1 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the
hall, facing the entrance.2 When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the
tip of the scepter.
3 Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”
4 “If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.”
5 “Bring Haman at once,” the king said, “so that we may do what Esther asks.”
So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared.6 As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, “Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will
be granted.”
7 Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this:8 If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will
prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”
Haman’s Rage Against Mordecai
9 Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was
filled with rage against Mordecai.10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home.
Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife,11 Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and
officials.12 “And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king
tomorrow.13 But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”
14 His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits, That is, about 75 feet or about 23 meters and ask the king in
the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.
2. the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre
that was in his hand—This golden scepter 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 equal state; in either case he 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,
those found at Nimroud as well as those from Khorsabad, "the great
king" is furnished with the same appendage of royalty, a slender rod,
but destitute of any knob or ornament. On the Khorsabad reliefs the rod
is painted red, doubtless to represent gold; proving that
"the golden sceptre" was a simple wand of that precious metal, commonly
held in the right hand, with one end resting on the ground, and that
whether the king was sitting or walking. "The gold sceptre" has
received little alteration or modification since ancient times [Goss]. It was extended to Esther as a token
not only that her intrusion was pardoned, but that her visit was
welcome, and a favorable reception given to the suit she had come to
prefer.
touched the top of the sceptre—This
was the usual way of acknowledging the royal condescension, and at the
same time expressing reverence and submission to the august majesty of
the king.
