Esther 5:9-14
New English Translation
Haman Expresses His Hatred of Mordecai
9 Now Haman went forth that day pleased and very much encouraged.[a] But when Haman saw Mordecai at the king’s gate, and he did not rise or tremble in his presence,[b] Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai. 10 But Haman restrained himself and went on to his home.
He then sent for his friends to join him,[c] along with his wife Zeresh. 11 Haman then recounted to them his fabulous wealth,[d] his many sons,[e] and how the king had magnified him and exalted him over the king’s other officials and servants. 12 Haman said, “Furthermore, Queen Esther invited[f] only me to accompany the king to the banquet that she prepared. And also tomorrow I am invited[g] along with the king. 13 Yet all this fails to satisfy me so long as I have to see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
14 Haman’s[h] wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a gallows 75 feet[i] high built, and in the morning tell the king that Mordecai should be hanged on it. Then go with the king to the banquet contented.”[j]
It seemed like a good idea to Haman, so he had the gallows built.
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- Esther 5:9 tn Heb “happy and good of heart”; NASB “glad and pleased of heart”; NIV “happy and in high spirits.”
- Esther 5:9 tn Heb “tremble from before him”; NIV “nor showed fear in his presence”; TEV “or show any sign of respect as he passed.”
- Esther 5:10 tn Heb “sent and brought.” The expression is probably a hendiadys (a figure of speech in which a single idea is expressed through two words or phrases), in which case the two verbs could be translated simply as “summoned” (so NAB) or “sent for” (NASB).
- Esther 5:11 tn Heb “the glory of his riches” (so KJV, NASB); NRSV “the splendor of his riches.”
- Esther 5:11 sn According to Esth 9:10 Haman had ten sons.
- Esther 5:12 tn Heb “caused to come”; KJV “did let no man come in…but myself.”
- Esther 5:12 tn Heb “called to her”; KJV “invited unto her”; NAB “I am to be her guest.”
- Esther 5:14 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Haman) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Esther 5:14 tn Heb “50 cubits.” Assuming a standard length for the cubit of about 18 inches (45 cm), this would be about 75 feet (22.5 meters), which is a surprisingly tall height for the gallows. Perhaps the number assumes the gallows was built on a large supporting platform or a natural hill for visual effect, in which case the structure itself may have been considerably smaller. Cf. NCV “a seventy-five foot platform”; CEV “a tower built about seventy-five feet high.”
- Esther 5:14 tn Or “joyful”; NRSV “in good spirits”; TEV “happy.”
Esther 5:9-14
Expanded Bible
Haman’s Plans Against Mordecai
9 Haman left the king’s ·palace [L house] that day happy and ·content [L good of heart]. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and saw that Mordecai did not ·stand up [rise] or tremble ·with fear before him [in his presence], Haman ·became very angry with [was filled with rage against] Mordecai. 10 But he ·controlled his anger [restrained himself] and went home.
Then Haman called together his friends and his wife, Zeresh. 11 He ·told [boasted/recounted to] them ·how wealthy he was [L of the glory of his riches] and how many sons he had [C ten; 9:10]. He also told them all the ways the king had ·honored [L magnified] him and how the king had ·placed him higher than [exalted him over] his ·important men [nobles] and his ·royal officers [ministers; officials]. 12 He also said, “I’m the only person Queen Esther ·invited [L caused] to come with the king to the banquet she gave. And tomorrow also the queen has asked me to be her guest with the king. 13 But all this does not ·really make me happy [satisfy me] ·when [as long as] I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”
14 Then Haman’s wife, Zeresh, and all his friends said, “Have a ·seventy-five-foot [L fifty cubits] ·platform [gallows; pole] built, and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai ·hanged [impaled] on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and be ·happy [content; joyful].” Haman ·liked [was pleased/delighted by] this suggestion, so he ordered the ·platform [gallows; pole] to be built.
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