Esther

Chapter 5

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayehi֣y ׀ bּayּ֣om hashshּeliyshshi֗y vatּilebּa֤shsh 'esetּer֙ malek֔ut vaֽtּa'amo֞d bּachatza֤r bּeyt-hamּe֨leke֙ hapּeniymi֔yt no֖kach bּe֣yt hamּe֑leke ve֠hamּeleke yoshshe֞b 'al-kּisּe֤ malekuto֙ bּebe֣yt hamּalek֔ut no֖kach pּe֥tach habּaֽyit׃

Edified Edition (EDE)On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, facing the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne, facing the entrance.

וַיְהִ֣י ׀ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֗י וַתִּלְבַּ֤שׁ אֶסְתֵּר֙ מַלְכ֔וּת וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֞ד בַּחֲצַ֤ר בֵּית־הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ הַפְּנִימִ֔ית נֹ֖כַח בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וְ֠הַמֶּלֶךְ יוֹשֵׁ֞ב עַל־כִּסֵּ֤א מַלְכוּתוֹ֙ בְּבֵ֣ית הַמַּלְכ֔וּת נֹ֖כַח פֶּ֥תַח הַבָּֽיִת׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayehiy֩ kire'֨ot hamּe֜leke 'et-'esetּe֣r hamּalekּa֗h 'ome֨det֙ bּeֽchatze֔r nashse'a֥h che֖n bּe'eyna֑yv vayּ֨oshshet hamּe֜leke le'esetּe֗r 'et-shsharebi֤yt hazּahab֙ 'ashshe֣r bּeyad֔o vatּiqera֣b 'esetּe֔r vatּigּa֖ bּero֥'shsh hashshּarebiֽyt׃s

Edified Edition (EDE)When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won his favour. The king held out the golden sceptre to her, and she approached and touched the tip of it.

וַיְהִי֩ כִרְא֨וֹת הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶת־אֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַמַּלְכָּ֗ה עֹמֶ֨דֶת֙ בֶּֽחָצֵ֔ר נָשְׂאָ֥ה חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינָ֑יו וַיּ֨וֹשֶׁט הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לְאֶסְתֵּ֗ר אֶת־שַׁרְבִ֤יט הַזָּהָב֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיָד֔וֹ וַתִּקְרַ֣ב אֶסְתֵּ֔ר וַתִּגַּ֖ע בְּרֹ֥אשׁ הַשַּׁרְבִֽיט׃ס

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֤'mer lahּ֙ hamּe֔leke mah-lּa֖ke 'esetּe֣r hamּalekּa֑h umah-bּaqּashshate֛ke 'ad-chatzi֥y hamּalek֖ut veyinּa֥teֽn laֽke׃

Edified Edition (EDE)The king asked, "What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half of my kingdom, it shall be given to you."

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהּ֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ מַה־לָּ֖ךְ אֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַמַּלְכָּ֑ה וּמַה־בַּקָּשָׁתֵ֛ךְ עַד־חֲצִ֥י הַמַּלְכ֖וּת וְיִנָּ֥תֵֽן לָֽךְ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּo֣'mer 'esetּe֔r 'im-'al-hamּe֖leke t֑ob yab֨o hamּe֤leke vehaman֙ hayּ֔om 'el-hamּishshetּe֖h 'ashsher-'ashsi֥ytiy lֽo׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Esther replied, "If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to a banquet I have prepared for him."

וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֶסְתֵּ֔ר אִם־עַל־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ ט֑וֹב יָב֨וֹא הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ וְהָמָן֙ הַיּ֔וֹם אֶל־הַמִּשְׁתֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֥יתִי לֽוֹ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֣'mer hamּe֔leke maharu֙ 'et-hama֔n la'ashs֖ot 'et-dּeba֣r 'esetּe֑r vayּabo֤ hamּe֨leke֙ vehama֔n 'el-hamּishshetּe֖h 'ashsher-'ashseta֥h 'esetּeֽr׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"Bring Haman immediately," the king commanded, "so that we may do what Esther asks." So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ מַהֲרוּ֙ אֶת־הָמָ֔ן לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת אֶת־דְּבַ֣ר אֶסְתֵּ֑ר וַיָּבֹ֤א הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ וְהָמָ֔ן אֶל־הַמִּשְׁתֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁר־עָשְׂתָ֥ה אֶסְתֵּֽר׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo֨'mer hamּe֤leke le'esetּer֙ bּemishshetּe֣h hayּa֔yin mah-shshּe'elate֖ke veyinּa֣teֽn la֑ke umah-bּaqּashshate֛ke 'ad-chatzi֥y hamּalek֖ut vete'aֽshs׃

