Bible Commentaries
Esther 5

Introduction

Overview

Esther 5:1, Esther, adventuring on the king’s favour, obtains the grace of the golden sceptre, and invites the king and Haman to a banquet; Esther 5:6, She, being encouraged by the king in her suit, invites them to another banquet the next day; Esther 5:9, Haman, proud of his advancement, repines at the contempt of Mordecai; Esther 5:14, By the counsel of Zeresh he prepares for him a gallows.

Verse 1

on the: Esther 4:16, Matthew 27:64

royal: Esther 1:11, Esther 8:15, Matthew 10:16, Matthew 11:8, 1 Peter 3:3-5

inner: Esther 4:11, Esther 6:4

sat: 1 Kings 10:18-20, Luke 22:30, Revelation 3:21

Reciprocal: Genesis 22:4 - third Genesis 24:22 - took Genesis 41:14 - he shaved Ruth 3:3 - put thy 2 Samuel 1:2 - the third 1 Kings 22:10 - having put Esther 2:5 - Shushan Proverbs 31:22 - clothing Luke 7:25 - are in 1 Timothy 2:9 - not

Verse 2

she: Genesis 32:28, Nehemiah 1:11, Psalms 116:1, Proverbs 21:1, Acts 7:10, Acts 10:4

golden sceptre: Esther 4:11, Esther 8:4

Reciprocal: Numbers 32:5 - if we have Psalms 69:13 - in an Jeremiah 38:10 - the king

Verse 3

What: Esther 5:6, Esther 7:2, Esther 9:12, 1 Kings 2:20, 1 Kings 3:5, Matthew 20:20-22, Luke 18:41

to: Esther 5:6, Mark 6:23

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 2:4 - For what Matthew 14:7 - General Matthew 20:21 - What Acts 23:19 - What

Verse 4

If it seem: Esther 5:8, Proverbs 29:11

the banquet: Mishteh, from shathah, "to drink," a compotation. feast, or banquet accompanied with drinking; the drinking in the East being at the beginning, and not at the end of the entertainment. Olearius, describing an entertainment at the Persian court, says, "The floor of the hall was covered with cotton cloth, which was covered with all sorts of fruits and sweetmeats in basons of gold. With them was served up excellent Shiraz wine. After an hour's time, the sweetmeats were removed, to make way for the more substantial part of the entertainment, such as rice, boiled and roast mutton, etc. When the company had been at table an hour and a half, warm water was brought, in a ewer of gold, for washing; and grace being said, they began to retire without speaking a word, according to the custom of the country." Esther 5:8, Esther 3:15, Genesis 27:25, Genesis 32:20, Psalms 112:5, 1 Corinthians 14:20

Reciprocal: Ezra 6:11 - timber Esther 1:9 - the queen

Verse 5

Cause Haman: Esther 6:14

Verse 6

the king said: Esther 5:3, Esther 7:2, Esther 9:12

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 2:4 - For what Psalms 69:13 - in an Matthew 14:7 - General Mark 6:23 - Whatsoever

Verse 8

perform: Heb. do

let the king: Esther probably wished another interview, that she might ingratiate herself more fully into the king's favour, and thus secure the success of her design. But Providence disposed of things thus, to give time for the important event mentioned in the following chapter.

to morrow: Esther 6:1-13, Proverbs 16:9

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 2:5 - If it please Esther 1:9 - the queen Esther 5:4 - If it seem Esther 6:14 - hasted to bring Esther 7:1 - banquet Proverbs 31:26 - openeth Amos 6:7 - and the

Verse 9

joyful: Job 20:5, Amos 6:12, Amos 6:13, Luke 6:25, John 16:20, James 4:9

he stood not up: Esther 3:2, Psalms 15:4, Matthew 10:28

he was full: Esther 3:5, 1 Kings 21:4, Job 31:31, Psalms 27:3, Daniel 3:13, Daniel 3:16-19, Matthew 2:16, Acts 7:54

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 21:6 - Because Psalms 73:6 - Therefore Jonah 4:6 - So

Verse 10

refrained: Genesis 43:30, Genesis 43:31, Genesis 45:1, 2 Samuel 13:22, 2 Samuel 13:23, Ecclesiastes 7:9

called for his friends: Heb. caused his friends to come, Zeresh. Esther 6:13

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 13:3 - a friend Proverbs 14:20 - but Malachi 3:15 - we call

Verse 11

the glory: Esther 1:4, Genesis 31:1, Job 31:24, Job 31:25, Psalms 49:6, Psalms 49:16, Psalms 49:17, Isaiah 10:8, Jeremiah 9:23, Jeremiah 9:24, Daniel 4:30, Mark 10:24, Luke 12:19, Luke 12:20, 1 Timothy 6:17

the multitude: Esther 9:7-10, Esther 9:12, Esther 9:13, Job 27:14, Job 27:15, Hosea 9:13, Hosea 9:14

and how he had: Esther 3:1

Reciprocal: Numbers 22:17 - I will promote Esther 6:6 - To whom Esther 9:10 - ten sons Job 1:2 - seven sons Job 20:5 - the triumphing Psalms 37:35 - I have Psalms 49:20 - Man Psalms 94:3 - the wicked Proverbs 14:20 - but Ecclesiastes 6:3 - a man Isaiah 16:14 - the glory Amos 6:9 - if Matthew 4:8 - and showeth Luke 4:6 - and the 1 Thessalonians 2:6 - of men

Verse 12

Esther: Plutarch, in his life of Artaxerxes, informs us, that none but the king's mother, and his real wife, were permitted to sit at his table; and therefore he mentions it as a condescension in that prince, that he sometimes invited his brothers. Haman, therefore, had some reason to be proud of this favour.

to morrow: Job 8:12, Job 8:13, Job 20:5-8, Psalms 37:35, Psalms 37:36, Proverbs 7:22, Proverbs 7:23, Proverbs 27:1, Luke 21:34, Luke 21:35, 1 Thessalonians 5:3

Reciprocal: Psalms 94:3 - the wicked Isaiah 21:4 - the night Amos 6:7 - and the

Verse 13

Yet all this: Pride will ever render its possessor unhappy. Haman, though possessed of immense riches, glory, and honour, and the prime favourite of his king, is wretched, because he could not have the homage of that man whom his heart even despised! Oh, how distressing are the inquietudes of pride and vanity. 1 Kings 21:4-6, Job 15:20, Job 18:4, Ecclesiastes 1:2, Ecclesiastes 1:14, Philippians 4:11, Philippians 4:12

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 13:4 - Why art 1 Kings 20:43 - went Esther 2:19 - sat in the king's gate

Verse 14

said Zeresh: 2 Samuel 13:3-5, 1 Kings 21:7, 1 Kings 21:25, 2 Chronicles 22:3, 2 Chronicles 22:4, Mark 6:19-24

Let a gallows: Heb. Let a tree, Esther 7:9

speak thou: Esther 3:8-15, Esther 6:4

go thou in: Esther 3:15, 1 Kings 21:7, Amos 6:4-6, Revelation 11:10

the thing: 2 Samuel 16:21-23, 2 Samuel 17:1-4, Mark 14:10, Mark 14:11, Acts 23:14, Acts 23:15, Romans 1:32

he caused: Esther 7:10, Psalms 7:13-16, Psalms 9:15, Psalms 37:14, Psalms 37:32, Proverbs 1:18, Proverbs 4:16, Romans 3:15

Reciprocal: Genesis 45:16 - it pleased Pharaoh well 2 Samuel 13:4 - Why art 2 Samuel 17:4 - the saying 2 Kings 8:5 - the woman Esther 2:23 - hanged Esther 6:14 - hasted to bring Psalms 36:4 - deviseth Psalms 140:9 - let the mischief Psalms 146:9 - the way Isaiah 51:13 - were ready Micah 2:1 - to