Esther 7

Esther 7:1

C. Esther’s Accusation and Haman’s Execution (Chap. 7)7:1-4 Esther’s second banquet turned out to have ramifications which would shake the entire kingdom, starting with Haman’s house. At the king’s bidding she finally made her appeal. She asked for her own life and the lives of her people, who had been sentenced to death. If they had only been sold as . . . slaves she would have held her peace, “for the trouble would not be commensurate with the annoyance to the king” (v. 4b NASB). But the seriousness of their plight impelled her to act. 7:5-7a The king indignantly asked who had instigated such a heinous plot against Esther’s people. The queen had wisely invited Haman for just this moment. To his face she charged “this wicked Haman!” Haman’s true character was now fully revealed. Ahasuerus stalked out to the palace garden like a raging panther. His conscience might have been bothering him too as he remembered his part in approving the terrible scheme. It was hitting much closer to home than he had anticipated. 7:7b-10 In mortal fear Haman threw himself before Queen Esther, pleading for his life. The king, returning to the room, interpreted this as an attempt to assault his wife sexually. Haman’s fate was now sealed. Without an express word from the king, the servants covered his face, a preliminary to execution. One of them told the king about the gallows . . . Haman had built, and Ahasuerus ordered the villain to be hanged on it. Thus Haman took Mordecai’s place on the gallows. He reaped what he had sown. Then the king’s wrath subsided.