Esther 7 – Haman Falls at Esther's Banquet

Esther finally names her people's enemy, and justice moves fast.

Esther 7: Haman Is Exposed and Hanged

At the second banquet promised in Esther 6, the king again asks Esther for her petition, and this time she answers directly: her life and the life of her people are under threat of destruction. When he demands to know who would dare such a thing, she names Haman himself.


So the King and Haman came to banket with the Queene Ester.

And the King said againe vnto Ester on the second day at the banket of wine, What is thy petition, Queene Ester, that it may be giue thee? and what is thy request? It shalbe euen perfourmed vnto the halfe of the kingdome.

And Ester the Queene answered, and said, If I haue found fauour in thy sight, O King, and if it please the King, let my life be giuen me at my petition, and my people at my request.

For we are solde, I, and my people, to be destroyed, to be slayne and to perish: but if we were solde for seruants, and for handmaides, I woulde haue helde my tongue: although the aduersarie could not recompense the Kings losse.

Then King Ahashuerosh answered, and said vnto the Queene Ester, Who is he? and where is he that presumeth to doe thus?

And Ester said, The aduersarie and enemie is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afrayde before the King and the Queene.

And the King arose from ye banket of wine in his wrath, and went into the palace garden: but Haman stood vp, to make request for his life to the Queene Ester: for he sawe that there was a mischiefe prepared for him of the King.

And when the King came againe out of the palace garden, into the house where they dranke wine, Haman was fallen vpon the bed whereon Ester sate! therefore the King sayd, Will he force the Queene also before me in the house? As the worde went out of the Kings mouth, they couered Hamans face.

And Harbonah one of the eunuches, sayde in the presence of the King, Beholde, there standeth yet the tree in Hamans house fiftie cubites hie, which Haman had prepared for Mordecai, that spake good for the King. Then the King sayd, Hang him thereon.

So they hanged Haman on the tree, that he had prepared for Mordecai: then was the Kings wrath pacified.

The king storms out in fury, returns to find Haman fallen across Esther's couch pleading for his life, and orders him hanged on the very gallows he had built for Mordecai, a fitting end recalling the warning of <a href="/bible/geneva1599/psalms/chapter-7/15">Psalms 7:15-16</a>. With Haman gone, the king's decree still stands unresolved, a problem <a href="/bible/geneva1599/esther/chapter-8">Esther 8</a> must now address.