Esther 5:2

_AND IT WAS SO, WHEN THE KING SAW ESTHER THE QUEEN STANDING IN THE COURT, THAT SHE OBTAINED FAVOUR IN HIS SIGHT: AND THE KING HELD OUT TO ESTHER THE GOLDEN SCEPTRE THAT WAS IN HIS HAND. SO ESTHER DREW NEAR, AND TOUCHED THE TOP OF THE SCEPTRE._ The king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. This golden sceptre receives an interesting illustration from the sculptured monuments of Persia and Assyria. In the bas-reliefs of Persepolis, copied by Sir Robert Ker Porter, we see king Darius enthroned in the midst of his court, and walking abroad in regal state; in either case be carries in his right hand a slender rod or wand, about equal in length to his own height, ornamented with a small knob at the summit. In the Assyrian alabasters, as well those found at Nimroud as those from Khorsabad, 'the great king' is furnished with the same appendage of royalty-a slender rod, bu...

1-8 Esther having had power with God, and prevailing, like Jacob, had power with men too. He that will lose his life for God, shall save it, or find it in a better life. The king encouraged her. Let us from this be encouraged to pray always to our God, and not to faint. Esther came to a proud, imperious man; but we come to the God of love and grace. She was not called, but we are; the Spirit says, Come, and the Bride says, Come. She had a law against her, we have a promise, many a promise, in favour of us; Ask, and it shall be given you. She had no friend to go with her, or to plead for her; on the contrary, he that was then the king's favourite, was her enemy; but we have an Advocate with the Father, in whom he is well pleased. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace. God put it into Esther's heart to delay her petition a day longer; she knew not, but God did, what was to ha...

Verse Esther 5:2. _SHE OBTAINED FAVOUR IN HIS SIGHT_] The _Septuagint_ represents "the king as being at first greatly enraged when he saw Esther, because she had dared to appear before him unveiled, and she, perceiving this, was so terrified that she fainted away; on which the king, touched with tenderness, sprung from his throne, took her up in his arms, laid the golden sceptre on her neck, and spoke to her in the most endearing manner." This is more circumstantial than the Hebrew, but is not _contrary_ to it. _THE GOLDEN SCEPTRE THAT WAS IN HIS HAND._] That the kings of Persia did wear a _golden sceptre_, we have the following proof in _Xenophon_: Ὁτι ου τοδε το χρυσουν σκηπτρον το την βασιλειαν διασωξον εστιν, αλλ' πιστοι φιλοι σκηπτρον βασιλευσιν αληθεστατον και ασφαλεστατον. See Cyrop., lib. viii., p. 139, edit. _Steph_. 1581. It

EXPOSITION AHASUERUS RECEIVING ESTHER FAVOURABLY, SHE INVITES HIM AND HAMAN TO A BANQUET. ALLOWED TO ASK WHATEVER BOON SHE LIKES, SHE INVITES THEM BOTH TO A SECOND BANQUET (Esther 5:1). Esther, we must suppose, kept her fast religiously for the time that she had specified (Esther 4:16), and then, "on the third day," made her venture. It has been asked, Why did she not request an a

AND IT WAS SO, WHEN THE KING SAW ESTHER THE QUEEN STANDING IN THE COURT, THAT SHE OBTAINED FAVOUR IN HIS SIGHT,.... Which no doubt was of God, who has the hearts of kings in his hand, and turns them as he pleases; the king had not called her for thirty days past, or more, which showed coolness of affection to her, and now she transgressed a law by coming uncalled for, which might have provoked his wrath; and for a lesser matter than this was Vashti divorced; but yet his mind was inclined to her, and she appeared very amiable and pleasing to him: AND THE KING HELD OUT TO ESTHER THE GOLDEN SCEPTRE THAT WAS IN HIS HAND; as a token of his well pleasedness in her, and acceptance of her; and that no harm should come to her for transgressing the law: SO ESTHER DREW NEAR, AND TOUCHED THE TOP OF THE SCEPTRE; as acknowledging his kindness, and her thankfulness for it, as well as subjection and o...

ESTHER AND THE KING AND HAMAN'S DELUSION CHAPTER 5 _ 1. Esther before the king and her request (Esther 5:1)_ 2. Haman's delusion (Esther 5:9) Esther 5:1. On the third day Esther put on her royal apparel, a significant day in Scripture as we point out in the typical application of this chapter. The days of fasting and agony were passed and she is seen no longer attired in sackcloth but in royal garments. It is of great interest that Rabbinical exposition (Midrash) gives a tradition that in her great anxiety and anguish of soul she uttered the opening sentence of Psalms 22, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” She made use

ESTHER 5. ESTHER OBTAINS THE KING'S FAVOUR AND INVITES HIM WITH HAMAN TO A BANQUET. Haman's Elation is DASHED BY VEXATION AT MORDECAI'S REFUSAL TO HONOUR HIM. In Esther 5:1 to Esther 8:3 we read how these prayers are answered by blessing after blessing. The girl-queen is filled with purpose, courage, and ability. She enters the audience-hall trembling, but is welcomed by the king LXX gives a fine picture of this, saying that the king kissed his wife tenderly, and restored her when she fainted through excitement. The Heb. has excised that. Esther asks simply that Ahasuerus and his vizier, Haman, shall come to a drinking-feast (Esther 5:4). They come, but are only bidden to come again next day ...

THE KING HELD OUT TO ESTHER THE GOLDEN SCEPTRE. His eyes rested upon her soon after she entered the inner court. He was in one of his most gracious moods, and her beauty and perhaps the anxiety depicted in her countenance, moved him. At once he extended the golden sceptre as. signal that she might approach and she drew near and touched the top of the sceptre, probably the custom of suppliants who were graciously invited to. royal audience....

OBTAINED. won. Compare Esther 4:11....

Esther 5:1-8. Esther's interview with the king Esther is received graciously. The king, however, obviously guesses that she has an important object to gain in thus presenting herself, and so enquires the nature of her request. She is careful not to add to the difficulties of her position by anything like precipitancy in revealing her desire. She will shape her plans so as to secure the most favourable moment for preferring her petition....