Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Esther 7:7

Clarke's Commentary

Verse Esther 7:7. Haman stood up — He rose from the table to make request for his life, as soon as the king had gone out; and then he fell on his knees before the queen, she still sitting upon her couch.

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

Haman’s humiliation and defeat (5:1-7:10)

After three days Esther approached the king and invited him and Haman to dinner (5:1-4). She was so pleased with their friendly response that she decided to invite them again the next day, in the hope that they would be even more favourable to her (5-8). Haman thought that the honour given him by the queen showed that she, as well as the king, was pleased with him and agreed with his anti-Jewish policy. He decided to take the opportunity of this royal favour to arrange for a decree from the king to have chief enemy Mordecai executed immediately (9-14).
Early next morning, Haman went to ask the king for Mordecai’s execution. But the king had just spent the night reviewing some official records, where he was reminded that Mordecai had saved his life several years earlier. Knowing nothing of the hatred that Haman and Mordecai had for each other, the king decided that Mordecai must be rewarded (6:1-5).
The king consulted Haman about the matter, but did not tell Haman the name of the person who was to receive the proposed royal honour. Haman, thinking that the honour was for himself, suggested an extravagant public show of the king’s favour (6-9). The king agreed, with the result that Haman, instead of executing Mordecai, had to carry out the king’s command to honour Mordecai before the people (10-11). Haman’s humiliation appeared to his family and friends as a foreshadowing of worse to come (12-13).
When the king and Haman joined Esther for dinner that night, the circumstances were entirely favourable for Esther to put her case to the king (14-7:2). The king showed no anger when he found out that Esther was Jewish, but he burst into fury when told that Haman had planned the destruction of the queen and her people. Haman threw himself down on the couch before Esther to cry for mercy, but the king, in his rage, interpreted Haman’s action as an attempt at rape. He then learnt that Haman had prepared to execute the man who had saved the king’s life. The king had heard enough; he condemned Haman to immediate death (3-10).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

THE KING’S REQUEST FOR THE ADVERSARY’S IDENTITY

“Then spake the king Ahasuerus and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? And Esther said, An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. And the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.”

At this juncture, the king began to get the whole picture. Indeed it had been Haman who had concocted that evil story about the Jews, had advised their destruction, and with the king’s ring had himself mailed out the decree calling for their slaughter. In his anger, the king arose and left the banquet; and Haman was astute enough to know that his goose was indeed cooked. Naturally, Haman pleaded with Esther to spare his life; and when it became apparent that she would not help him, he fell at her feet imploring her. “He was still prostrate before the reclining queen, probably clasping her feet as a suppliant, when the furious king returned from his walk in the garden.”The New Bible Commentary, Revised, p. 418. “Like the Greeks and Romans, the Persians reclined at their meals on sofas or couches.”F. C. Cook, Barnes’ Commentary Series, Esther, p. 499.

We have no agreement with, “Some commentators (who) have criticized Esther for not interceding for Haman.”The New Layman’s Bible Commentary, p. 356. However, such writers forget that as long as Haman lived, he was a deadly threat to the Jewish people. Esther was wise enough to see that although Haman was at the moment defeated; if he had survived, he might have found a way to achieve his purpose.

Smith's Bible Commentary

Chapter 7

So Haman came in, but he was really troubled by this whole experience. And so, Esther prepared another beautiful banquet for the king, and again, the king in his generous mood said, "Esther, what do you want? Half of the kingdom, whatever it is. Your petition, your request."

And so Esther said, All I want is my life and my people [the life of my people]: For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold as slaves, I wouldn't have said anything. [I would have kept quiet]. Then king Ahasuerus answered and said to Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that dares to presume in his heart to do so? And Esther said, The adversary, the enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his anger went to the palace garden: and then Haman stood up to make a request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. And then the king returned out of the palace garden and into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman had fallen upon the bed where Esther was. And the king said, Are you going to rape my wife before me in my own house? As the words went out of the king's mouth, they took and covered his head with a cloth, [which signified, of course, his impending death]. And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold, there are seventy-five feet gallows, that Haman has made for Mordecai, who spoke the good for the king, and they're there in his back yard. And the king said, Hang him thereon. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified ( Esther 7:3-10 )).

God turning the tables. And it so often happens. You remember when Joseph was sold by his brothers to slavery, to the traders going to Egypt. And he was weeping; he was crying. He said, "No, don't do this!" And as the traders were taking him off towards Egypt, he was just a teenage boy crying, begging his brothers, but they had steeled their hearts against him. Years later, when they had to come down to Egypt to buy provisions in order to survive, and they didn't recognize Joseph, the man who was in charge of the provisions of Egypt. But Joseph recognized them and began to give them a bad time, speaking roughly to them through an interpreter. And they turned to each other talking in their own language (which, of course, Joseph could understand) and they said, "You know, this sin has happened to us because of what we did to our brother Joseph. Don't you remember his tears and all, and we didn't pay any attention? Now it's coming back on us."

