Esther’s Banquet

5 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, opposite the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne inside the palace opposite the entrance to the palace.^(A)

¹¹ All nations of the realm know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is no escape for that person. Only the one to whom the king stretches out the golden scepter is safe—and it is now thirty days since I myself was called to go to the king.”^(A)

¹⁴ His wife Zosara and his friends said to him, “Let a pole be cut, fifty cubits high, and in the morning tell the king and have Mordecai hung on it. Then, go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This advice pleased Haman, so the pole was prepared.^(A)