Mordecai and preparations for the latter’s execution by the former.

Esther 5:1. On the third day Esther [ceased praying, took off her garments of mourning and] dressed in her royal robes, “Esther 5_1ä) [and became resplendent, invoking the all-seeing God and Savior, took two maidens with her, and leaned upon one as though abandoned to pleasure, while the other followed her, supporting her garment.” “Esther 5_1b She was lovely in the bloom of her beauty, and her face was joyful, as if full of love, but her heart was constricted with fear].” “Esther 5_1c And she stood in the inner court of the king’s house, before the house of the king; the king was sitting then upon his royal throne in the royal house, directly opposite the entrance to the house, [clothed in all the garments of his majesty, all in gold and precious stones, and was most terrible].” “Esther 5_1d [Turning his face, blazing with glory, he looked with great anger; and the queen lost heart and changed color from weakness, and leaned her head upon the maid who accompanied her.” “Esther 5_1d1 And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she found favor in his sight.” “Esther 5_1ë) And God changed the spirit of the king to gentleness, and in haste he rose from his throne and received her in his embrace until she recovered. Then he comforted her with kind words, saying to her:” “Esther 5_1f What is it, Esther? I am your brother; take courage, you shall not die, for our dominion is shared; come close.]” Esther 5:2. And the king extended his golden scepter to Esther, which was in his hand, and Esther approached and touched the end of the scepter, “Esther 5_2’’ [and the king laid the scepter upon her neck and kissed her and said: speak to me.” “Esther 5_2ä) And she said: I saw in you, my lord, something like an Angel of God, and my heart was troubled by fear of your glory, for you are wonderful, my lord, and your face is full of grace. –” “Esther 5_2b But during her speech she fainted from weakness; and the king was troubled, and all his servants comforted her].” The words in brackets in verses 1 and 2 of this chapter represent the fifth major insertion into the book, which attempts by its details to more worthily depict the majestic moment of Esther’s appearance before Ahasuerus, which was so dryly conveyed by the original (Hebrew) text that, for example, it is not at all clear from it whether Esther experienced any shock or fear from the king before speaking with him. The “favor” of the king here precedes everything, completely coinciding with the moment when the king “saw” Esther.

Esther 5:3. And the king said to her: What is it, Queen Esther, and what is your petition? It shall be given to you, even to half the kingdom. Esther 5:4. And Esther said: [Today is my festival day;] if it pleases the king, let the king come with Haman today to the feast which I have prepared for him. Esther 5:5. And the king said: Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther wishes. And the king came with Haman to the feast which Esther had prepared. Esther 5:6. And the king said to Esther at the drinking of wine: What is your desire? It shall be satisfied; and what is your petition? Even to half the kingdom, it shall be granted. Esther 5:7. And Esther answered and said: Here is my desire and my petition: Esther 5:8. If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my desire and fulfill my petition, let the king come with Haman [tomorrow as well] to the feast which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will fulfill the word of the king. By not declaring her request at once, Esther invites the king together with his worst enemy to her feast: since royal caprice decided the fates of persons and peoples at table, and important state difficulties were usually resolved at table, so over wine—after the banquet in Esther’s palace—the king inquires about the wishes of the queen. However, Esther—as it appears—felt herself on the first day not yet sufficiently firm to make such a risky attempt at overthrowing the king’s favorite, and appoints another feast for the next day, at which she promises to state her case. The writer does not tell us what other means came to Esther’s aid to shake the established position of the king’s favorite; but it is in any case probable that the monarch was being influenced from another side as well, to weaken his disposition toward Haman, and therefore the sleeplessness of Ahasuerus in the night following Esther’s banquet could hardly be, as it seems, a mere chance.

Esther 5:9. And Haman went out that day joyful and in good spirits. But when Haman saw Mordecai at the king’s gate, and he did not rise up or move from his place before him, then Haman was filled with anger toward Mordecai. Already after Mordecai’s refusal to bow to Haman had given the occasion and as it were the indirect cause of the mortal danger to the Jews, Mordecai remains consistent and true to himself, confirming the truth of his words (see his prayer—Esth 4:17) that he does not act so from “pride,” but from religious conviction.

Esther 5:10. However, Haman restrained himself. But when he came to his house, he sent and called his friends and Zeresh, his wife. Esther 5:11. And Haman recounted to them the greatness of his wealth and the multitude of his sons and all that the king had magnified him and how he had exalted him above the princes and the servants of the king. Esther 5:12. And Haman said: Moreover, Queen Esther invited no one to the feast with the king but me; and tomorrow too I am invited to her with the king. Esther 5:13. Yet all this means nothing to me, as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate. Esther 5:14. And Zeresh, his wife, and all his friends said to him: Let them prepare a stake fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak to the king, and let them hang Mordecai upon it, and then go gladly with the king to the feast. And this pleased Haman, and he had the stake prepared. Haman’s pride and ambition gnawed at him so much that he could no longer endure the disobedient Mordecai—he could not wait until the fate prepared for him along with the other Jews would overtake him, and he seeks to hasten this fate and make it as shameful as possible. At a gathering of friends and relations, Haman gives full vent to his bitter feeling of wounded pride, contrasts with his exalted position at court such a sharp contrast—the insolent behavior of Mordecai—and complains that he cannot be at peace as long as he sees Mordecai “sitting at the king’s gate.” The gathering of friends, led by Haman’s wife, responds with advice most pleasing to Haman himself; prepare a gallows for Mordecai and obtain from the king permission to hang the disobedient one the very next morning.