Esther 5:14
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His wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, “Have them build a gallows fifty cubits high, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and enjoy yourself.” The advice pleased Haman, and he had the gallows constructed.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Esther's Gracious Reception by the King. Haman's Rage against Mordochai - Est 5:1-14 On the third day Esther betook herself in her royal apparel to the inner court of the palace, and was so kindly received by the king, that he promised to grant her any petition she might make; whereupon she requested the king to come with Haman that day to a banquet which she had prepared (Est 5:1-8). On returning from this banquet, Haman saw Mordochai in the king's gate, and when the latter did not bow before him, was so enraged, that, upon the advice of his wife and friends, he resolved to induce the king to permit the execution of Mordochai on the following day (Est 5:9-14).
Open source ↗The last news we had of Haman left him in his cups, Est 3:15. Our last news of queen Esther left her in tears, fasting and praying. Now this chapter brings in, I. Esther in her joys, smiled upon by the king and honoured with his company at her banquet of wine (Est 5:1-8). II. Haman upon the fret, because he had not Mordecai's cap and knee, and with great indignation setting up a gallows for him (Est 5:9-14). Thus those that sow in tears shall reap in joy, but the triumphing of the wicked is short.
Open source ↗5:14 A sharpened pole was a common device of execution (see also 2:23; Gen 40:19, 22; Josh 8:29). • Seventy-five feet is unusually high, but Haman wanted to make an example out of Mordecai, with everyone viewing his dead body. The number might be a hyperbole for effect—fifty cubits is an obviously round number—or it might reflect a stake placed high atop the city wall for public viewing.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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“Who is in the court?” the king asked. Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to ask the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows he had prepared for him.
The wicked have drawn the sword and bent the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.
But his wife Jezebel said to him, “Do you not reign over Israel? Get up, eat some food, and be cheerful, for I will get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”
Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them,
(Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel.
The nations have fallen into a pit of their making; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.
Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them.
But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives.
And those who dwell on the earth will gloat over them, and will celebrate and send one another gifts, because these two prophets had tormented them.
For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.