Now, it came to pass on the third day, namely, after her interview with Mordecai, when she charged that a fast be made in her behalf, Esther 4:15, THAT ESTHER PUT ON HER ROYAL APPAREL, in order the more readily to gain the king's good will, AND STOOD, took her position, remained standing, IN THE INN... [ Continue Reading ]
Esther's Invitation To The King... [ Continue Reading ]
And it was so, when the king saw Esther, the queen, standing in the court, the raised seat which he occupied enabling him to see over the heads of his attendants, THAT SHE OBTAINED FAVOR IN HIS SIGHT; AND THE KING HELD OUT TO ESTHER THE GOLDEN SCEPTER THAT WAS IN HIS HAND, the slender rod which was... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, Queen Esther? The Hebrew words are rendered more exactly by the phrase, What is the matter, Esther, the queen? AND WHAT IS THY REQUEST? IT SHALL BE EVEN GIVEN THEE TO THE HALF OF THE KINGDOM. Far from having become indifferent toward her, his regard for h... [ Continue Reading ]
And Esther, whose shrewd caution warned her not to presume upon the first impression made upon the king, answered, IF IT SEEM GOOD UNTO THE KING, LET THE KING AND HAMAN COME THIS DAY UNTO THE BANQUET THAT I HAVE PREPARED FOR HIM. Here again the consideration which Esther seemed to show for the king'... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the king said, making Esther's petition a command addressed to Haman, CAUSE HAMAN TO MAKE HASTE THAT HE MAY DO AS ESTHER HATH SAID. SO THE KING AND HAMAN CAME TO THE BANQUET THAT ESTHER HAD PREPARED, being her guests in her own private apartments.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king, feeling that there was something very important that Esther wished to discuss with him and request of him, SAID UNTO ESTHER AT THE BANQUET OF WINE, when they had reached that part of the feast where drinking was the chief thing, and when their hearts were merry, WHAT IS THY PETITION? A... [ Continue Reading ]
Then answered Esther and said, My petition and my request is:... [ Continue Reading ]
If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king hath said, state the request weighing upon her mind. It was either th... [ Continue Reading ]
Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart, puffed up because of the supposed distinction shown him by the queen; BUT WHEN HAMAN SAW MORDECAI IN THE KING'S GATE, where he had again taken up his position, THAT HE STOOD NOT UP NOR MOVED FOR HIM, still refusing to give him the deferenc... [ Continue Reading ]
Haman's Fatuous Security... [ Continue Reading ]
Nevertheless, Haman refrained himself, he could not afford to fly into a rage at this time; AND WHEN HE CAME HOME, HE SENT AND CALLED FOR HIS FRIENDS, AND ZERESH, HIS WIFE, inviting them to hear of his good fortune and to give him sympathetic advice.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Haman, puffed up with boastful pride, TOLD THEM OF THE GLORY OF HIS RICHES, one factor which made for his happiness, AND THE MULTITUDE OF HIS CHILDREN, a great number of sons being considered a great blessing, also among the heathen Persians, AND ALL THE THINGS WHEREIN THE KING HAD PROMOTED HIM,... [ Continue Reading ]
Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther, the queen, did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself, this being the very highest point of distinction; AND TOMORROW AM I INVITED UNTO HER ALSO WITH THE KING.... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet all this availeth me nothing, it could not satisfy him, he could not enjoy it with the proper degree of calm satisfaction, SO LONG AS I SEE MORDECAI, THE JEW, SITTING AT THE KING'S GATE, the fact that this member of a despised nation, of a race of slaves, could defy him by refusing to give him t... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said Zeresh, his wife, and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubit high, the great height serving to emphasize the execution and its disgrace, AND TOMORROW SPEAK THOU UNTO THE KING THAT MORDECAI MAY BE HANGED THEREON, there being no doubt in their mind that this request w... [ Continue Reading ]