Edified Edition (EDE)As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, "What is your petition? It shall be granted. What is your request? Even up to half of the kingdom, it shall be done."

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ לְאֶסְתֵּר֙ בְּמִשְׁתֵּ֣ה הַיַּ֔יִן מַה־שְּׁאֵלָתֵ֖ךְ וְיִנָּ֣תֵֽן לָ֑ךְ וּמַה־בַּקָּשָׁתֵ֛ךְ עַד־חֲצִ֥י הַמַּלְכ֖וּת וְתֵעָֽשׂ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּa֥'an 'esetּe֖r vatּo'ma֑r shshe'elati֖y ubaqּashshatiֽy׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Esther answered, "My petition and my request is this:"

וַתַּ֥עַן אֶסְתֵּ֖ר וַתֹּאמַ֑ר שְׁאֵלָתִ֖י וּבַקָּשָׁתִֽי׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): im-matza֨'tiy che֜n bּe'eyne֣y hamּe֗leke ve'im-'al-hamּe֨leke֙ t֔ob latet֙ 'et-shshe'e֣lati֔y vela'ashs֖ot 'et-bּaqּashshati֑y yab֧o hamּe֣leke vehama֗n 'el-hamּishshetּeh֙ 'ashshe֣r 'eֽ'eshse֣h lahe֔m umacha֥r 'eֽ'eshse֖h kּideba֥r hamּeֽleke׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"If I have found favour in the king’s sight, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition, let the king and Haman come to the banquet I will prepare for them tomorrow. Then I will answer the king’s question."

אִם־מָצָ֨אתִי חֵ֜ן בְּעֵינֵ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וְאִם־עַל־הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ ט֔וֹב לָתֵת֙ אֶת־שְׁאֵ֣לָתִ֔י וְלַעֲשׂ֖וֹת אֶת־בַּקָּשָׁתִ֑י יָב֧וֹא הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ וְהָמָ֗ן אֶל־הַמִּשְׁתֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֣ה לָהֶ֔ם וּמָחָ֥ר אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֖ה כִּדְבַ֥ר הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּetze֤ haman֙ bּayּ֣om hah֔u shsame֖cha vet֣ob le֑b vekire'ot֩ hama֨n 'eֽt-maredּoka֜y bּeshsha֣'ar hamּe֗leke velo'-qam֙ velo'-za֣ mimּe֔nּu vayּimּale֥ hama֛n 'aֽl-maredּoka֖y chemaֽh׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and noticed that he neither rose nor showed him any fear, he was filled with rage.

וַיֵּצֵ֤א הָמָן֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא שָׂמֵ֖חַ וְט֣וֹב לֵ֑ב וְכִרְאוֹת֩ הָמָ֨ן אֶֽת־מָרְדֳּכַ֜י בְּשַׁ֣עַר הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וְלֹא־קָם֙ וְלֹא־זָ֣ע מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וַיִּמָּלֵ֥א הָמָ֛ן עַֽל־מָרְדֳּכַ֖י חֵמָֽה׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּite'apּa֣q hama֔n vayּab֖o 'el-bּeyt֑o vayּishshela֛ch vayּabe֥ 'et-'ohaba֖yv ve'et-ze֥reshsh 'ishshetּֽo׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. He sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh.

