ey that Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasury.
Also he gave him a copy of the order to destroy them, that had been
given out in Susa, to show to Esther that she might know about it. He
also urged her to go to the king and ask his mercy and plead with him
for her people.

When Hathach came and told Esther what Mordecai had said, she commanded
Hathach to go and say to Mordecai, "All the king's servants and the
people of the king's provinces know that death is the punishment for
every man or woman who goes to the king into the inner court without
being called, except for the one to whom the king may hold out the
golden sceptre, which means that he may live. But now for thirty days I
have not been called to go in to the king."

When Mordecai was told what Esther had said, he sent back this answer to
Esther, "Do not think that you alone of all the Jews will escape because
you belong to the king's household. If you keep silent at this time,
help will come to the Jews from somewhere else, but you and your family
will perish. Who knows but that you have been raised to the throne for a
time like this?"

Then Esther sent this message to Mordecai: "Go, gather all the Jews in
Susa and fast for me; do not eat nor drink anything for three days and
nights. I and my maids will fast also, and so I will go in to the king,
although it is against the law. And if I perish I perish." So Mordecai
went away and did as Esther directed.

On the third day, Esther put on her royal garments and stood in the
inner court of the royal palace opposite the king's house. The king was
sitting on his throne in the palace, opposite the entrance. When he saw
Esther, the queen, standing in the court, she won his favor, and he held
out to her the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther went up
and touched the top of the sceptre. Then the king said to her, "Whatever
you wish, Queen Esther, and whatever you ask, it shall be granted, even
if it is the half of the kingdom." Esther said, "If it seems best to the
king, let the king and Haman come to-day to the feast that I have
prepared for him." Then the king said, "Bring Haman quickly, that
Esther's wish may be granted."

So the king and Haman went to the feast that Esther had prepared. While
they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, "Whatever you ask
shall be granted, even if it takes the half of my kingdom." Esther
answered, "If I have won the king's favor and if it seems best to