Esther 7

1-10 Haman’s Downfall; Mordecai’s Advancement

1-3 On the second day of Esther’s feast, the king asks Esther for her petition, repeating his promise to fulfill it.

4 Esther tells him that her people are not to be enslaved – that would be okay – but to be annihilated. If I’m not mistaken, before this, the king was unaware that she was a Jew; obviously Haman was, too. He could not have foreseen what was about to happen.

5-6 The king asks her who is responsible, and she names Haman.

7-8 Angry, the king goes outside while Haman stays to beg the queen for his life. When the king comes back in, he sees Haman throwing himself on the couch before Esther and thinks he is assaulting her.

9-10 Harbona, a eunuch, tells the king of the gallows Haman has prepared for Mordecai at Haman’s house (!), Haman is hanged there, and the king’s anger abates. It seems to me that Harbona is very quick with his suggestion. I can think of two reasons, or maybe it’s a combination of the two: 1) He needs to do something to calm the king; 2) He has observed Haman’s demeanor and actions and does his part in getting rid of him.