The Book of Esther

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- Chapter 7 -

Haman is hanged instead of Mordecai

So the king and Haman went to feast with Queen Esther.

On this second day, while they were serving wine, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition, Queen Esther? It will be granted to you. What is your request? Up to half of the kingdom, and it will be granted.”

Then Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your eyes, king, and if it pleases you, let my life be given to me-this is my petition, and I request this also for my people.

For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, killed, and annihilated. If we had only been sold into slavery, as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, for no such distress as this would justify disturbing the king.”

Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen, “Who is he? Where is the one who has filled his heart to do such a thing?”

Esther said, “The hostile man, that enemy, is this evil Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.

The king got up in a rage from the wine-drinking at the feast and went into the palace garden, but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther. He saw that disaster was being decided against him by the king.

Then the king returned from the palace garden into the room where the wine had been served. Haman had just fallen on the couch where Esther was. The king said, “Will he assault the queen in my presence in my own house?” As soon as this sentence came out of the king’s mouth, the servants covered Haman’s face.

Then Harbona, one of the officials who served the king, said, “A gallows fifty cubits tall stands beside Haman’s house. He set it up for Mordecai, the one who spoke up to protect the king.” The king said, “Hang him on it.”

So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s rage died down.

Haman is hanged instead of Mordecai

So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.

The 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.”

Then 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.

For 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.”

Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen, “ Who is he, and where is he who dared presume in his heart to do so?”

Esther said, “An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman!” Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

The 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.

Then 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.

Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs who were with the king, said, “ Behold, the gallows fifty cubits(a) 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!”

So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath was pacified.

Footnotes

(a)7:9 A cubit is the length from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow on a man’s arm, or about 18 inches or 46 centimeters.