Esther 7:1-6--Esther Reveals Haman's Plot

Esther 7:1-6
English Standard Version

Esther Reveals Haman's Plot
14 While they were yet talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared.
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7 So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther. 2 And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, “What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” 3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. 4 For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king.” 5 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who has dared to do this?” 6 And Esther said, “A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.

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I went back and included Esther 6:14 today (the last verse of chapter 6) as it ties in directly with today's passage of Esther 7:1-6.  Haman had forgotten all about the second feast that Esther was throwing for him and the king, and the king's eunuchs had to come and hurry to bring Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared (you're not supposed to keep the king or queen waiting).

Haman went to the feast hoping that it would lift his spirits.  There was much drinking of wine again, especially be the king, and we get the impression that the king is drunk during this passion (perhaps part of Esther's plan in throwing this feast, because maybe she figured she would have an easier time talking to him and getting him to do what was needed if he was a little drunk).  He once again offers Esther whatever she would ask for, even up to half of his kingdom.  She asks that her life and the life of her people be granted to her.  This would have taken the king by surprise because up to this point, he had no idea that Esther was Jewish.  He wonders who it is who has threatened the queen and her family with death, for Esther makes it clear that she would not have bothered the king with this if it were simply that her people were being sold into slavery.  No, her people have been marked for destruction--to be killed and annihilated.  Worse yet, the person that did this thing did so by putting a bounty on their heads so that they have been "sold" for this purpose.

The king asks Esther to identify the person responsible.  "Who is he, and where is he, who has dared to do this?"  Esther has given the perfect setup for the reveal, "A foe and enemy!  This wicked Haman!" All she has to do is look at him and maybe gesture at him or point to him so there is no doubt that she means this one and not some other by the same name.  Haman then realizes the words of his wife and the wise men are coming true and he is terrified before the king and queen.  The one who wanted others to bow and tremble before him is now the one that will be on his knees pleading and trembling as he prays for his life to be spared.  The LORD really has turned the tables on him.

The king is going to leave the room to deliberate and because he is so angry.  We'll talk about this next time, but he realizes he cannot break the law that was written in his name and signed with his signet right by Haman.  However, he can use his authority as king to right some of the wrong that has been done, and he will do that next time when we talk about verses 7-10.