But then later, when Joseph did reveal himself they were even more frightened, and they began to beg Joseph for mercy and so forth, and he said, "Look, I know that you meant it for evil, but God intended it for good." God is so often able to take those things that were intended for evil and turn them around for good. It happens over and over and over again. That is why the Bible says concerning you as God's child: "No weapon that is formed against you will prosper" ( Isaiah 54:17 ). This is the heritage of the children of the Lord!

God won't allow any weapon formed against you to prosper. God is going to take care of you. God is going to watch over you. God is going to turn the tables on your enemies. And He is so clever. And I love the book of Esther, because it has all of this interesting intrigue, and table-turning, and the whole bit. "

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

3. Haman’s fall ch. 7

The plot of the story reaches a climax in this chapter "in which Haman comes to the end of his rope." [Note: Wiersbe, p. 737.] . The fate of Haman reversed when Esther identified him as the person responsible for the plan to destroy her and her people.

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

Ahasuerus’ decision 7:7-10

The fact that his enemy sat in his presence at that very moment evidently made the king pause before issuing his obvious verdict. He wanted to think about it and walked out into his garden to do so. Upon returning, what he saw confirmed his decision. Haman found himself trapped between an angry king and an offended queen. Ironically, this enemy of the Jews ended up pleading for his life with a Jewess! [Note: Breneman, p. 350.] Haman fell at Esther’s feet to beg as she reclined, but the king misunderstood his intentions when he reentered the banquet room unexpectedly (Esther 7:8).

". . . one must remember that in antiquity very strong feelings and strict regulations centered on the harem. . . . Had Haman knelt as much as a foot away from the queen’s couch, the king’s reaction could still have been justified." [Note: Moore, Esther, p. 72.]

"A Targum adds that the angel Gabriel pushed Haman as the king entered the room!" [Note: Huey, p. 826.]

Esther’s words had so predisposed Ahasuerus against Haman that the king viewed Haman’s posture in the worst possible light. Covering the face of a condemned person was evidently customary in such cases (Esther 7:8; cf. Esther 6:12). [Note: Gordis, p. 56; Baldwin, p. 93.]

Harbonah’s suggestion that they hang Haman on the gallows he had built for Mordecai drove the final nail in Haman’s coffin (Esther 7:9). Certainly Ahasuerus had not known of Haman’s plan to execute the king’s savior. We do not know if Esther asked for mercy for Haman or not. In either case, the king carried out his execution (Esther 7:10). Thus ended the life of one of the most hostile anti-Semitic Jew-haters that ever walked the stage of history (cf. Psalms 9:15-16).

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And the king, arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath, went into the palace garden,.... Not being able to bear the sight of Haman, who had done such an injury both to himself and to the queen; as also that his wrath might subside, and he become more composed and sedate, and be able coolly to deliberate what was fitting to be done in the present case:

and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; hoping that her tender heart might be wrought upon to show mercy to him, and be prevailed on to entreat the king to spare his life; and this request he made in the most submissive manner:

for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king; he perceived it both by the king's countenance, by the rage he went out in, and by the threatening words which he very probably uttered as he went out.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      7 And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.   8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.   9 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.   10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.

      Here, I. The king retires in anger. He rose from table in a great passion, and went into the palace garden to cool himself and to consider what was to be done, Esther 7:7; Esther 7:7. He sent not for his seven wise counsellors who knew the times, being ashamed to consult them about the undoing of that which he had rashly done without their knowledge or advice; but he went to walk in the garden awhile, to compare in his thoughts what Esther had now informed him of with what had formerly passed between him and Haman. And we may suppose him, 1. Vexed at himself, that he should be such a fool as to doom a guiltless nation to destruction, and his own queen among the rest, upon the base suggestions of a self-seeking man, without examining the truth of his allegations. Those that do things with self-will reflect upon them afterwards with self-reproach. 2. Vexed at Haman whom he had laid in his bosom, that he should be such a villain as to abuse his interest in him to draw him to consent to so wicked a measure. When he saw himself betrayed by one he had caressed he was full of indignation at him; yet he would say nothing till he had taken time for second thoughts, to see whether they would make the matter better or worse than it first appeared, that he might proceed accordingly. When we are angry we should pause awhile before we come to any resolution, as those that have a rule over our own spirits and are governed by reason.

