Esther was trying to save her people. She knew that there was a day coming when every Jew in the Persian Empire would be killed. She had prepared a great feast for her husband, the king, and had invited her enemy, Haman, also.
While Esther was praying about how to broach the subject with the king, Haman was plotting her uncle Mordecai's death. God turned this wicked deed up on it's head when instead of killing Mordecai, Haman was ordered to publicly honor him!
Haman went home to bemoan his woes to his family and friends, but was soon called back to the palace for his banquet feast with the queen and the king. Little did he know that this event would mean his doom!
Esther 7:1-4- 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 finally told the king what she needed to- That someone had plotted to kill her people.
Esther 7:5-6- 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.
The king was angry when he heard that someone wanted to kill his beloved queen, and her people. But, he was downright livid when he found out that it was Haman!
Esther 7:7- 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.
The king stormed out into the garden probably to think and to calm himself down.
Haman saw that he was in big trouble! He stood up to beg for his life. He came before the queen, and probably declared his cause. Sometime during his pleading he knelt down on the lounge chair that the queen was seated on and was probably as close to her face as possible to make his dire plea.
It was at this time that the king came back into the room.
Esther 7:8- 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.
If the king had calmed down outside, he was back to a rage when he saw how close Haman was to his wife! He thought that perhaps Haman was going to try to hurt her right then and there.
As he was yelling about it, his guards came and grabbed Haman, and covered his face. They probably put some sort of bag over his head so that he couldn't see to fight.
Then, one of the guards told the king of Haman's plan to hang Mordecai.
Esther 7:9-10- 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.
Well, that was not what the king needed to hear! He had Haman hanged on the very gallows that he intended to murder Mordecai on.
But, the king wasn't done.
Esther 8:1-2- 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.
When the king heard that Mordecai had raised Esther, he decided that he would put Mordecai in charge. Mordecai took Haman's place as the king's right hand man! And, he also got to decide the fate of Haman's wicked family.
