Esther 7

King James Version

Full text for Esther Chapter 7

1¶ So 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.

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.

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?

6And Esther said, The adversary and enemy [is] this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

7¶ 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.

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.

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.

10So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

At the second banquet, Queen Esther reveals to King Ahasuerus that she and her people have been sold for destruction. When the enraged king demands to know the perpetrator, Esther identifies Haman as the wicked adversary. The king, in his wrath, orders Haman to be hanged on the very gallows Haman had prepared for Mordecai, thus pacifying his anger.

Medium Summary

During the second banquet, King Ahasuerus reiterates his promise to grant Queen Esther's petition, even to half of his kingdom. Esther then bravely reveals that her petition is for her own life and the lives of her people, explaining they have been sold to be utterly destroyed. An indignant King Ahasuerus demands to know who dared to conceive such a plot. Esther directly accuses Haman, who immediately becomes terrified. The king, filled with wrath, withdraws to the palace garden. Upon his return, he finds Haman prostrate near Esther, misinterpreting his plea as an assault. A chamberlain then informs the king about the fifty-cubit gallows Haman had built for Mordecai. Consequently, the king commands that Haman be hanged on his own gallows, bringing an end to the king's fury.

Long Summary

The chapter opens with King Ahasuerus and Haman attending Queen Esther's second banquet, a pivotal moment for Esther's revelation. On this occasion, the king once more presses Esther to declare her petition, reaffirming his commitment to grant her request, even if it meant surrendering half of his kingdom. Esther, seizing the moment, courageously reveals that her petition is for the preservation of her own life and the lives of her people, for they have been sold to be utterly destroyed, slain, and to perish. She emphasizes the gravity of the situation, stating that mere servitude would have been preferable, though still damaging to the king. Ahasuerus, upon hearing this, is filled with righteous indignation and demands to know the identity of the individual who dared to presume such an act. Esther, without hesitation, points to Haman, declaring him to be the wicked adversary and enemy, causing Haman to be seized with fear. In a fit of rage, the king rises from the banquet and retreats to the palace garden. During his absence, Haman, recognizing the dire consequences of his actions, desperately pleads with Queen Esther for his life. When the king returns from the garden, he finds Haman fallen upon the couch where Esther was reclining, leading him to a grave misinterpretation that Haman intended to assault the queen within the royal house. Immediately, Haman's face is covered, signifying his impending doom. At this critical juncture, Harbonah, one of the king's chamberlains, reveals that Haman had constructed a towering gallows, fifty cubits high, specifically for Mordecai, who had previously rendered a great service to the king. Without delay, King Ahasuerus issues the command for Haman to be hanged on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. This swift and just retribution pacifies the king's wrath, marking the dramatic downfall of Esther's adversary.

Core Concepts

  • Esther's PetitionThe queen's courageous request for her own life and the lives of her people, revealing the plot against them. This climactic moment sets the stage for Haman's downfall.
  • Haman's ExposureThe dramatic moment when Esther identifies Haman as the wicked adversary and enemy behind the decree, leading to his immediate fear and the king's wrath. This marks the turning point of the narrative.
  • King's WrathAhasuerus's intense anger upon learning of the plot to destroy Esther and her people, which drives his swift and decisive actions against Haman. His fury is a key catalyst for justice.
  • Misinterpretation and DoomThe king's return to find Haman near Esther, leading to a misinterpretation of Haman's desperate plea as an assault, which seals Haman's fate. This incident highlights the king's absolute power and Haman's desperate situation.
  • Poetic JusticeThe ultimate fate of Haman, who is hanged on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. This demonstrates a clear instance of providential retribution for his wicked schemes.
  • Mordecai's VindicationThough not explicitly present, the mention of the gallows built for Mordecai highlights his past service and foreshadows his eventual rise. This concept underscores the reversal of fortunes.