Esther
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Esther 7
Esther 7
1So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
2And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.
1So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
2And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.
Commentary · verses 1-2
3Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor in thy sight, O king, and if it please 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 bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king’s damage.
3Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please 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 bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king’s damage.
Commentary · verses 3-4
Esther requested her life and the life of her people be saved. Notice, Esther positioned the request as protection for the king's wife. How could Ahasuerus turn this down?
5Then spake the king Ahasuerus and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?
5Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?
Commentary · verse 5
Ahasuerus essentially agreed to Esther's request and wanted information so he could fulfill it. Ahasuerus still did not know she was a Jewess. This critical question that led to the Featured Story Resolution was the fourth hidden Name of God. EHYEH: "Who is he, and where is he." God's Hand was clear in this specific circumstance.
6And Esther said, An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
6And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
Commentary · verse 6
Esther told Ahasuerus it was Haman, while Haman was sitting there. It looked like Haman did not know she was a Jewess. Would Haman have asked for the decree if he knew Esther was a Jewess?
7And the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden: and 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.
7And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and 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.
Commentary · verse 7
Ahasuerus immediately went to the garden to think. He had recently promoted Haman and trusted his advice. Ahasuerus' leaving caused Haman to begin begging for his life from Esther because he knew kings did not abruptly leave banquets unless something drastic was going to happen.
This verse also contained the fifth and final hidden Name of God. JHVH: "that there was evil determined against him." Can you see God's Hand in all of these hidden passages?
8Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the couch whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he even force the queen before me in the house? As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.
8Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.
Commentary · verse 8
In Haman's desperation, he was on the bed with Esther begging for his life. The king walked in and pronounced judgment on Haman by having his face covered. This meant Haman was no longer worthy to be looked at and was condemned to death.
9Then said Harbonah, one of the chamberlains that were before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman hath made for Mordecai, who spake good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. And the king said, Hang him thereon.
9And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.
Commentary · verse 9
One of the household servants pointed out the gallows Haman made for Mordecai as a solution to the king's death sentence. Notice, the servant knew about Haman's plan.
10So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.
10So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.
Commentary · verse 10
Haman was hung on the gallows he made for Mordecai and the king's anger was gone. The Featured Story Conflict seemed to be Resolved: Haman was no more, but what about the law that could not be repealed?
The king asked Esther, a third time, what her request was. And again, up to half the kingdom.