On the way home, Haman saw Mordecai sitting at the gate. His wrath rose to the point of boiling. He walked into his house seething. He called his wife and friends together. He told them, “I am one of the richest men in the kingdom. I am one of the most important. Queen Esther invited only the king and me to a banquet. That’s how important I am. But every time I see Mordecai, I forget about all that. What should I do?”
His friends suggested that he build gallows to hang Mordecai and other Jews. Haman liked that idea and ordered the gallows built.
That night King Xerxes couldn’t sleep and ordered the book of records read to him. In the book was a recording of a time when Mordecai had discovered the king’s gate keepers planned to kill him. He had exposed them and thus saved the king’s life.
“What did we do for Mordecai for saving my life?” King Xerxes asked.
“I can’t find a record that we did anything for him.”
“Oh that’s just not right. We have to do something for Mordecai. He saved my life. He must be rewarded. Who on my council is here now?”
“Haman is just coming in the gate.”
“Send him to me.”
When Haman entered the room, King Xerxes asked, “What should we do for the man who has pleased me greatly?”
Haman, being Haman, thought the king was referring to him. “Why, you should gather clothes from the palace, a horse that was ridden by the king himself, and the royal crest to be placed on his head. Hand all these things to one of the king’s noble princes and have him ceremoniously place the robe on the man and present him with the horse and crest.”
“That’s a great idea.” King Xerxes shouted. “Go get all those things and take them to Mordecai and present him with the gifts. Make it an honor. Be sure that all his friends and family are there to see him honored.”
Haman’s spirits hit rock bottom. Not only was he not getting the gifts, he had to give them to his worst enemy. He took the robe and horse. He put the robe on Mordecai and put him on the horse. Then he led him through town so everyone could see what the king did for someone who pleased him.
Afterward, Mordecai went back to the palace and Haman went home very depressed. He was still grieving when the kings’ men came to take him to the banquet.
Again the banquet was as delicious as it had been the night before. When then had finished the meal, King Xerxes said, “Alright, Esther. What do you want? Whatever you want? Up to half of my kingdom. Ask me for anything.”
His friends suggested that he build gallows to hang Mordecai and other Jews. Haman liked that idea and ordered the gallows built.
That night King Xerxes couldn’t sleep and ordered the book of records read to him. In the book was a recording of a time when Mordecai had discovered the king’s gate keepers planned to kill him. He had exposed them and thus saved the king’s life.
“What did we do for Mordecai for saving my life?” King Xerxes asked.
“I can’t find a record that we did anything for him.”
“Oh that’s just not right. We have to do something for Mordecai. He saved my life. He must be rewarded. Who on my council is here now?”
“Haman is just coming in the gate.”
“Send him to me.”
When Haman entered the room, King Xerxes asked, “What should we do for the man who has pleased me greatly?”
Haman, being Haman, thought the king was referring to him. “Why, you should gather clothes from the palace, a horse that was ridden by the king himself, and the royal crest to be placed on his head. Hand all these things to one of the king’s noble princes and have him ceremoniously place the robe on the man and present him with the horse and crest.”
“That’s a great idea.” King Xerxes shouted. “Go get all those things and take them to Mordecai and present him with the gifts. Make it an honor. Be sure that all his friends and family are there to see him honored.”
Haman’s spirits hit rock bottom. Not only was he not getting the gifts, he had to give them to his worst enemy. He took the robe and horse. He put the robe on Mordecai and put him on the horse. Then he led him through town so everyone could see what the king did for someone who pleased him.
Afterward, Mordecai went back to the palace and Haman went home very depressed. He was still grieving when the kings’ men came to take him to the banquet.
Again the banquet was as delicious as it had been the night before. When then had finished the meal, King Xerxes said, “Alright, Esther. What do you want? Whatever you want? Up to half of my kingdom. Ask me for anything.”
“Well,” Esther said quietly. “If you are really pleased with me and you really like me, then give me my life and let my people live.”
“What on earth are you talking about?” The king asked.
“There is a bounty on my head and all my people. For everyone killed, the killer gets a reward. I tried to keep quiet, but I have to save my people. Of course I don’t want to die either, but that’s what will happen if this is allowed to continue.”
“Who made that rule?” The king roared with anger. “Who is he? Tell me right now. I want to know. I didn’t approve that. Who wrote that bounty?”
“It was Haman.”
Haman feared for his life in front of the king and queen. The king was so angry he stormed out of Esther’s apartment to find some guards. Haman stayed behind and begged Esther to tell the king it wasn’t true.
“I’m not going to tell him that. It is the truth.” She told him. She started over to her couch. She lay down, completely exhausted from the emotional strife.
Haman followed her. He was bending over her begging for his life. He tripped just as the king came back into the room.
“What? You not only offer a reward behind my back, now you are hitting on my queen? Take him. Take him now.” The king yelled to the guards.
They immediately covered Haman’s face with cloth. Before the guards took him away, one of the Eunuchs said, “Haman had build gallows to hang Mordecai and the other Jews. It is right outside the palace gates.”
“Wonderful.” The king said. “Use them to hang Haman.” As soon as he received the word of Haman’s death the king’s anger was gone. The king gave Haman’s estate to Esther.
Esther escorted Mordecai into the throne room and introduced him to the king. She explained their relationship. The king took off his ring and placed it on Mordecai’s finger.
Esther begged the king to write a law ending the plan that Haman had devised. The king brought the recorders in and wrote the plan at that moment.
“What on earth are you talking about?” The king asked.
“There is a bounty on my head and all my people. For everyone killed, the killer gets a reward. I tried to keep quiet, but I have to save my people. Of course I don’t want to die either, but that’s what will happen if this is allowed to continue.”
“Who made that rule?” The king roared with anger. “Who is he? Tell me right now. I want to know. I didn’t approve that. Who wrote that bounty?”
“It was Haman.”
Haman feared for his life in front of the king and queen. The king was so angry he stormed out of Esther’s apartment to find some guards. Haman stayed behind and begged Esther to tell the king it wasn’t true.
“I’m not going to tell him that. It is the truth.” She told him. She started over to her couch. She lay down, completely exhausted from the emotional strife.
Haman followed her. He was bending over her begging for his life. He tripped just as the king came back into the room.
“What? You not only offer a reward behind my back, now you are hitting on my queen? Take him. Take him now.” The king yelled to the guards.
They immediately covered Haman’s face with cloth. Before the guards took him away, one of the Eunuchs said, “Haman had build gallows to hang Mordecai and the other Jews. It is right outside the palace gates.”
“Wonderful.” The king said. “Use them to hang Haman.” As soon as he received the word of Haman’s death the king’s anger was gone. The king gave Haman’s estate to Esther.
Esther escorted Mordecai into the throne room and introduced him to the king. She explained their relationship. The king took off his ring and placed it on Mordecai’s finger.
Esther begged the king to write a law ending the plan that Haman had devised. The king brought the recorders in and wrote the plan at that moment.
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