Esther
Summary
Esther Chapter 7 brings Haman’s sinister plot to a final and decisive end. At her second banquet, Esther revealed her identity and pleaded for the life of her people, pointing to Haman as the "vile adversary." Enraged, King Xerxes ordered Haman’s execution on the very gallows Haman had built for Mordecai. This chapter demonstrates the swift justice of God and the ultimate failure of pride and malice. The enemy of the Jews was destroyed by his own device, while the king's anger was finally satisfied as the immediate threat to Esther and her people was removed.
So the king and Haman went to the banquet with Queen Esther.
As they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, "Queen Esther, what is your petition? It shall be granted. What is your request? Even up to half of the kingdom, it shall be done."
Then Queen Esther answered, "If I have found favour in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, grant me my life; this is my petition. And spare my people; this is my request."
"For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed, and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as slaves, I would have kept silent, for such a distress would not be worth disturbing the king."
King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, "Who is he? Where is the man who has dared to do such a thing?"
Esther said, "The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!" Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen.
The king got up in a rage, left his wine, and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realising that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.
Just as the king returned from the garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, "Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?" As soon as the king spoke, they covered Haman’s face.
Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, "A gallows seventy-five feet high stands by Haman’s house. He had it made for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king." The king said, "Hang him on it!"
So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided.