Chapter 5 The Queen Risks Everything

On the third day of fasting, Esther robed herself and stood in the inner court of the palace. The king saw her-and held out the golden scepter.

"What wilt thou, queen Esther?" he asked.

She requested a banquet for the king and Haman. There, the king repeated his question. Again, she deferred, inviting them to another banquet on the morrow.

That night, Haman built a gallows, fifty cubits high, to hang Mordecai, whose refusal to bow still festered in his pride.

But that same night, the king could not sleep. He commanded the book of records to be read-and there discovered Mordecai's unrewarded loyalty. When Haman entered to request Mordecai's death, the king asked, "What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor?" (Esther 6:6)

Thinking it was himself, Haman suggested royal robes, a crown, and a parade. "Do so to Mordecai the Jew," said the king. Haman was forced to honor the man he loathed.

But he smiled.

He reached out his golden scepter-his sign of approval.

"What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request?" -Esther 5:3

Instead of answering right away, Esther invited the king and Haman to a special dinner. They came. But when the king again asked her desire, she only invited them to a second banquet the next day.

That night, Haman was full of pride-until he saw Mordecai again refusing to bow. Furious, he built a giant gallows, fifty cubits high (about 75 feet), planning to hang Mordecai on it.

Meanwhile, the king couldn't sleep. He asked his servants to read the royal records-and found the story of Mordecai saving his life.

"Was he ever rewarded?" the king asked.

"No, my lord," they answered.

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