Esther 5
5:2 a he welcomed her and held out the gold scepter to her: She was not killed for entering the king’s presence without an invitation (4:11 b, 16 c).5:3 d I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom! This conventional idiom meant the king would be generous toward her request. The king did not want anything to prevent Esther from speaking the full truth.
5:4 e If it please the king: Esther showed proper deference (cp. 1:12 f).
5:8 g please come ... tomorrow: It was a customary protocol not to appear anxious about asking for a favor or negotiating an agreement. The delay provided opportunity for Xerxes to discover Mordecai’s act of loyalty, which led to the foiling of Haman’s plot (see 6:1-14 h).
Summary for Esth 5:9-14: 5:9-14 i This brief interlude emphasizes the depth of Haman’s hatred for Mordecai. 5:9 j Mordecai’s fasting had ended and he was back at the gate operating in his official capacity. Not standing up or trembling was an even stronger refusal to show Haman honor (cp. 3:2-6 k).
5:14 l A sharpened pole was a common device of execution (see also 2:23 m; Gen 40:19 n, 22 o; Josh 8:29 p).
• Seventy-five feet is unusually high, but Haman wanted to make an example out of Mordecai, with everyone viewing his dead body. The number might be a hyperbole for effect—fifty cubits is an obviously round number—or it might reflect a stake placed high atop the city wall for public viewing.
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