5:1 It so happened that on the third day Esther put on her royal attire and stood in the inner court of the palace, opposite the king’s quarters. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the palace, opposite the entrance.

The king had not seen Esther in over thirty days. Esther thought that he might have lost interest in her. She decked herself out in royal apparel and came to visit the king.

5:2 When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she met with his approval. The king extended to Esther the gold scepter that was in his hand, and Esther approached and touched the end of the scepter.

Esther was placing her life on the line. She had no idea what Xerxes was thinking, because his behavior was very erratic. She may have had several thoughts in her head, such as why has the king ignored his queen for so long? Maybe the king found out that she was Jewish, so he had no more interest in her? However, the king extended his scepter to Ezra.

5:3 The king said to her, “What is on your mind, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even as much as half the kingdom will be given to you!”

Esther would not come to the king unless it was extremely important. She must have been shaking with fear. The king tried to comfort her by giving her a blank check.

5:4 Esther replied, “If the king is so inclined, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”

Esther invited the King and the Prime Minister to a lunch banquet. This waiting would keep both Xerxes and Haman curious as to her request. It was an unusual honor to be invited to a banquet with the queen, for Persian officials were very protective of their wives.

5:5 The king replied, “Find Haman quickly so that we can do as Esther requests.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

The king wanted Haman found as quickly as possible. He was interested in what his beautiful wife had to say.

5:6 While at the banquet of wine, the king said to Esther, “What is your request? It shall be given to you. What is your petition? Ask for as much as half the kingdom, and it shall be done!”

Esther was still very nervous. The king again offered her a blank check.

5:7 Esther responded, “My request and my petition is this: 5:8 If I have found favor in the king’s sight and if the king is inclined to grant my request and perform my petition, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet that I will prepare for them. At that time I will do as the king wishes.

Esther still does not have the courage to express her request to the king, so she invites him back the next day.

5:9 Now Haman went forth that day pleased and very much encouraged. But when Haman saw Mordecai at the king’s gate, and he did not rise nor tremble in his presence, Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai.

Haman’s ego was elevated even higher. Mordecai did not rise when Haman passed through the gate, so this infuriated Haman even more.

5:10 But Haman restrained himself and went on to his home. He then sent for his friends to join him, along with his wife Zeresh.

Haman restrained himself and joined his family and friends. Haman thought that he was at the top of his political career.

5:11 Haman then recounted to them his fabulous wealth, his many sons, and how the king had magnified him and exalted him over the king’s other officials and servants.

Haman began to boast about his exploits.

5:12 Haman said, “Furthermore, Queen Esther invited only me to accompany the king to the banquet that she prepared! And also tomorrow I am invited along with the king.

Haman thought that he was quite a lady’s man. He thought that he had struck home with the Queen.

5:13 Yet all of this fails to satisfy me so long as I have to see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”

Anti-semitism burns in the soul of every Christ-rejecter.

5:14 Haman’s wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a gallows seventy-five feet high built, and in the morning tell the king that Mordecai should be hanged on it. Then go with the king to the banquet contented.” It seemed like a good idea to Haman, so he had the gallows built.

Haman built a gallows 75-feet high. The gallows was probably erected on a hill top. The gallows was probably an impaling pole, since this was the main execution method of the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians. Haman wanted to impale Mordecai on a high pole on a high hill to show contempt for his Jewish adversary. Mordecai means “little,” so this was a tall gallows for such a short man.