The table of the Lord has been prepared for his servants in the presence of their enemies (Psalm 23:5), and the expectation of faith is that everything results in goodness and mercy for one’s life (Psalm 23:6). Haman meant to do evil to the Jews, but the Lord meant it all for good (cp. Genesis 50:20). It is implied in the text, unlike how it was in the matter involving Mordecai (cp. Esther 3:1-2, 4), that Esther committed her way to the Lord by commanding a fast (Psalm 37:5) in the hope that the Lord would grant her request. Her decision was similar to that of Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego, when they committed their way to God, despite the danger involved (cp. Daniel 3:12-18). Esther waited patiently for the Lord to act, as she entered the king’s presence unafraid of the outcome, prearranged by wicked devices (Psalm 37:7). It wasn’t Esther’s manner to seek to destroy Haman, privately. Rather, she waited upon the Lord’s salvation to take her enemy out of the way (Psalm 37:8-10).
Immediately after the fast, upon the third day, Esther removed her mourning garments and put on her royal attire. Then, she entered the inner court of the king’s house and stood waiting, while he sat on his throne in the palace opposite the gate of the house, so that, when he looked down the corridor of pillars, Esther would be seen immediately (Esther 5:1).
When the king saw the queen, standing in the inner court, he extended his scepter, permitting her to come to him, so Esther drew near and touched the top of the king’s scepter (Esther 5:2). Then the king asked what petition she had, and whatever it was, he would grant it up “to the half of the kingdom” (Esther 5:3). The phrase is hyperbole and wouldn’t have been taken literally. It was similar to greeting the king with “live forever” (1Kings 1:31; Nehemiah 2:3; Daniel 2:4; 3:9; 5:10; 6:6, 21). Obviously, everyone knew the king would die, including the king, but folks spoke in hyperbole at times to show their magnanimity. Thus, the king wished to express to Esther, his queen, his desire to be generous toward her.
Esther replied by inviting both the king, and Haman to a banquet, which she had prepared for the king that very day (Esther 5:4). Obviously, this was not the queen’s petition, and the king knew it (cp. Esther 5:6). However, it was the custom of the ancients to express their good will toward one another by being generous in their hospitality, and, in this manner, the hospitality of the one would attract the greater affection of the other.
The king was delighted in Esther’s request and ordered Haman to hurry to do as Esther had said, and both the king and Haman came to Esther’s banquet (Esther 5:5). During the banquet the king, once again, asked the queen about her petition, and, once again, he repeated his desire to be generous toward her (Esther 5:6). In like manner, Esther repeated her request to the king that both he and Haman would return the following day to yet another banquet, which she would prepare for him. Thus, she implies to the king that her request is of great concern to her, because she believes she needed to extend more of her hospitality toward the king in an effort to attract his affection more securely, and at the second banquet, she would reveal what she desired of the king (Esther 5:7-8).
Smoodock's Blog 