And he put himself under oath to her, Whatever you ask me, I will give it to you, even to the half of my kingdom. [Esth. 5:3, 6.]
Then he said, May God do so to me, and more also, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day!
Then the king said to her, What will you have, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of the kingdom.
So the king and Haman came to the dinner that Esther had prepared.
And the king said again to Esther on the second day when wine was being served, What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted. And what is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom, it shall be performed.
You are snared with the words of your lips, you are caught by the speech of your mouth.
And so he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.
And he said to Him, These things, all taken together, I will give You, if You will prostrate Yourself before me and do homage and worship me.
Then she left the room and said to her mother, What shall I ask for [myself]? And she replied, The head of John the Baptist!
And Saul swore to her by the Lord, saying, As the Lord lives, there shall no punishment come to you for this.