3 Then the king said to her, "What is it, Queen Esther? What do you want? I’ll give you anything—even half the kingdom."
4 Esther answered, "Today is a special day for me. If the king wishes, please come today with Haman for a special dinner that I will prepare."
5 "Hurry, get Haman," the king ordered, "so we can do what Esther says." So the king and Haman came to the dinner that Esther spoke about.
6 As they sipped wine, the king asked, "Now, what is it you wish, Queen Esther? I’ll give it to you, if you just ask."
7 Esther answered, "This is my wish and this is what I want:
8 If I have pleased the king, I’d like the king and Haman to come tomorrow to another special dinner that I will prepare for them. Tomorrow I will prepare the same things."
9 That day Haman left the king’s court happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, Haman became very angry.
10 Haman went on home and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh.
11 Haman told them about his wealth and the great honor the king had given him by promoting him to the highest office in the kingdom.
12 Haman said, "Queen Esther has invited no one else but me to join the king for dinner, and I’m supposed to go tomorrow!
13 But none of this gives me any pleasure as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate."
14 So his wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, "Order preparation of a pole that is seventy-five feet high. In the morning, speak with the king about having Mordecai impaled on it. Then you can go with the king to the feast in a happy mood." Haman liked the idea and had the pole prepared.