Bible Commentaries
Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible
Esther 5
Esther 5. Esther Obtains the King's Favour and Invites him with Haman to a Banquet. Haman's Elation is Dashed by Vexation at Mordecai's Refusal to Honour him.—In Esther 5:1 to Esther 8:3 we read how these prayers are answered by blessing after blessing. The girl-queen is filled with purpose, courage, and ability. She enters the audience-hall trembling, but is welcomed by the king LXX gives a fine picture of this, saying that the king kissed his wife tenderly, and restored her when she fainted through excitement. The Heb. has excised that. Esther asks simply that Ahasuerus and his vizier, Haman, shall come to a drinking-feast (Esther 5:4). They come, but are only bidden to come again next day (Esther 5:7). The wretched Haman goes home chuckling over the queen's graciousness to him (Esther 5:9): he little knows that she is one of the hated folk, a Jewess; and less knows he of the morrow's fate. As he goes, he passes Mordecai, and is more bitterly enraged than ever by the man's stiff contempt (Esther 5:9). Wife and friends all counsel that a tall stake be set up whereupon Haman may have this Jew impaled. This stake would be some ten feet high, but set aloft upon a citadel, as in the case of Nicanor (2 Maccabees 15:35).
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