4:15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 4:16 “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa and fast in my behalf. Don’t eat and don’t drink for three days, night or day. My female attendants and I 1 will also fast in the same way. Afterward I will go to the king, even though it violates the law. 2 If I perish, I perish!”
4:17 So Mordecai set out to do everything that Esther had instructed him.
5:1 It so happened that on the third day Esther put on her royal attire and stood in the inner court of the palace, 3 opposite the king’s quarters. 4 The king was sitting on his royal throne in the palace, opposite the entrance. 5 5:2 When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she met with his approval. 6 The king extended to Esther the gold scepter that was in his hand, and Esther approached and touched the end of the scepter.
5:3 The king said to her, “What is on your mind, 7 Queen Esther? What is your request? Even as much as half the kingdom will be given to you!”
5:4 Esther replied, “If the king is so inclined, 8 let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.” 5:5 The king replied, “Find Haman quickly so that we can do as Esther requests.”
So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared. 5:6 While at the banquet of wine, the king said to Esther, “What is your request? It shall be given to you. What is your petition? Ask for as much as half the kingdom, 9 and it shall be done!”
5:7 Esther responded, 10 “My request and my petition is this: 5:8 If I have found favor in the king’s sight and if the king is inclined 11 to grant my request and perform my petition, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet that I will prepare for them. At that time 12 I will do as the king wishes. 13