Today was a really good lesson on what goes around comes around. The whole time Haman was planning and plotting against Mordecai and the Jews, and he should’ve been focused on himself. It is quite ironic that he was hung on his own gallows…
When Mordecai learned of everything that had been done and the decree put out against the Jews, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and wept. In every province that had heard of the decree, the Jews were in great mourning. They fasted and wept and lamented.
Esther heard of this and was deeply distressed as well. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai but he refused to take them. She sent Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs who was assigned to her to go to Mordecai and learn what was going on.
Mordecai explained everything and showed him the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction. He hoped Esther would be able to go to the king and beg his favor and plead with him on behalf of her people.
Esther had Hathach explain to Mordecai that no one could go to the king in the inner court without being called, or they would be put to death. The only way they would survive breaking this law was if the king held out his golden scepter to that person. Esther had not been called to go into the king for thirty days.
Mordecai responded to Esther saying that even though she was in the king’s palace, she was not safe. She would not be able to escape any more than the rest of the Jews.
He said, “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
That’s a very good question! Even though the Lord is not mentioned in this book, there is still His presence and guidance in these characters…
Esther told him to reply to Mordecai to gather all the Jews in Susa, and hold a fast on her behalf, and not to eat or drink for three days. Then she would go to the king even though it was against the law, and if she perished, she perished.
On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace while the king was sitting on his throne. When he saw Queen Esther she won favor in his sight and he held out the golden scepter.
Esther invited the king and Haman to a feast that she had prepared. They went to the feast, and afterward the king was drinking wine and asked Esther what her wish was, for he would grant it.
Esther said that her wish and request was to let the king and Haman come to another feast that she would prepare for them the next day, and then she would make her request.
Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when he saw Mordecai and he did not rise nor tremble before him, he was filled with wrath against him. Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home where he bragged to his friends and wife about all of his riches and splendor.
He said that even Queen Esther let no one but him and the king go to the feast she prepared, and the next day he was invited again with the king. However, none of that mattered to him as long as he still saw Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.
His friends and wife suggested that a gallows be made so Mordecai could be hung on it. He had a gallows made and in the morning, he would have the king hang Mordecai then joyfully go to the feast.
That night the king couldn’t sleep and he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. There he read how Mordecai had told about the two men who had plotted against the king.
The king asked what honor or distinction was laid upon Mordecai for this, and heard that nothing had been done. Just then Haman arrived, and the king asked him what should be done to a man whom the king delights to honor. All Haman thought was that it had to be him because there was no other man the king would want to honor more than him.
So Haman said the man should receive royal robes which the king had worn, and a horse that the king has ridden, and a royal crown placed on his head. All this should be done in front of the royal officials, then be led around the square of the city, proclaiming that the king was honoring him.
Then the king told Haman to go and do everything that he had just said to Mordecai the Jew, and leave out nothing. When all was finished, Mordecai returned to the king’s gate, and Haman hurried to his house with his head covered.
Haman told his wife and friends all that had happened to him. Then the wise men and his wife said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.”
While they were talking, the king’s eunuchs arrived to take him to the feast that Esther had prepared. The king and Haman went to the feast with Queen Esther, and after the second day while drinking wine, the king asked Esther again what she wished.
Esther said to the king, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request.” She explained how it was her and her people that had been sold, and were to be destroyed.
Then King Ahasuerus asked who it was that dared to do this to them. Esther said, “A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.
The king arose in his wrath from the wine-drinking and went into the palace, while Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther. As the king returned he saw that Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. The king was even more furious at Haman for assaulting the queen in his presence and house.
As the words left his mouth, they covered Haman’s face. Then it was told about the gallows Haman had prepared for Mordecai. The king said to hang Haman on the gallows, so they did. And the wrath of the king was abated.