Esther 6:12b-8:2
"But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered. And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him.
Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.” (Esther 6:12b-13)
Frustrated and depressed over having his plan to have Mordecai killed for not showing him the respect he wanted, Haman returned home to talk to his wife and advisors to see what he could do. They were not very encouraging. Though they were nearly six hundred miles away, they were familiar with numerous times in history when god had protected the Jews from vastly superior forces. If God was protecting Mordecai, Haman could not win and would surely be destroyed. It wasn’t what Haman wanted to hear!
“And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.” (Esther 6:14)
Even before they could devise a new strategy to protect their own interests, the messengers came to inform Haman that the dinner was now ready. Although his ego had suffered a major blow, Being the only guest at the queen’s dinner was still a high honor, and Haman went eagerly.
“So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
And 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.
Then 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: For 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.” (Esther 7:1-4)
At the dinner, Ahasuerus repeated his offer to give Esther whatever she wanted. Her response was that she was asking that she and her people not be killed as the decree had been given. As she said, if it had been just a matter of making slaves m she would not have said anything, even though it would seriously hurt the empire. Unfortunately, the decree called for their execution, not just slavery.
“Then 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?
And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
And 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.” (Esther 7:5-7)
Haman had told Ahasuerus that there was a group plotting to destroy the empire, and Ahasuerus had taken his word and given him permission to destroy them without seeking any details. Haman had not brought a copy of the command to him, and since it was marked with his official seal, everybody assumed he knew what it said and didn’t question it.
Ahasuerus was quite upset at the abuse of his trust and went into the garden privately to sort out and reorganize his thoughts to avoid making things even worse. Haman realized he was in trouble and approached Esther in an effort to play on her sympathy.
“Then 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.” (Esther 7:8)
A banquet was a time of relaxation and like the Greeks and later Romans, wealthy hosts provided a couch or bed where a guest could sit or lie to eat while they relaxed. When Ahasuerus came in from the garden, Haman had prostrated himself on Esther’s couch. To Ahasureus, it looked as though he were threatening her. Ahasuerus was offended that he would openly attack her, and especially in such a disrespectful manner. The servants covered Haman’s face so the king would no longer have to see his face while he decided what to do.
“And 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.
So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.” (Esther 7:9-10)
One of the servants pointed out the huge gallows Haman had built to execute Mordecai despite Mordecai’s having saved the king’s life. Ahasuerus ordered that Haman be hanged on that very gallows.
“On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.
And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.” (Esther 8:1-2)
After Haman’s execution, the king gave Esther all Haman’s belongings, exactly the opposite of what Haman had intended to do. Esther explained her relationship to Mordecai, and Ahasuerus gave him the official seal ring, giving him the same authority he had originally given Haman. Esther gave Mordecai responsibility over Haman’s belongings. Haman got exactly what he tried to do to Mordecai.
By having Haman present when she made the accusation, Esther ensured that he would have a chance to face his accuser and address the charges. It was a deliberate effort to be fair to him.
"But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered. And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him.
Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.” (Esther 6:12b-13)
Frustrated and depressed over having his plan to have Mordecai killed for not showing him the respect he wanted, Haman returned home to talk to his wife and advisors to see what he could do. They were not very encouraging. Though they were nearly six hundred miles away, they were familiar with numerous times in history when god had protected the Jews from vastly superior forces. If God was protecting Mordecai, Haman could not win and would surely be destroyed. It wasn’t what Haman wanted to hear!
“And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.” (Esther 6:14)
Even before they could devise a new strategy to protect their own interests, the messengers came to inform Haman that the dinner was now ready. Although his ego had suffered a major blow, Being the only guest at the queen’s dinner was still a high honor, and Haman went eagerly.
“So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
And 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.
Then 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: For 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.” (Esther 7:1-4)
At the dinner, Ahasuerus repeated his offer to give Esther whatever she wanted. Her response was that she was asking that she and her people not be killed as the decree had been given. As she said, if it had been just a matter of making slaves m she would not have said anything, even though it would seriously hurt the empire. Unfortunately, the decree called for their execution, not just slavery.
“Then 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?
And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
And 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.” (Esther 7:5-7)
Haman had told Ahasuerus that there was a group plotting to destroy the empire, and Ahasuerus had taken his word and given him permission to destroy them without seeking any details. Haman had not brought a copy of the command to him, and since it was marked with his official seal, everybody assumed he knew what it said and didn’t question it.
Ahasuerus was quite upset at the abuse of his trust and went into the garden privately to sort out and reorganize his thoughts to avoid making things even worse. Haman realized he was in trouble and approached Esther in an effort to play on her sympathy.
“Then 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.” (Esther 7:8)
A banquet was a time of relaxation and like the Greeks and later Romans, wealthy hosts provided a couch or bed where a guest could sit or lie to eat while they relaxed. When Ahasuerus came in from the garden, Haman had prostrated himself on Esther’s couch. To Ahasureus, it looked as though he were threatening her. Ahasuerus was offended that he would openly attack her, and especially in such a disrespectful manner. The servants covered Haman’s face so the king would no longer have to see his face while he decided what to do.
“And 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.
So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.” (Esther 7:9-10)
One of the servants pointed out the huge gallows Haman had built to execute Mordecai despite Mordecai’s having saved the king’s life. Ahasuerus ordered that Haman be hanged on that very gallows.
“On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.
And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.” (Esther 8:1-2)
After Haman’s execution, the king gave Esther all Haman’s belongings, exactly the opposite of what Haman had intended to do. Esther explained her relationship to Mordecai, and Ahasuerus gave him the official seal ring, giving him the same authority he had originally given Haman. Esther gave Mordecai responsibility over Haman’s belongings. Haman got exactly what he tried to do to Mordecai.
By having Haman present when she made the accusation, Esther ensured that he would have a chance to face his accuser and address the charges. It was a deliberate effort to be fair to him.
A great example of how pride sets people up for a fall, as in the case of Mordecai who felt no compunction over his own wicked heart, but instead he thought he deserved a great honor. It also is a great example of how, in Esther's case, waiting on God's perfect timing always ensures the best result. May God continue to bless your ministry in the New Year and until He comes again.
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