Esther 5:1–5a

Esther's plan

On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. 2 When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

3 Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”

4 “If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.”

5 “Bring Haman at once,” the king said, “so that we may do what Esther asks.”

After she had prepared herself spiritually with fasting and prayer, Esther prepared herself physically for her encounter with the king. She put on her beautiful royal robes. We do not have much information about the arrangement of the king’s private living quarters or his state reception rooms, but it appears that Esther approached the king in some sort of state reception area that was normally off-limits to her. He was pleased with her, most likely because of her beauty, and extravagantly offered her virtually anything she wanted. Xerxes’ promise reminds us of one made by King Herod Antipas to a dancing girl. Herod also promised, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom” (Mark 6:23). What that girl asked for— and got—was the head of John the Baptist on a platter!

The historian Herodotus records another occasion on which Xerxes made a rash promise to a young woman whom he desired. Herodotus characterizes Xerxes as a rash, impetuous man with a roving eye, who was easily swayed by feminine beauty. The Lord used even the flaws of Xerxes’ character to set up the situation in which God would provide deliverance for his people.