Esther 6–7

Mordecai Honored by the King

6That night sleep escaped ^rthe king, so he ordered the book recording daily events to be brought and read to the king. ²They found the written report of how Mordecai had informed on Bigthana and Teresh, two eunuchs who guarded the king’s entrance, when they planned to assassinate King Ahasuerus. ^s3The king inquired, “What honor and special recognition have been given to Mordecai for this act?” ^t

The king’s personal attendants replied, “Nothing has been done for him.”

⁴The king asked, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman was just entering the outer court of the palace to ask the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows he had prepared for him. ^u

⁵The king’s attendants answered him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.”

“Have him enter,” the king ordered.

⁶Haman entered, and the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king wants to honor?” ^v

Haman thought to himself, “Who is it the king would want to honor more than me?” ⁷Haman told the king, “For the man the king wants to honor: ⁸Have them bring a royal garment that the king himself has worn ^wand a horse the king himself has ridden, ^xwhich has a royal diadem on its head. ⁹Put the garment and the horse under the charge of one of the king’s most noble officials. ^yHave them clothe the man the king wants to honor, parade him on the horse through the city square, and proclaim before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king wants to honor.’ ”

¹⁰The king told Haman, “Hurry, and do just as you proposed. Take a garment and a horse for Mordecai the Jew, ^zwho is sitting at the King’s Gate. Do not leave out anything you have suggested.” ¹¹So Haman took the garment and the horse. He clothed Mordecai and paraded him through the city square, crying out before him, “This is what is done for the man the king wants to honor.”

¹²Then Mordecai returned to the King’s Gate, ^abut Haman, overwhelmed, ^bhurried off for home with his head covered. ^c13Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends ^deverything that had happened. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai is Jewish, and you have begun to fall before him, you won’t overcome him, because your downfall is certain.” ^e14While they were still speaking with him, the eunuchs of the king ^farrived and rushed Haman to the banquet Esther had prepared. ^g

Haman Is Executed

7The king and Haman came to feast ^hiwith Esther the queen. ²Once again, on the second day while drinking wine, ^jthe king asked Esther, “Queen Esther, whatever you ask will be given to you. Whatever you seek, even to half the kingdom, will be done.” ^k

³Queen Esther answered, “If I have obtained your approval, ^lmy king, and if the king is pleased, ^mspare my life—this is my request; and spare my people—this is my desire. ⁿ⁴For my people and I have been sold out ^oto destruction, death, and extermination. ^pIf we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, ^qI would have kept silent. Indeed, the trouble wouldn’t be worth burdening the king.”

⁵King Ahasuerus spoke up and asked Queen Esther, “Who is this, and where is the one who would devise such a scheme?” ^rs

⁶Esther answered, “The adversary and enemy ^tis this evil Haman.”

Haman stood terrified ^ubefore the king and queen. ⁷Angered ^vby this, the king arose from where they were drinking wine and went to the palace garden. ^wHaman remained to beg Queen Esther for his life because he realized the king was planning something terrible for him. ^x8Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the house of wine drinking, Haman was falling on the couch ^ywhere Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Would he actually violate the queen while I am in the palace?” As soon as the statement left the king’s mouth, Haman’s face was covered. ^z

⁹Harbona, one of the royal eunuchs, ^asaid: “There is a gallows 75 feet ^btall at Haman’s house that he made for Mordecai, ^cwho gave the report that saved ^dthe king.” ^e

The king commanded, “Hang him on it.”

¹⁰They hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. ^fThen the king’s anger subsided. ^g