Esther7
World English Bible · Public Domain
1So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
2The king said again to Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition, queen Esther? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.”
3Then Esther the queen answered, “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.
4For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for male and female slaves, I would have held my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king’s loss.”
5Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen, “Who is he, and where is he who dared presume in his heart to do so?”
6Esther said, “An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman!” Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
7The king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden. Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen, for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.
8Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman had fallen on the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, “Will he even assault the queen in front of me in the house?” As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.
9Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs who were with the king, said, “Behold, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman has made for Mordecai, who spoke good for the king, is standing at Haman’s house.” The king said, “Hang him on it!”
10So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath was pacified.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Esther 7.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Esther accuses Haman. (1–6). Haman hanged on his own gallows. (7–10).
vv1-6
If the love of life causes earnest pleadings with those that can only kill the body, how fervent should our prayers be to Him, who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell! How should we pray for the salvation of our relatives, friends, and all around us! When we petition great men, we must be cautious not to give them offence; even just complaints must often be kept back. But when we approach the King of kings with reverence, we cannot ask or expect too much. Though nothing but wrath be our due, God is able and willing to do exceeding abundantly, even beyond all we can ask or think.
vv7-10
The king was angry: those that do things with self-will, reflect upon them afterward with self-reproach. When angry, we should pause before we come to any resolution, and thus rule our own spirits, and show that we are governed by reason. Those that are most haughty and insolent when in power and prosperity, commonly, like Haman, are the most abject and poor-spirited when brought down. The day is coming when those that hate and persecute God's chosen ones, would gladly be beholden to them. The king returns yet more angry against Haman. Those about him were ready to put his wrath into execution. How little can proud men be sure of the interest they think they have! The enemies of God's church have often been thus taken in their own craftiness. The Lord is known by such judgments. Then was the king's wrath pacified, and not till then. And who pities Haman hanged on his own gallows? who does not rather rejoice in the Divine righteousness displayed in the destruction his own art brought upon him? Let the workers of iniquity tremble, turn to the Lord, and seek pardon through the blood of Jesus.
Key Words
מֶלֶךְ: a king
הָמָן: Haman, a Persian vizier
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
שָׁתָה: to imbibe (literally or figuratively)
מַלְכָּה: a queen
אֶסְתֵּר: Ester, the Jewish heroine
שֵׁנִי: properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially, again
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
מִשְׁתֶּה: drink, by implication, drinking (the act); also (by implication) a banquet or (generally) feast
יַיִן: wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication
Cross References
Esther 7Harbonah notes the gallows fifty cubits high that Haman had previously prepared for Mordecai.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Esther's phrase 'we are sold' directly references Haman's offer of ten thousand talents to destroy them.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Poetic justice of the wicked being caught in the net and pit they prepared for others.
Supported by JFB
The king repeats his banquet offer of petition to Esther, up to half his kingdom.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Harbonah was one of the chamberlains sent to bring Haman to the banquet.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; Haman is hanged on his own gallows.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Esther contrasts their total destruction with being sold as bondmen and bondwomen.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Refers to Mordecai's loyalty in saving the king, which Harbonah brings to the king's attention.
Supported by Matthew Poole