Sorry! I wasn't able to post a chapter yesterday because i was hanging out with Leah. So I'm going to post two chapters today :)


Esther 4


(1) When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. (2) But, he went only as far as the king's gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. (3) In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was a great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.


(4) When Esther's maids and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. (5) Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs assigned to attend to her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.


(6) So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king's gate. (7) Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. (8) He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and to explain to her, and he told him to urge her to go into the king's precense and beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.
(9) Hathach went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. (10) Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, (11) "All the king's officials and the people of the royal provinces know that any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: That he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend his gold sceptor to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since i was called on by the king."
(12) When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, (13) he gave back this answer, "Do not think of that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. (14) For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance fro the Jews will rise from another place, but you and your father's family shall perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
(15) Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:(16) "Go, gather all the Jews in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."
(17) So Mordecai went to carry out all of Esther's instructions.
Esther Chapter 5
(1) 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 the 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 Esther? What is your request? Even if it be half the kingdom it will be given to you."
(4) "If it pleases the king," replied Esther, "Let the king, together with Haman, come today for a banquet I have prepared for him."
(5) "Bring Haman at once." said the king, "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 wine, the king again asked Esther, "Now, what is your petition? It will be given to you. And what is your request? Even if it be half the kingdom it will be yours."
(7) And Esther replied, "My petition and my request is this: (8) If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow for another banquet that I shall prepare for you."
(9) Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. but when he saw Mordecai at the king's gate and observed that he neither rose or showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. (10) Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, (11) Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. (12) "And that's not all," Haman continued, "I'm the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. (13) But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that filthy Jew Mordecai at the king's gate."
(14) His wife and friends said to him, "Have a gallows built, sevety five feet high, and ask the king in the Morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go with the king to the dinner and be happy." This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the gallows built.
What Haman doesnt know is that he built his own gallow :)