Catholic Commentary on Esther 5

"When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand." (Esther 5:2)

Esther Approaches the King

After three days of fasting, Esther puts on her royal robes and stands in the inner court. When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. The king asks: what is your request? It shall be given you, even to half my kingdom. She invites the king and Haman to a banquet she has prepared. At the banquet the king again asks what she wants. She says: let the king and Haman come again tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare. Meanwhile Haman leaves in high spirits but sees Mordecai at the gate, who does not rise or tremble before him. He is filled with rage. His wife and friends advise him to have a pole fifty cubits high built and to ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. He has it built.

The Catechism identifies Esther's approach to the king as an act of faith: the prayer and fasting of three days preceded the action that risked her life, and the sceptre extended was the answer to that prayer (CCC 2742).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, three days of fasting and then she put on her royal robes and went in. The preparation preceded the action; the prayer enabled the appearance; the fast produced the favour. When you have done your three days before God, put on your robes and go in. The sceptre will be extended.

Prayer

Lord God, after the fast and the prayer, give us the courage to put on our robes and stand in the inner court. Extend the golden sceptre of your favour. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

5
Esther Approaches the King
1 On the third day, Esther put on her royal attire and stood in the inner court of the palace across from the king’s quarters. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom, facing the entrance.
 
2 As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she found favor in his sight. The king extended the gold scepter in his hand toward Esther, and she approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
 
3 “What is it, Queen Esther?” the king inquired. “What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you.”
 
4 “If it pleases the king,” Esther replied, “may the king and Haman come today to the banquet I have prepared for the king.”
 
5 “Hurry,” commanded the king, “and bring Haman, so we can do as Esther has requested.”
 
So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared. 6 And as they drank their wine, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.”
 
7 Esther replied, “This is my petition and my request: 8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, may the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”
Haman’s Plot against Mordecai
 
9 That day Haman went out full of joy and glad of heart. At the king’s gate, however, he saw Mordecai, who did not rise or tremble in fear at his presence. And Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai.
 
10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. And calling for his friends and his wife Zeresh, 11 Haman recounted to them his glorious wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored and promoted him over the other officials and servants.
 
12 “What is more,” Haman added, “Queen Esther invited no one but me to join the king at the banquet she prepared, and I am invited back tomorrow along with the king. 13 Yet none of this satisfies me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
 
14 His wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, “Have them build a gallows fifty cubits high,* 5:14 50 cubits is approximately 75 feet or 22.9 meters high. and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and enjoy yourself.”
 
The advice pleased Haman, and he had the gallows constructed.

*5:14 5:14 50 cubits is approximately 75 feet or 22.9 meters high.

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