      II. Haman becomes a humble petitioner to the queen for his life. He might easily perceived by the king's hastily flying out of the room that there was evil determined against him. For the wrath of a king, such a king, is as the roaring of a lion and as messengers of death; and now see, 1. How mean Haman looks, when he stands up first and then falls down at Esther's feet, to beg she would save his life and take all he had. Those that are most haughty, insolent, and imperious, when they are in power and prosperity, are commonly the most abject and poor-spirited when the wheel turns upon them. Cowards, they say, are most cruel, and then consciousness of their cruelty makes them the more cowardly. 2. How great Esther looks, who of late had been neglected and doomed to the slaughter tanquam ovis--as a sheep; now her sworn enemy owns that he lies at her mercy, a d begs his life at her hand. Thus did God regard the low estate of his handmaiden and scatter the proud in the imagination of their hearts,Luke 1:48; Luke 1:51. Compare with this that promise made to the Philadelphian church (Revelation 3:9), I will make those of the synagogue of Satan to come and to worship before thy feet and to know that I have loved thee. The day is coming when those that hate and persecute God's chosen ones would gladly be beholden to them. Give us of your oil. Father Abraham, send Lazarus. The upright shall have dominion in the morning.

      III. The king returns yet more exasperated against Haman. The more he thinks of him the worse he thinks of him and of what he had done. It was but lately that every thing Haman said and did, even that which was most criminal, was taken well and construed to his advantage; now, on the contrary, what Haman did that was not only innocent, but a sign of repentance, is ill taken, and, without colour of reason, construed to his disadvantage. He lay in terror at Esther's feet, to beg for his life. What! (says the king) will he force the queen also before me in the house? Not that he thought he had any such intention, but having been musing on Haman's design to slay the queen, and finding him in this posture, he takes occasion from it thus to vent his passion against Haman, as a man that would not scruple at the greatest and most impudent piece of wickedness. "He designed to slay the queen, and to slay her wish me in the house; will he in like manner force her? What! ravish her first and then murder her? He that had a design upon her life may well be suspected to have a design upon her chastity."

      IV. Those about him were ready to be the instruments of his wrath. The courtiers that adored Haman when he was the rising sun set themselves as much against him now that he is a falling star, and are even glad of an occasion to run him down: so little sure can proud men be of the interest they think they have. 1. As soon as the king spoke an angry word they covered Haman's face, as a condemned man, not worthy any more either to see the king or to be seen by him; they marked him for execution. Those that are hanged commonly have their faces covered. See how ready the servants were to take the first hint of the king's mind in this matter. Turba Romae sequitur fortunam, et semper et odit damnatos--The Roman populace change as the aspects of fortune do, and always oppress the fallen. If Haman be going down, they all cry, "Down with him." 2. One of those that had been lately sent to Haman's house, to fetch him to the banquet, informed the king of the gallows which Haman had prepared for Mordecai, Esther 7:9; Esther 7:9. Now that Mordecai is the favourite the chamberlain applauds him--he spoke good for the king; and, Haman being in disgrace, every thing is taken notice of that might make against him, incense the king against him, and fill up the measure of his iniquity.

      V. The king gave orders that he should be hanged upon his own gallows, which was done accordingly, nor was he so much as asked what he had to say why this judgment should not be passed upon him and execution awarded. The sentence is short--Hang him thereon; and the execution speedy--So they hanged Haman on the gallows,Esther 7:10; Esther 7:10. See here, 1. Pride brought down. He that expected every one to do him homage is now made an ignominious spectacle to the world, and he himself sacrificed to his revenge. God resists the proud; and those whom he resists will find him irresistible. 2. Persecution punished. Haman was upon many accounts a wicked man, but his enmity to God's church was his most provoking crime, and for that the God to whom vengeance belongs here reckons with him, and, though his plot was defeated, gives him according to the wickedness of his endeavours,Psalms 28:4. 3. Mischief returned upon the person himself that contrived it, the wicked snared in the work of his own hands,Psalms 7:15; Psalms 7:16; Psalms 9:15; Psalms 9:16. Haman was justly hanged on the very gallows he had unjustly prepared for Mordecai. If he had not set up that gallows, perhaps the king would not have thought of ordering him to be hanged; but, if he rear a gallows for the man whom the king delights to honour, the thought is very natural that he should be ordered to try it himself, and see how it fits him, see how he likes it. The enemies of God's church have often been thus taken in their own craftiness. In the morning Haman was designing himself for the robes and Mordecai for the gallows; but the tables are turned: Mordecai has the crown, Haman the cross. The Lord is known by such judgments. See Proverbs 11:8; Proverbs 21:18.

      Lastly, The satisfaction which the king had in this execution. Then was the king's wrath pacified, and not till then. He was as well pleased in ordering Haman to be hanged as in ordering Mordecai to be honoured. Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to take vengeance on. God saith of wicked men (Ezekiel 5:13), I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted.