Esther 5

Es 5:1-14.

ESTHER

INVITES THE

KING AND

HAMAN TO A

BANQUET.

1. Esther put on her royal apparel--It was not only natural, but, on

such occasions, highly proper and expedient, that the queen should

decorate herself in a style becoming her exalted station. On ordinary

occasions she might reasonably set off her charms to as much advantage

as possible; but, on the present occasion, as she was desirous to

secure the favor of one who sustained the twofold character of her

husband and her sovereign, public as well as private considerations--a

regard to her personal safety, no less than the preservation of her

doomed countrymen--urged upon her the propriety of using every

legitimate means of recommending herself to the favorable notice of

Ahasuerus.

the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against

the gate of the house--The palace of this Persian king seems to have

been built, like many more of the same quality and description, with an

advanced cloister, over against the gate, made in the fashion of a

large penthouse, supported only by one or two contiguous pillars in the

front, or else in the center. In such open structures as these, in the

midst of their guards and counsellors, are the bashaws, kadis, and

other great officers, accustomed to distribute justice, and transact

the public affairs of the provinces

[SHAW, Travels]. In such a

situation the Persian king was seated. The seat he occupied was not a

throne, according to our ideas of one, but simply a chair, and so

high that it required a footstool. It was made of gold, or, at least,

inlaid with that metal, and covered with splendid tapestry, and no one

save the king might sit down on it under pain of death. It is often

found pictured on the Persepolitan monuments, and always of the same

fashion.

2. the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his

hand--This golden scepter receives an interesting illustration from

the sculptured monuments of Persia and Assyria. In the bas-reliefs of

Persepolis, copied by Sir Robert Ker Porter, we see King Darius

enthroned in the midst of his court, and walking abroad in equal state;

in either case he carries in his right hand a slender rod or wand,

about equal in length to his own height, ornamented with a small knob

at the summit. In the Assyrian alabasters, those found at Nimroud as

well as those from Khorsabad, "the great king" is furnished with the

same appendage of royalty, a slender rod, but destitute of any knob or

ornament. On the Khorsabad reliefs the rod is painted red, doubtless to represent gold; proving that "the golden sceptre" was a simple

wand of that precious metal, commonly held in the right hand, with one

end resting on the ground, and that whether the king was sitting or

walking. "The gold sceptre" has received little alteration or

modification since ancient times

[GOSS]. It was extended to Esther as a

token not only that her intrusion was pardoned, but that her visit was

welcome, and a favorable reception given to the suit she had come to

prefer.

touched the top of the sceptre--This was the usual way of acknowledging

the royal condescension, and at the same time expressing reverence and

submission to the august majesty of the king.

3. it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom--This mode of

speaking originated in the Persian custom of appropriating for the

maintenance of great men, or royal favorites, one city for his bread,

another for his wine, a third for his clothes, &c., so that the phrase

denoted great liberality.

4. let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have

prepared for him--There was great address in this procedure of

Esther's; for, by showing such high respect to the king's favorite, she

would the better insinuate herself into the royal affections; and gain

a more suitable opportunity of making known her request.

8. let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare--The

king ate alone, and his guests in an adjoining hall; but they were

admitted to sit with him at wine. Haman being the only invited guest

with the king and queen, it was natural that he should have been elated

with the honor.