Esther Goes Before the King
On the third day after the fast, Esther put on her royal cloths and stood in the inner court of the king’s house. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal house in front of the gate of the house. When the king saw Esther, she had favor in his eyes, and he held out the golden scepter that was in his hand to Esther. Esther drew near and touched the top of the scepter. The king said to her, “What shall be done for you, Queen Esther? What is your wish? It will be given to you as much as half of the kingdom.”
Esther answered, “If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come to dinner with me today, which I have prepared.”
The king sent word to Haman saying, “Hurry and come to the dinner which Esther has prepared."
At the dinner the king asked Esther, “What do you want? It shall be granted to you.”
Esther replied, “My request, if I have found favor in your eyes, and if it pleases you to grant my petition, let the king and Haman come to dinner which I will prepare tomorrow. Then I will tell you my request.”
Haman went out that day feeling good and very joyful. When he saw Mordecai in the king's gate, Haman did not stand up or move for him for he was full of fury against him. But Haman held back his anger and went home to tell his wife and friends of his promotion. He told them how the king had set him above the princes and the servants of the king. He said, “Esther the queen did not let anyone come n with the king for dinner, except me. And also tomorrow I have been invited to eat dinner with the king. Yet with all this I will not be happy as long as Mordecai, the Jew, is sitting at the king’s gate?”
Haman’s wife said to him and all his friends, “Make a wooden gallow fifty cubits high, and tomorrow ask the king if you can hang Mordecai on it.” The idea sounded good to Haman and he had the gallows made.
On that night the king could not sleep, and he asked for the book of the chronicles. While they were being read to him the king noticed it had been written of the time Mordecai had warned him of the door guards plan to come against him. The king asked, “What honor was given Mordecai for this?”
The king’s servants replied, “Nothing has been done for him.” About that time Haman came to ask the king if he could hang Mordecai.
The king asked Haman, “What should be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?” Haman thought the king was speaking of him, so he answered, “Let him wear the royal clothes and ride the king’s horse with the king’s crown on his head and ride through the city.”
The king told Haman, “Hurry, take the clothes and the horse, as you have said and do so to Mordecai. Do not fail to do any of all the things you have spoken.”
Haman took the clothing and horse and dressed Mordecai. He rode through the city and called out before him, “This is the way the king honors the man in whom he appreciates.”
After the ride through the city, Mordecai went back to the king’s gate. Haman hurried to his house very upset with his head covered.
Haman told his wife and all his friends what had happened. Haman’s wise men and wife said to him, “If Mordecai is a Jew, you will not prevail against him.” They knew that the Jew’s god was strong and had always protected them from their enemies. While they were still talking, the king’s servants hurried to bring Haman to the dinner which Esther had prepared.
The king and Haman came to the dinner, and the king said to Esther, “What do you desire? It shall be given to you. What is your request? It shall be done.”
Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your eyes, O king, and if it pleases you, let my life be given me and my people, for we are sold for destruction. A decree has been sent out to kill all of us. If we had been sold for slaves I would have kept silent.”
King Ahasuerus asked Queen Esther, “Who is this one? And where is he who is filled with pride to do this?”
Esther answered, “A man who is an enemy. Haman, this evil one!”
Haman was afraid before the king and queen. The king raised from the dinner and went into the palace garden. Haman stayed to beg Esther for his life; for he saw that the king was angry with him.
The king returned and had Haman hung on the wooden gallows which Haman had made for Mordecai.
1. What was the one thing that would make Haman happy? ____________
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2. How did the king honor Mordecai? ______________________________
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3. Did Haman’s wife and friends think Haman could prevail against
Mordecai? _______
4. Why were the Jews saved? ___________________________________
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