וַיִּתְאַפַּ֣ק הָמָ֔ן וַיָּב֖וֹא אֶל־בֵּית֑וֹ וַיִּשְׁלַ֛ח וַיָּבֵ֥א אֶת־אֹהֲבָ֖יו וְאֶת־זֶ֥רֶשׁ אִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayesapּe֨r lahe֥m hama֛n 'et-kּeb֥od 'ashsher֖o vero֣b bּana֑yv ve'et֩ kּal-'ashshe֨r gּidּel֤o hamּe֨leke֙ ve'e֣t 'ashshe֣r nishsּe'֔o 'al-hashsּari֖ym ve'abede֥y hamּeֽleke׃

Edified Edition (EDE)Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honoured him and promoted him above the other nobles and officials.

וַיְסַפֵּ֨ר לָהֶ֥ם הָמָ֛ן אֶת־כְּב֥וֹד עָשְׁר֖וֹ וְרֹ֣ב בָּנָ֑יו וְאֵת֩ כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר גִּדְּל֤וֹ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ וְאֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִשְּׂא֔וֹ עַל־הַשָּׂרִ֖ים וְעַבְדֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vayּo'mer֮ haman֒ 'a֣p lo'-hebiy'ah֩ 'esetּe֨r hamּalekּa֧h 'im-hamּe֛leke 'el-hamּishshetּe֥h 'ashsher-'ashsa֖tah kּi֣y 'im-'oti֑y vegam-lemacha֛r 'ani֥y qaֽru'-la֖hּ 'im-hamּeֽleke׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"What’s more," Haman added, "I am the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave today. And she has invited me along with the king again tomorrow."

וַיֹּאמֶר֮ הָמָן֒ אַ֣ף לֹא־הֵבִיאָה֩ אֶסְתֵּ֨ר הַמַּלְכָּ֧ה עִם־הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶל־הַמִּשְׁתֶּ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֖תָה כִּ֣י אִם־אוֹתִ֑י וְגַם־לְמָחָ֛ר אֲנִ֥י קָֽרוּא־לָ֖הּ עִם־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vekal-ze֕h 'eyne֥nּu shshove֖h li֑y bּekal-'e֗t 'ashshe֨r 'ani֤y ro'eh֙ 'et-maredּoka֣y hayּehudi֔y yoshshe֖b bּeshsha֥'ar hamּeֽleke׃

Edified Edition (EDE)"But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate."

וְכָל־זֶ֕ה אֵינֶ֥נּוּ שֹׁוֶ֖ה לִ֑י בְּכָל־עֵ֗ת אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֲנִ֤י רֹאֶה֙ אֶת־מָרְדֳּכַ֣י הַיְּהוּדִ֔י יוֹשֵׁ֖ב בְּשַׁ֥עַר הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

Phonetic (Hebrew): vatּo֣'mer lo֩ ze֨reshsh 'ishshetּ֜o vekal-'oֽhaba֗yv yaֽ'ashsu-'etz֮ gּabo֣hּa chamishshּi֣ym 'amּah֒ ubabּo֣qer ׀ 'emo֣r lamּe֗leke veyitel֤u 'eֽt-maredּokay֙ 'ala֔yv uboֽ'-'im-hamּe֥leke 'el hamּishshetּe֖h shsame֑cha vayּiyta֧b hadּaba֛r lipene֥y hama֖n vayּa֥'ashs ha'eֽtz׃p

Edified Edition (EDE)His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Have a gallows built seventy-five feet high, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself." This suggestion pleased Haman, and he had the gallows built.

וַתֹּ֣אמֶר לוֹ֩ זֶ֨רֶשׁ אִשְׁתּ֜וֹ וְכָל־אֹֽהֲבָ֗יו יַֽעֲשׂוּ־עֵץ֮ גָּבֹ֣הַּ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים אַמָּה֒ וּבַבֹּ֣קֶר ׀ אֱמֹ֣ר לַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וְיִתְל֤וּ אֶֽת־מָרְדֳּכַי֙ עָלָ֔יו וּבֹֽא־עִם־הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ אֶל הַמִּשְׁתֶּ֖ה שָׂמֵ֑חַ וַיִּיטַ֧ב הַדָּבָ֛ר לִפְנֵ֥י הָמָ֖ן וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הָעֵֽץ׃פ