Esther 7
Summary for Esth 7:3-4: 7:3-4 a my life and the lives of my people: The statement that someone wanted to kill the queen and her family must have surprised and shocked the king.• my people and I have been sold: Esther carefully referred to the huge price Haman had paid the king to approve the decree (3:8-11 b). She also used the exact terminology of Haman’s decree when she said that its purpose was to kill, slaughter, and annihilate (cp. 3:13 c).
• If we had merely been sold as slaves, I could remain quiet: Esther humbly justifies her request as due to the severity of the attack on her and her people.
7:5 d Who would do such a thing? The king could hardly believe what he was hearing and could not imagine someone trying to do this atrocious thing. He asks for no details about Esther’s accusations, assuming they were all true (cp. 3:10 e).
Summary for Esth 7:6-7: 7:6-7 f Esther finally identified this wicked Haman as the enemy.
• Haman grew pale with fright: With this surprising and aggressive accusation by the queen and the evident rage of the king, Haman’s doom suddenly became apparent.
7:8 g he fell on the couch where Queen Esther was reclining: A major mistake, for no one should touch the queen, much less be on the same couch with her.
• Will he even assault the queen ... before my very eyes? This exaggerated rhetorical question implicates Haman with the worst possible motives.
7:9 h He intended to use it to impale Mordecai: Harbona, one of the king’s seven eunuchs (1:10 i), was apparently no friend of Haman and was already aware of Haman’s plot.
• impale Haman on it! This great reversal of fortunes demonstrates the guiding hand of God. Regarding impalement, see study note on 2:23.
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