Scene 4:
Queen Esther's Banquet
In the last post, we learned that Haman had been appointed prime minister of all of Persia. The title used then, in Persia, was "vizier".
After Queen Esther's last visit to the king, she had formulated a plan. So, probably, in great trepidation, she entered the royal court uninvited. This could lead to her death sentence! However, again, the king received her kindly.
Xerxes: What do you desire, Queen Esther? And what is your wish? It shall be given to you even to half of the kingdom.
Esther: Let the king and Haman come today to the banquet which I have prepared for him. 5:3-4.
Haman was full of fury against Mordecai because he would not kneel before him. But Haman held himself in (exercised self-control). When he came home, from "the office", he sent and called for his friends and Zeresh his wife.
Haman: I am very rich and very important in all of Persia, I have many sons. It is reported that there were instances where the king of Persia would annually send gifts to the man who had the most sons. Keil and Delitsch Commentary.
A man's worth was calculated by how many sons he had sired. The king has promoted me above all the princes and servants of the king. Not only that, Esther the queen let no man but me come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared. Also tomorrow I am invited to her banquet, with the king. Still, my life is meaningless as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
A man's worth was calculated by how many sons he had sired. The king has promoted me above all the princes and servants of the king. Not only that, Esther the queen let no man but me come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared. Also tomorrow I am invited to her banquet, with the king. Still, my life is meaningless as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
Zeresh: Make a wooden gallows, fifty cubits high and tomorrow speak to the king that Mordecai may be hanged on it. Then go in merrily with the king to the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman, and he caused the wooden gallows to be made. Est 5:9-14.
Many Bible scholars agree that the word "gallows" should be "cross" because the Persians did not hang criminals by the neck. Fifty cubits are about 75 feet high. The higher the gallows the greater the shame, the more forcefully it would tell others not to commit the same crime.
Scene 5:
Mordecai's Backpay
That same night the king had insomnia. So he commanded to bring the Book of the Records of the Matter of the Days. And they were read ... and it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh ... who tried to assassinate King Xerxes.
Xerxes: What honor and dignity has been done to Mordecai for this?
Servants: Nothing has been done for him.
In the meantime, Haman came to the court to ask the king for permission to hang Mordecai on the new gallows which he had built.
Xerxes: Who is in the court?
Servants: Behold, Haman stands in the court.
Xerxes to Haman: What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?
Self-centred Haman could think only of himself. Without asking any questions he assumed the king meant to honour him. He was determined to get as much recognition as possible out of this situation.
Haman: For the man whom the king delights to honor let the royal clothing be brought, which the king wears, and the horse that the king rides on, and the royal crown which is set on his head. Let this clothing and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes so that they may dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and bring him on horseback through the streets of the city, and proclaim before him, This is what shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.
Xerxes: Make haste! ... Do not fail to do any of all the things you have spoken. 6:1-10.
Haman did for Mordecai exactly what he thought some royal prince would do for him. After that, he went home mourning, and having his head covered in shame.
Xerxes: What honor and dignity has been done to Mordecai for this?
Servants: Nothing has been done for him.
In the meantime, Haman came to the court to ask the king for permission to hang Mordecai on the new gallows which he had built.
Xerxes: Who is in the court?
Servants: Behold, Haman stands in the court.
Xerxes to Haman: What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?
Self-centred Haman could think only of himself. Without asking any questions he assumed the king meant to honour him. He was determined to get as much recognition as possible out of this situation.
Haman: For the man whom the king delights to honor let the royal clothing be brought, which the king wears, and the horse that the king rides on, and the royal crown which is set on his head. Let this clothing and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes so that they may dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and bring him on horseback through the streets of the city, and proclaim before him, This is what shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.
Xerxes: Make haste! ... Do not fail to do any of all the things you have spoken. 6:1-10.
Scene 6:
Jehovah is Worshipped
Haman did for Mordecai exactly what he thought some royal prince would do for him. After that, he went home mourning, and having his head covered in shame.
Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him.
Haman's advisers: If Mordecai is of the seed of the Jews, before whom you have begun to fall, you shall not prevail against him but shall surely fall before him. Jehovah, the God of the Jews, had made His presence and His power known throughout Persia.
And while they (his wife and friends) were still talking with him, the king's eunuchs came. And they hurried to bring Haman to the banquet which Esther had prepared. 6:13-14.
He went to the banquet, feeling sort of dejected because of the day's events and yet somehow pleased with himself that he had been invited to the queens special evening but he had no idea what she would be "serving up" in the presence of the king.
Haman's advisers: If Mordecai is of the seed of the Jews, before whom you have begun to fall, you shall not prevail against him but shall surely fall before him. Jehovah, the God of the Jews, had made His presence and His power known throughout Persia.
- Daniel would rather die in a lion's den than pray to gods other than Jehovah
- Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego would rather burn to death than worship a golden idol
- Mordicai faced the death penalty by refusing to bow to Haman
And while they (his wife and friends) were still talking with him, the king's eunuchs came. And they hurried to bring Haman to the banquet which Esther had prepared. 6:13-14.
He went to the banquet, feeling sort of dejected because of the day's events and yet somehow pleased with himself that he had been invited to the queens special evening but he had no idea what she would be "serving up" in the presence of the king.
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