³ The king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? Tell me what you wish. Even if it is half of my kingdom, I will give it to you.” ⁴ Es ther replied, “If it pleases your majesty, come with Ha man to a banquet I have prepared today.” ⁵ The king gave the order: “Call Haman at once so that Esther may have her wish.”

So the king and Haman went to the banquet prepared by Esther. ⁶ During the drinking of wine, the king again said to Esther, “What is your petition? Speak up and it will be given. What is your request? Even half of my kingdom is yours for the asking.”

⁷ Esther replied, “My petition and re quest is this: ⁸ if I have found favor with your majesty, if it pleases you to grant my petition and request, come with Haman tomorrow to another banquet I will prepare. Then I will answer your question.”

⁹ Haman left that day happy and in good spirits, but when he saw Mordecai at the royal gate neither rising nor showing signs of fear of him, he was filled with rage towards the man. ¹⁰ He did not show it, however, but went home and summoned his friends and his wife Ze resh.

¹¹ After boasting about his vast wealth, his many sons, and the pro motion he received from the king placing him above the officials and royal servants, ¹² Haman added, “Besides, Queen Esther invited me alone to go with the king to the ban quet she gave. And she has invited me again tomorrow together with the king. ¹³ Yet none of this satisfies me, as long as I see the Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”

¹⁴ His wife Zeresh and all his friends said, “Have a fifty-cubit gallows built. In the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go to the ban quet merrily to gether with the king.” Satisfied with the suggestion, Ha man had the gallows erected.