9 Then went H3318 Haman H2001 forth H3318 that day H3117 joyful H8056 and with a glad H2896 heart: H3820 but when Haman H2001 saw H7200 Mordecai H4782 in the king's H4428 gate, H8179 that he stood not up, H6965 nor moved H2111 for him, he H2001 was full H4390 of indignation H2534 against Mordecai. H4782
And when Haman H2001 saw H7200 that Mordecai H4782 bowed H3766 not, nor did him reverence, H7812 then was Haman H2001 full H4390 of wrath. H2534
Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego, H5665 answered H6032 and said H560 to the king, H4430 O Nebuchadnezzar, H5020 we H586 are not H3809 careful H2818 to answer H8421 thee in H5922 this H1836 matter. H6600 If H2006 it be so, our God H426 whom we H586 serve H6399 is H383 able H3202 to deliver H7804 us from H4481 the burning H3345 fiery H5135 furnace, H861 and H4481 he will deliver H7804 us out of H4481 thine hand, H3028 O king. H4430 But if H2006 not, H3809 be it H1934 known H3046 unto thee, O king, H4430 that we will H383 not H3809 serve H6399 thy gods, H426 nor H3809 worship H5457 the golden H1722 image H6755 which thou hast set up. H6966 Then H116 was Nebuchadnezzar H5020 full H4391 of fury, H2528 and the form H6755 of his visage H600 was changed H8133 against H5922 Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego: H5665 therefore he spake, H6032 and commanded H560 that they should heat H228 the furnace H861 one H2298 seven times H7655 more H5922 than H1768 it was wont H2370 to be heated. H228
When G1161 they heard G191 these things, G5023 they were cut G1282 to the heart, G2588 G846 and G2532 they gnashed G1031 on G1909 him G846 with their teeth. G3599
Verily, G281 verily, G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 That G3754 ye G5210 shall weep G2799 and G2532 lament, G2354 but G1161 the world G2889 shall rejoice: G5463 and G1161 ye G5210 shall be sorrowful, G3076 but G235 your G5216 sorrow G3077 shall be turned G1096 into G1519 joy. G5479
And G2532 fear G5399 G575 not G3361 them which G3588 kill G615 the body, G4983 but G1161 are G1410 not G3361 able G1410 to kill G615 the soul: G5590 but G1161 rather G3123 fear G5399 him which G3588 is able G1410 to destroy G622 both G2532 soul G5590 and G2532 body G4983 in G1722 hell. G1067
Then G5119 Herod, G2264 when he saw G1492 that G3754 he was mocked G1702 of G5259 the wise men, G3097 was exceeding G3029 wroth, G2373 and G2532 sent forth, G649 and slew G337 all G3956 the children G3816 that were in G1722 Bethlehem, G965 and G2532 in G1722 all G3956 the coasts G3725 thereof, G846 from G575 two years old G1332 and G2532 under, G2736 according G2596 to the time G5550 which G3739 he had diligently enquired G198 of G3844 the wise men. G3097
Shall horses H5483 run H7323 upon the rock? H5553 will one plow H2790 there with oxen? H1241 for ye have turned H2015 judgment H4941 into gall, H7219 and the fruit H6529 of righteousness H6666 into hemlock: H3939 Ye which rejoice H8056 in a thing H1697 of nought, H3808 which say, H559 Have we not taken H3947 to us horns H7161 by our own strength? H2392
And Ahab H256 came H935 into his house H1004 heavy H5620 and displeased H2198 because of the word H1697 which Naboth H5022 the Jezreelite H3158 had spoken H1696 to him: for he had said, H559 I will not give H5414 thee the inheritance H5159 of my fathers. H1 And he laid him down H7901 upon his bed, H4296 and turned away H5437 his face, H6440 and would eat H398 no bread. H3899
In whose eyes H5869 a vile person H3988 is contemned; H959 but he honoureth H3513 them that fear H3373 the LORD. H3068 He that sweareth H7650 to his own hurt, H7489 and changeth H4171 not.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Esther 5
Commentary on Esther 5 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 5
Es 5:1-14. Esther Invites the King and Haman to a Banquet.
1. Esther put on her royal apparel—It was not only natural, but, on such occasions, highly proper and expedient, that the queen should decorate herself in a style becoming her exalted station. On ordinary occasions she might reasonably set off her charms to as much advantage as possible; but, on the present occasion, as she was desirous to secure the favor of one who sustained the twofold character of her husband and her sovereign, public as well as private considerations—a regard to her personal safety, no less than the preservation of her doomed countrymen—urged upon her the propriety of using every legitimate means of recommending herself to the favorable notice of Ahasuerus.
the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house—The palace of this Persian king seems to have been built, like many more of the same quality and description, with an advanced cloister, over against the gate, made in the fashion of a large penthouse, supported only by one or two contiguous pillars in the front, or else in the center. In such open structures as these, in the midst of their guards and counsellors, are the bashaws, kadis, and other great officers, accustomed to distribute justice, and transact the public affairs of the provinces [Shaw, Travels]. In such a situation the Persian king was seated. The seat he occupied was not a throne, according to our ideas of one, but simply a chair, and so high that it required a footstool. It was made of gold, or, at least, inlaid with that metal, and covered with splendid tapestry, and no one save the king might sit down on it under pain of death. It is often found pictured on the Persepolitan monuments, and always of the same fashion.
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.
3. it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom—This mode of speaking originated in the Persian custom of appropriating for the maintenance of great men, or royal favorites, one city for his bread, another for his wine, a third for his clothes, &c., so that the phrase denoted great liberality.
4. let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him—There was great address in this procedure of Esther's; for, by showing such high respect to the king's favorite, she would the better insinuate herself into the royal affections; and gain a more suitable opportunity of making known her request.
8. let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare—The king ate alone, and his guests in an adjoining hall; but they were admitted to sit with him at wine. Haman being the only invited guest with the king and queen, it was natural that he should have been elated with the honor.