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Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture
plus an explanation with links

2014 December 16





Image 1: Esther Before Ahasuerus (1470s)
Jacopo da Sellaio (c. 1441 - 1493)
Renaissance Style
Szepmuveszeti Muzeum, Budapest, Hungary
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art

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Image 2: Wedding Dinner (1636)
Jacob Gerritsz van Hasselt (c. 1598 - c. 1674)
Baroque Style
Centraal Museum, Utrecht, Netherlands
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art

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Image 3: Magpie on the Gallow (1568)
Pieter Bruegel the Elder (c. 1525 - 1569)
Flemish Renaissance Style
Hessisches Landesmuseum, Darmstadt, Germany
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art


     Explanation: In Esther 5 Esther invites Ahasuerus and Haman to two banquets in preparation for presenting a petition for deliverance; and Haman prepares to hang Mordecai. The first painting above depicts Esther as she entered into the presence of Ahasuerus to begin the petition process. As a prelude to this, she arranged the two banquets just mentioned. The second painting is similar to the first banquet, in which the three principal participants were Ahasuerus, Haman, and Esther. The third painting is similar to the gallows upon which Haman hoped to hang Mordecai. [Traditional Patriarchal Timeline. Judges Period Chronology. Kings of Judah and Israel #1. Kings of Judah and Israel #2]. [Chronologically and Thematically Related Scriptures: Esther 4].
     Esther came before Ahasuerus, and he held out the royal scepter to her, thereby granting her his favor. He told her to ask anything up to half of the kingdom. She then asked the king and Haman to come to a banquet she had prepared. And the king and Haman came to the banquet (1-5). At the end of the banquet the king again asked what her request was and offered her anything up to half of the kingdom. She then invited the men to another banquet the next day with a promise to reveal her request at that time (6-8). Haman then went out joyfully; but when he saw Mordecai, who still refused to honor him, he was moved with indignation. But he refrained himself and went to his house and told his friends and family about all the glorious things which had happened to him. And when he told them about Mordecai's disrespect, they told him to erect a gallows and to ask the king to hang Mordecai on it. And Haman caused the gallows to be made (9-14).


Esther 5

     1 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. 2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. 3 Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom. 4 And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him. 5 Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
     6 And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed. 7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is; 8 If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.
     9 Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife. 11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. 12 Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king. 13 Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate. 14 Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.




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