“All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”

When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. FOR IF YOU REMAIN SILENT AT THIS TIME, RELIEF AND DELIVERANCE FOR THE JEWS WILL ARISE FROM ANOTHER PLACE, but you and your father’s family will perish. AND WHO KNOWS BUT THAT YOU HAVE COME TO ROYAL POSITION FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?”

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I WILL GO TO THE KING, EVEN THOUGH IT IS AGAINST THE LAW. AND IF I PERISH, I PERISH.”

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. 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.

1
REMBRANDT
"Esther Preparing to Intercede with Assuerus"

2
SANDRO BOTTICELLI
"Esther at the Palace Gate"

3
HAROLD COPPING
"Esther with King Ahasuerus"

4
FELIX JOSEPH BARRIAS
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

5
ANDREI PETROVITCH RYABUCHKIN
"Esther before Assuerus"

6
FRANZ CHRISTOPH JANNECK
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

7
KASPAR VAN DEN HOECKE
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

8
""

9
Source

10
JAN ADRIAENSZ VAN STAVEREN
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

11
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

12
PAOLO VERONESE
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

13
PETER PAUL RUBENS
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

14
SEBASTIANO RICCI
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

15
ANDREA CELESTI
"Esther before King Ahasuerus"

16
MATTEO ROSSELLI
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

17
Source

18
SALOMON KONINCK
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

19
SANDRO BOTTICELLI
"Three Scenes from the Story of Esther"
(L) Mordecai's Despair…(M) Esther's Appeal…(R) Haman's Demise

20
ALESSANDRO GHERARDINI
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

21
JACOPO DEL SELLAIO
"Esther Greeting Ahasver"

22
BERNARDO CAVALLINO
"Esther and Ahaseurus"

23
CLAUDE VIGNON
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

24
LUCA CAMBIASO
"Esther and Ahasuerus"

25
PHILIP GYSELAER
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

26
JAN STEEN
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

27
GIOVANNI ANDREA SIRANI
"Esther ante Asuero"

28
INNOZENZ ANTON WARÄTHI
"Esther before Ahasverus"

29
WILLEM VAN HERP
"Esther Presents Herself at the Palace"

30
"Esther and Artaxerxes"

31
ANTON KOBERGER
"Esther before King Ahasureus"

32
KONRAD WITZ
"Esther before Ahasuerus"

33
ADOLF HERRES
"Esther before King Ahasureus"
"Was ist dein Begehren, Esther, damit es dir erfüllt werde?"
"What is your desire, Esther, that it may be fulfilled for you?"

34
"Faithful Esther"

35
Source

36
Source

→ a n d... f i n a l l y ←

37
GELDORP GORTZIUS
"Esther and Ahasuerus"

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

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

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

So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, “Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”

Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”

Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home.

Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. “And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”

His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a gallows built, seventy-five feet high, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go with the king to the dinner and be happy.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the gallows built.

New International Version ©1984, Abrdgd, EMPHASES Added
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