Chapter 7

1 Esther, entertaining the king and Haman, maketh suit for her own life and her people’s. 5 She acccuseth Haman. 7 The king in his anger, understanding of the gallows which Haman had made for Mordecai, causeth him to be hanged thereon.

1. To banquet. Literally, “to drink.” At Persian feasts comparatively little solid food was eaten. The time was mainly passed in drinking and in eating delicacies we would call desserts.

2. The king said again. For the third time Ahasuerus invites Esther to make her request known. By now he must have been curious indeed to learn what it might be.

At the banquet of wine. Literally, “in the drinking of the wine.” This indicates that the main part of the feast was over at the time the king again raised the question.

3. Let my life. It mattered little to the king that thousands of his subjects were to be slain; their interests were no concern of his. He had been content with Haman’s accusation that the Jews were lawless. But if the decree touched Esther—that was another matter. Her character, her loyalty and devotion, were far above suspicion. She meant something to him. The queen handled the matter with tact and skill, introducing the subject in a manner calculated to appeal personally to the king. Her life was threatened; she, the queen, was in mortal danger!

4. We are sold. It is not clear whether Ahasuerus had actually agreed to accept Haman’s bribe (see on chs. 3:9, 11; 4:7), or whether Esther here speaks in more figurative language.

To be destroyed. The three synonymous expressions, of which this is first, are quoted from the decree itself (ch. 3:13).

Although. There is some difference of opinion as to the true meaning of the statement thus introduced. It may be Esther means that the money Haman has paid cannot equal the loss the king will suffer through the death of his Jewish subjects. Or, it may be Esther says, “Our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king” (RSV), meaning that the execution of the decree would bring greater loss to the king than even to the Jews themselves, or that their suffering was a matter of less moment than any danger that might threaten the throne through them. What harms them will harm the king.

6. Adversary and enemy. With the word “enemy” Esther used at first (v. 4), she now couples an even stronger word, “adversary,” or “foe.”

7. The palace garden. See on ch. 1:5.

Evil determined. Haman perceived from the attitude of the king that the prediction of his wise men, that he would “surely fall” (ch. 6:13), was in process of coming true. Realizing Esther’s influence over the king, he implored her to intercede for him.

8. The king returned. Upon his return Ahasuerus either misconstrues Haman’s posture as a planned attack upon the queen, or in his anger pretends so to interpret it.

Covered Haman’s face. This signified that Haman was to die. Greek and Roman writers attest this custom.

9. Harbonah. See ch. 1:10. Perhaps Harbonah was one of the king’s chamberlains sent earlier that very day to summon Haman to the feast (see ch. 6:14); and if so, he then saw the gallows personally (see ch. 5:14).

Spoken good for the king. Or, “whose word saved the king” (RSV). This is a reference to Mordecai’s detection of the conspiracy against the king (ch. 2:21–23).

In the house of Haman. This fact emphasizes Haman’s cruelty. No more appropriate means could be found for executing the wretch. The punishment fitted the crime (see Ps. 7:13–16; 9:15) to perfection.

Ellen G. White comments

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