seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Esther 5:1 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.”
So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. 6 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.”
7 Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: 8 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.”
So.... Esther has the people praying for her. I don't know if they are praying to keep her safe or if she has them praying for themselves. At any rate the three days of prayer have past and now it's time to see if the king will allow her to visit. Right off.... I noticed that she didn't just run up and demand..... she's a tease.
The commentary this morning is from the easy English site.
For three days, Esther and the Jews did not eat food but they prayed instead. Then Esther went to see the king. She knew that she was risking her life. But she also knew that God was in control. She wore her royal clothing in order to remind the king that she was the queen. The king had not invited her. So, he would know that she must have come about a very important matter.
God helped Esther to please the king. The king promised to give her almost anything that she wanted.
Esther did not ask for what she wanted immediately. Perhaps God made her know that the time was not right. There were many people in the king’s hall. Esther had a plan. She believed that God would help her. And she had already prepared a meal for the king and Haman. That would be a better time to ask the king to grant her request.
It might seem strange that she invited Haman to the meal. He was second in rank to the king, so it might just have been the right thing to do. Perhaps she wanted Haman to think that she respected him. Perhaps she did not want him to be ready when she told her request to the king.
Or perhaps it was because she wanted the king to deal with Haman immediately. She did not want Haman to avoid judgement.
At the meal, the king again promised to give Esther almost anything that she wanted. But she still did not tell him what she wanted. Instead, Esther invited the king and Haman to another meal the next day. Then she would tell the king what she wanted. Now the king would realise that she wanted to say something very important.
The writer now tells us what happened to each of the guests after the first meal.
OK.... The king and Haman have no idea what's going on. The king thinks he's playing. She's enticing him. Haman thinks he's there because he has a big head and a title. Now.... here's my problem.... I can't get past verse 2..... the golden scepter was his hand????? I googled it...no help.... I can't get past it.
Ok...now here's my thoughts on "the golden scepter that was his hand" ..... I googled "king xerxes gold hand" and there was no clear cut response. There was one link ..... "Xerxes1 - Ancient History Encyclopedia" that mentioned gold and hand..... mind you.... this is not "gold hand" but "gold" and "hand".
Although his grandfather Cyrus had been a friend to Babylon, Xerxes had subjugated the city and melted down the golden statue of Marduk, their patron deity. This was a particular affront to the dignity and tradition of Babylon because one of the religious duties of a ruler was to grasp the hands of the statue of Marduk at the New Year’s festival in order to ensure continued prosperity throughout the land; Babylon thus enjoyed a prestige among the cities of Mesopotamia as the site of this ritual.
That gold statue of Markuk is what prompted my theory. According to the story... the king was supposed to touch both hands of the statue on New Year's eve to bring prosperity to Babylon. Xerxes melted down the statue..... so did he take that gold and make a scepter from it?So what was the "golden scepter that was his hand"? I don't have a clue..... but I do have an idea.... DO NOT take this as true.... it's only my idea.... worst yet... it's from my imagination. I figure the head of the scepter was a golden replica of his hand.... pointing..... you know.... like a mickey mouse type hand with one pointed finger.... poured in gold.... on a gold shaft.
I know.... It does seem a bit irreverent saying such a stupid thing about something in the Bible.... but look at it.... It's the real life version of the fairy take of the Midas Touch. On top of that.... the verse stands out like a sore thumb [no pun intended] and none of the commentaries are discussing the weird verse. How is anyone supposed to take the Bible at face value as completely true.... when the authors stick stuff like this in it....
The truth is probably much simpler than that. The truth is.... back in the previous chapter.... Esther and Mordecai have already discussed the fact that the king used his scepter to point.... I figure he really used it like the king of England used his sword to dub a knight. It was a way to be present without touching any of the rifraf that generally hangs out with the king.
Anyway.... whatever this scepter looked like.... she'd see it again tomorrow.... she's invited the king and Mordecai to dinner again.
