Esther approaches King Ahasuerus and gains his favor and prepares a feast for the king and Haman. At the feast she prevails upon them to come to a second feast. Haman joy is crushed when he is reminded of Mordecai, whom he makes plans to hang.
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(5:1) |
LXX Addition D provides a different account of this scene. The king was first enraged when he saw Esther, because she had dared to appear before him unveiled. Perceiving this, she was so terrified that she fainted away. |
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(5:3) |
(RL)Though G‑d's name is not mentioned explicitly in the Megillah, it is alluded to in various ways. Thus, for example, the first letters of the above phrase (in Hebrew) make up the Name of G‑d. This is the deeper meaning of the Mishnaic law: He who reads the Megillah backwards (out of sequence) does not fulfill his obligation; for the allusions to G‑d's Name will not have been read in proper sequence. original Hebrew text: "יָבוֹא הַמֶּלֶךְ וְהָמָן הַיּוֹם, אֶל-הַמִּשְׁתֶּה אֲשֶׁר-עָשִׂיתִי לו" The first four letters of the first four words form together the Hebrew name of God: י-ה-ו-ה (Y-H-W-H). |
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(5:14) |
A cubit is about 18 inches, meaning the gallows would be 75 feet high. |