Summary
In the book of Esther, a rapid change of events in a few days, Mordecai from victim to victor – from Chapter 3 to Chapter 7. On the other hand, Haman from the heights of his career to being hanged in Chapter 7. Haman from boasting and pride to embarrassment and death within days. Chapter 6 unveils God’s intervention.
Morals of the story:
Be humble and righteous. Fast during bad times. Take risks and make a firm stand in times of adversity. Ultimately, God is a brilliant chess player behind the scenes or events.
Esther 6:1-7,9-13
[1]That same night the king could not get to sleep, so he ordered the official records of the empire to be brought and read to him.
[2]The part they read included the account of how Mordecai had uncovered a plot to assassinate the king — the plot made by Bigthana and Teresh, the two palace eunuchs who had guarded the king’s rooms.
[3]The king asked, “How have we honoured and rewarded Mordecai for this?”His servants answered, “Nothing has been done for him.”
[4]“Are any of my officials in the palace?” the king asked.Now Haman had just entered the courtyard; he had come to ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on the gallows that was now ready.
[5]So the servants answered, “Haman is here, waiting to see you.”“Show him in,” said the king.
[6]So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “There is someone I wish very much to honour. What should I do for this man?”Haman thought to himself, “Now who could the king want to honour so much? Me, of course.”
7 So he answered the king, “Order royal robes to be brought for this man — robes that you yourself wear. Order a royal ornament to be put on your own horse.
[9]Then get one of your highest noblemen to dress the man in these robes and lead him, mounted on the horse, through the city square. Let the nobleman announce as they go: ‘See how the king rewards a person he wishes to honour!’ ”
[10]Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry and get the robes and the horse, and provide these honours for Mordecai the Jew. Do everything for him that you have suggested. You will find him sitting at the entrance of the palace.”
[11]So Haman got the robes and the horse, and he put the robes on Mordecai. Mordecai got on the horse, and Haman led him through the city square, announcing to the people as they went: “See how the king rewards a man he wishes to honour!”
[12]Mordecai then went back to the palace entrance while Haman hurried home, covering his face in embarrassment.
[13]He told his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then she and those wise friends of his said to him, “You are beginning to lose power to Mordecai. He is a Jew, and you cannot overcome him. He will certainly defeat you.”
Esther 7:1-10
[1]And so the king and Haman went to eat with Esther
[2]for a second time. Over the wine the king asked her again, “Now, Queen Esther, what do you want? Tell me and you shall have it. I’ll even give you half the empire.”
[3]Queen Esther answered, “If it please Your Majesty to grant my humble request, my wish is that I may live and that my people may live.
[4]My people and I have been sold for slaughter. If it were nothing more serious than being sold into slavery, I would have kept quiet and not bothered you about it; but we are about to be destroyed — exterminated!”
[5]Then King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who dares to do such a thing? Where is this man?”
[6]Esther answered, “Our enemy, our persecutor, is this evil man Haman!”Haman stared at the king and queen in terror.
[7]The king got up in a fury, left the room, and went outside to the palace gardens. Haman could see that the king was determined to punish him for this, so he stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.
[8]He had just thrown himself down on Esther’s couch to beg for mercy, when the king came back into the room from the gardens. Seeing this, the king cried out, “Is this man going to rape the queen right here in front of me, in my own palace?”The king had no sooner said this than the eunuchs covered Haman’s head.
[9]Then one of them, who was named Harbonah, said, “Haman even went so far as to build a gallows at his house so that he could hang Mordecai, who saved Your Majesty’s life. And it’s 22 metres tall!”“Hang Haman on it!” the king commanded.
[10]So Haman was hanged on the gallows that he had built for Mordecai. Then the king’s anger cooled down.