Sunday Sermonette: Hang ' em high

I just have two comments about today ' s passage. The first is that the emperor twice offers Esther half of his kingdom. This seems like quite an impulsive act, especially toward a woman he hasn ' t even bothered to see for the past month. If I were her I would have taken it -- any Jews in the other half who are in danger can come to her part. The other rather weird detail is that the gallows, that Haman builds in a single day, is 23 meters high. It seems typical in the Tanakh for numbers to be multiplied by at least ten, or  to  even more implausibly large. Anyway, we can see how Esther is setting up Haman for a rude surprise.5 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king ’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance.2 When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.3 Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”4 “If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.”5 “Bring Haman at once,” the king said, “so that we may do what Esther asks.”So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared.6 As they were drinking...
Source: Stayin' Alive - Category: American Health Source Type: blogs