Esther 5:14

“Then said Zeresh his wife, and all his friends, unto him, etc.] His wife very probably first moved it, and all his friends present approved of it and united in it: let a gallows be made, of fifty cubits, high; that the person hanged thereon might be seen at a distance, and so be a greater reproach to him, and a terror to others, to take care they were not guilty of the same offence: Cartalo was ordered by his father to be fixed to the highest cross in the sight of the city f137; and it was usual for crosses to be erected very high f138 both for that purpose, and for greater infamy and disgrace f139: and tomorrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon; get a grant from…”

“A gallows, in the ordinary sense, is scarcely intended, since hanging was not a Persian punishment. The intention, no doubt, was to crucify (see the Esther 2:23 note) or impale Mordecai; and the pale or cross was to be 75 feet high, to make the punishment more conspicuous. Speak thou unto the king ... - Requests for leave to put persons to death were often made to Persian kings by their near relatives, but only rarely by others. return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliographical Information Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on Esther 5". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb/esther-5.html. 1870.…”

“Fifty cubits - That it may be more conspicuous to all, and thereby be more disgraceful to Mordecai, and strike all Haman's enemies with a greater dread of despising or opposing him. Next: Esther Chapter 6”

“5:14 A sharpened pole was a common device of execution (see also 2:23; Gen 40:19, 22; Josh 8:29). • Seventy-five feet is unusually high, but Haman wanted to make an example out of Mordecai, with everyone viewing his dead body. The number might be a hyperbole for effect—fifty cubits is an obviously round number—or it might reflect a stake placed high atop the city wall for public viewing.”

“said Zeresh: Sa2 13:3-5; Kg1 21:7, Kg1 21:25; Ch2 22:3, Ch2 22:4; Mar 6:19-24 Let a gallows: Heb. Let a tree, Est 7:9 speak thou: Est 3:8-15, Est 6:4 go thou in: Est 3:15; Kg1 21:7; Amo 6:4-6; Rev 11:10 the thing: Sa2 16:21-23, Sa2 17:1-4; Mar 14:10, Mar 14:11; Act 23:14, Act 23:15; Rom 1:32 he caused: Est 7:10; Psa 7:13-16, Psa 9:15, Psa 37:14, Psa 37:32; Pro 1:18, Pro 4:16; Rom 3:15 Next: Esther Chapter 6”