The verse "And she said, My request and my petition are:" (Esther 5:7, Greek Septuagint translation) is part of a crucial moment in the Book of Esther. To understand its meaning, we need to consider the context:
Esther's Situation: Esther is a Jewish woman who has become queen of Persia. Haman, a powerful official, has plotted to annihilate all the Jews in the kingdom. Esther is risking her life by approaching the king uninvited to plead for her people.
Esther's Strategy: Esther is a clever and strategic woman. Instead of immediately revealing her concerns, she invites the king and Haman to a banquet (5:4). This is a calculated move to gain the king's favor and create a more opportune moment to reveal her request.
The Verse's Significance: In 5:7, the king has again asked Esther what her request is. This verse marks a further delay. Instead of laying out her request, she is building anticipation. She doesn't reveal her petition yet.
The meaning of the verse "And she said, My request and my petition are:" is that Esther is postponing the revelation of her request. She acknowledges that she does have a request and a petition, but she is not ready to disclose them yet.
Why does she do this?
Several reasons have been suggested:
To further ingratiate herself with the king: By inviting him to another banquet, she makes him feel important and valued.
To solidify her position: She wants to ensure the king is in the best possible mood to grant her request.
To ensure Haman's presence: She needs Haman to be present when she reveals his wickedness so that he can be dealt with.
Strategic Timing: She's waiting for the perfect moment, a time when the king will be most receptive to her plea.
In essence, Esther 5:7 is a dramatic pause, a moment of suspense that heightens the tension and emphasizes Esther's careful planning. It reveals that she is acting with deliberate intention and foresight to achieve her goal of saving her people.
The verse "And she said, My request and my petition are:" (Esther 5:7, Greek Septuagint translation) is part of a crucial moment in the Book of Esther. To understand its meaning, we need to consider the context:
Esther's Situation: Esther is a Jewish woman who has become queen of Persia. Haman, a powerful official, has plotted to annihilate all the Jews in the kingdom. Esther is risking her life by approaching the king uninvited to plead for her people.
Esther's Strategy: Esther is a clever and strategic woman. Instead of immediately revealing her concerns, she invites the king and Haman to a banquet (5:4). This is a calculated move to gain the king's favor and create a more opportune moment to reveal her request.
The Verse's Significance: In 5:7, the king has again asked Esther what her request is. This verse marks a further delay. Instead of laying out her request, she is building anticipation. She doesn't reveal her petition yet.
The meaning of the verse "And she said, My request and my petition are:" is that Esther is postponing the revelation of her request. She acknowledges that she does have a request and a petition, but she is not ready to disclose them yet.
Why does she do this?
Several reasons have been suggested:
To further ingratiate herself with the king: By inviting him to another banquet, she makes him feel important and valued.
To solidify her position: She wants to ensure the king is in the best possible mood to grant her request.
To ensure Haman's presence: She needs Haman to be present when she reveals his wickedness so that he can be dealt with.
Strategic Timing: She's waiting for the perfect moment, a time when the king will be most receptive to her plea.
In essence, Esther 5:7 is a dramatic pause, a moment of suspense that heightens the tension and emphasizes Esther's careful planning. It reveals that she is acting with deliberate intention and foresight to achieve her goal of saving her people.
