Notes: June 16, 2009

Haman hangs from his own gallows

Esther 6

  • The night of the first dinner party, the king couldn’t sleep. So he had a servant read aloud from the court record books (v. 1). That would put anyone to sleep.
  • He heard about a thwarted plot against his life and Mordecai’s part in saving the king’s life (v. 2).
  • Upon realizing that Mordecai had not been rewarded or honored for this, the king called for someone from his court to come immediately to discuss the oversight (v. 3-4).
  • Haman “happened” to be there that night; and he was brought before the king to advise how to honor one of the king’s favorite men (v. 5-6).
  • Thinking that the king must be speaking about Haman himself, Haman suggests a public honor (v. 7-9).
  • The king agrees, and instructs Haman to thus honor Mordecai (v. 10).
  • Humiliated, Haman obeys (v. 11).
  • Returning home, Haman tells all, only to be advised that now he is in really deep trouble (v. 12-13).
  • While they are speaking, messengers arrive from the king to escort Haman to the 2nd day’s banquet (v. 14).

Esther 7

  • Asked again what she requests of the king, Esther pleads for her life and the lives of her people (v. 1-4).
  • The king learns that Haman has plotted the death of the Jews; and the king storms out of the room (v. 5-7).
  • When he returns, the king discovers Haman in a compromising position before the queen, and orders his execution (v. 8-10) on the gallows which Haman had built for Mordecai.

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