Esther 5:1-8 NKJV Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, across from the king's house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house.
So it was, then the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand, Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter.

And the king said to her, "What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you--up to half the kingdom!"

So Esther answered, "If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him."

At the banquet of wine the king said to Esther, "What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!"

Then Esther answered and said,"My petition and request is this:

"If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said."

Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

Esther 7:1-4 So the king and Haman went to dine with Queen Esther.

And on the second day, at the banquet of wine, the king again said to Esther, "What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!"

Then Queen Esther answered and said, "If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request.

"For we have been sold, my people and I, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. Had we been sold as male and female slaves, I would have held my tongue, although they enemy could never compensate for the king's loss."

Mark 6:14-29 Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known, And he said, "John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him."

Others said, "It is Elijah."

And others said, "It is a Prophet, or like one of the prophets."

But when Herod heard, he said, "This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!"

For Herod himself had sent and laid hold on John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her.

Because John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not;

for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee.

And when Herodias' daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, "Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you."

He also swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom."

So she went and said to her mother, "What shall I ask? And she said, "The head of John the Baptist!"

Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.

And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her.

Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison,

brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.

When the disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.

Esther 6:12-14 Afterward Mordecai, went back to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered.

When Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him, his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, "If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him but will surely fall before him."

While they were still talking with him, the king's eunuchs came, and hastened to bring Haman to the banquet which Esther had prepared.