Esther 7

The Second Banquet

1 So the king and Haman went to dine with Queen Esther.

2 As they were drinking wine on the second day, the king asked again, “Queen Esther, what is your request, I will give it to you, up to half my kingdom.”

Esther Speaks Up

3 Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, king, and if it pleases you, spare my life, and the lives of my people. That is my request.

4 We have been sold, to be wiped out, killed, and destroyed. If we were just being sold into slavery, I would not have bothered you. But this is life or death.”

The King’s Anger Ignites

5 King Ahasuerus asked Queen Esther, “Who is he, Where is the man who dared to do this?”

6 Esther said, “The enemy and oppressor is this wicked Haman!” Haman was terrified in front of the king and queen.

Judgment on Haman

7 The king got up in anger, left his wine, and went into the palace garden. Haman stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life, because he saw the king had already decided his fate.

8 When the king came back from the garden into the banquet hall, Haman had thrown himself on the couch where Esther was lying. The king shouted, “Will he even assault the queen while I am here In the house?” As soon as the words left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.

9 Then Harbona, one of the king’s eunuchs, said, “There is a pole seventy-five feet high standing by Haman’s house. He set it up for Mordecai, the man who spoke up to save the king.” The king said, “Impale him on It!”

10 So they impaled Haman on the pole he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s anger cooled down.