Esther 7:2
And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, “What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's striking here is that the king doesn't just offer Esther a favor; he reiterates his extravagant promise twice, even to "half my kingdom." This repetition isn't just flattery; it's the king, possibly influenced by wine, eagerly pushing Esther to reveal her true request, showing his genuine desire to grant it and perhaps anticipating a significant favor.
Esther has hosted the king and Haman at two banquets, building anticipation for her request. On this second day, after they’ve had wine, the king, perhaps influenced by the wine and eager to please Esther, reiterates his generous offer to grant her anything, even half his kingdom. This prompts Esther to finally reveal her petition, setting the stage for Haman's downfall.
Esther has invited the king to two banquets, but hasn't yet revealed her true request. Why does the king keep asking?
The king, moved by Esther’s previous invitations and possibly influenced by wine, is eager to fulfill her desire. He doesn't just passively wait; he actively prompts her, even repeating his generous offer.
A King's Eagerness
This isn't just politeness. The king, perhaps caught up in the festivities or genuinely intrigued, reiterates his promise, moving from 'what is your wish?' to the even more expansive 'even to the half of my kingdom.' This shows his willingness to grant whatever she asks.
Divine Orchestration
The text hints that God is working behind the scenes. The king's continued inquiries ensure Esther has the perfect opening to state her petition. Without this divine nudge, Esther might have struggled to find the right moment to reveal her perilous request.
The king asks Esther about her wish 'at the banquet of wine.' What’s the significance of this detail?
Calling it a 'banquet of wine' isn't just descriptive; it points to the atmosphere and the king's state of mind.
A Relaxed Atmosphere
Banquets, especially those focused on wine, were often occasions for relaxed conversation and open hearts. This setting was more conducive to Esther revealing a sensitive or potentially upsetting request than a formal court setting.
Amplified Generosity
Commentators note that wine could make the king more amenable and generous. In this state, his promise to grant Esther's request 'to the half of my kingdom' feels even more readily offered. It's a moment of loosened inhibitions, which Esther skillfully uses.
The king's repeated, wine-fueled offers underscore the immense power he wields and the gravity of Esther's precarious situation. His eagerness to grant any request, even half his kingdom, highlights how deeply he is invested in pleasing his queen, setting the stage for her daring revelation.
c. 483 BC
Xerxes I reigns as King of Persia
Ahasuerus (likely Xerxes I) ruled the vast Persian Empire, known for its immense wealth and power, extending from India to Ethiopia. This setting provides the context for the opulent banquets and the king's absolute authority.
c. 478 BC
Esther becomes queen
Esther, a Jewish orphan raised by Mordecai, is chosen from a field of virgins to be the queen of Ahasuerus. Her identity as a Jew is kept secret at Mordecai's instruction.
c. 478 BC
Haman plots to destroy the Jews
Haman, an Agagite and high-ranking official, is deeply angered when Mordecai refuses to bow down to him. This leads Haman to plot the annihilation of all Jews in the empire.
c. 478 BC
Haman casts lots for destruction date
Haman casts the 'pur' (lot) to determine the most auspicious day for executing his genocidal plan, which falls on the 13th day of the month of Adar.
This passage speaks about honoring God with your wealth and possessions, which echoes the king's generous offer of 'half his kingdom' and hints at the underlying principle that true prosperity comes from God.
Proverbs 18:16The king's willingness to grant Esther's request, even to half his kingdom, parallels this proverb about a person's gift making room for them and bringing them before great people.
Matthew 7:7-8Jesus' words here about asking, seeking, and knocking being answered find a parallel in the king's repeated invitations to Esther to make her request known, demonstrating God's eagerness to respond to our petitions.
Esther 5:3This verse directly parallels the king's offer, showing that his repeated promises to Esther are consistent throughout their encounters, reinforcing the gravity of his commitment.
1 Kings 3:5The story of Solomon asking for wisdom and God granting him not only wisdom but also riches and honor mirrors the king's immense generosity towards Esther, showcasing divine favor and boundless provision.
bensonEsther 7:2: "And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom."
Esther 7:2 . The king said again to Esther, What is thy petition, Queen Esther? &c. — If the king had now forgot that Esther had an errand to him, and had not again asked what it was, she could scarce have known how to renew it herself; but he was mindful…
clarkeEsther 7:2: "And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom."
At the banquet of wine - Postquam vino incaluerat, after he had been heated with wine, says the Vulgate. In such a state the king was more likely to come into the measures of the queen.
What's striking here is that the king doesn't just offer Esther a favor; he reiterates his extravagant promise twice, even to "half my kingdom." This repetition isn't just flattery; it's the king, possibly influenced by wine, eagerly pushing Esther to reveal her true request, showing his genuine desire to grant it and perhaps anticipating a significant favor.
Esther has hosted the king and Haman at two banquets, building anticipation for her request. On this second day, after they’ve had wine, the king, perhaps influenced by the wine and eager to please Esther, reiterates his generous offer to grant her anything, even half his kingdom. This prompts Esther to finally reveal her petition, setting the stage for Haman's downfall.
Esther has hosted the king and Haman at two banquets, building anticipation for her request. On this second day, after they’ve had wine, the king, perhaps influenced by the wine and eager to please Esther, reiterates his generous offer to grant her anything, even half his kingdom. This prompts Esther to finally reveal her petition, setting the stage for Haman's downfall.
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c. 478 BC— this verse
Esther invites king and Haman to banquets
Esther, after learning of Haman's plot, invites the king and Haman to two consecutive banquets. She uses these occasions to reveal her Jewish identity and Haman's wicked plan.
c. 478 BC
Haman is impaled
After Esther's revelation and the king's fury, Haman is executed on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. This event directly follows Esther's second banquet and the king's second offer to grant her request.
"And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, “What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.”" — What's striking here is that the king doesn't just offer Esther a favor; he reiterates his extravagant promise twice, even to "half my kingdom." This repetition isn't just flattery; it's the king,…
