And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.”
Esther has just risked her life. She entered the king's inner court without being called, and the law demanded death for that. Instead the king raised his golden scepter and made her an open offer. So what does that welcome mean for a woman with no right to be there? And what will she do with a promise this large?
Access where the law said death
A single rule closed the court of Ahasuerus: come uninvited and you die. The king asks his question against that background.
The Bible TreasuryThe way into king Ahasuerus's throne room was fenced in by a law that could not be changed: anyone who came near without being called must be put to death. Esther drew near with her petition and stood in the inner court of the king's house... She had access into the favour of the king, and so obtained the lives of her countrymen. Those justified by faith have access into the favour of God. And to undeserving people like us, the Lord Jesus Christ is far more than the golden scepter stretched out to Esther.
A promise larger than her prayer
Esther came to plead for her people's survival. The king's words hand her far more than she came to ask for. One writer notes that she then gives him a chance to confirm the offer.
H. L. RossierShe is received in grace! How her heart must overflow with joy! Deliverance has not happened yet, but the grace that brings deliverance has appeared before Esther's eyes... From the very first instant, she is sure of sharing half of the king's possessions. Her requests may go far beyond everything she had wanted to ask him... Esther puts off her request to a later time. She invites the king and Haman to her feast, and so gives him the chance to confirm his promise. Now a confirmed promise, which bound the king alone, could not be cancelled.
The scepter keeps its word
The raised scepter had already spoken before the king opened his mouth. His offer says out loud what the gesture already meant. One writer sees in that a picture of how God's promises work.
J. G. BellettThe scepter, again let us say, was true to itself. What a truth this carries! The promise of God, the work of the Lord Jesus, is like this scepter. These have gone before us — pledges signed by the hand of our God and spoken from His mouth. Eternity will be true to them, and endless ages of glory, bearing witness to salvation, will make them good. Nothing is too great a price to redeem such pledges. Here the king lays half of his kingdom at Esther's feet, for her to use as she wishes.
Generosity or boast?
Commentators differ on how to take the words "even to the half of my kingdom." Some hear real generosity. One writer sets Esther's restraint beside a famous misuse of the same offer.
Leslie M. GrantThe king's words to her were most generous, offering her whatever she wanted, up to half of his kingdom! King Herod later made such a foolish promise to the daughter of Herodias because her dancing pleased him (Mark 6:22-23). But Esther did not take criminal advantage of the king as the daughter of Herodias did.
Others hear a boast. Ahasuerus made the same offer more than once, and another writer thinks Herod was copying him.
The Bible TreasurySo Ahasuerus promised Esther more than once that he would grant her request, up to half of his kingdom (Esther 5:3, 6; Esther 7:2). Herod may have thought, foolishly, that he was copying the great world-emperor with this boastful pledge.
Wisdom that does not rush
Handed a blank cheque, Esther asks only for a dinner invitation. One writer traces that delay to God.
William KellyGod gave her wisdom. She does not at once bring out what was so heavy a burden on her heart. "Whoever believes will not be in haste." The unseen God who was the object of her trust enabled her soul to wait. She asks not only the king to the banquet, but the king and Haman... Little did Haman know what the God who did not appear was preparing for him.
The scepter extended to all
One writer reads the golden scepter as a picture of the way now open to God.
Arno Clemens GaebeleinThe golden scepter tells of divine righteousness, power and grace. That scepter is extended to all who come to God in that blessed and worthy Name. We can come with boldness to the throne of grace, obtaining mercy and finding grace to help in time of need.
Summary
- Access. The law shut the door with a death sentence. The raised scepter opened it. Esther's welcome pictures the access into God's favour that belongs to those justified by faith.
- Grace. She was "received in grace" before the king granted her anything. Deliverance had not come yet, but the grace that brings it had already appeared.
- Promise. The offer of half the kingdom reached far past what she came to ask. Once the king confirmed it, nothing could cancel it.
- Restraint. Handed everything, she asked only for a banquet. God gave her the wisdom that waits.
- Reliability. The scepter was true to itself. So are God's pledges and the work of the Lord Jesus. No price is too great to make them good.