Esther: A Heroine of the Faith-Part 2
“Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, Queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be given thee to the half of the kingdom.” Esther 5:3
In yesterday’s blog, we left Queen Esther preparing to go to the king to request that he withhold the genocide of her people, the Jews, which Haman, the king’s prince who had been promoted by the king, but who hated the Jews, had insisted to King Ahasuerus that they must be eliminated. The king was not aware that Esther was Jewish. Apparently, King Ahasuerus was very fond of Esther for when she appeared before him unsummoned, he held out his scepter to her giving her permission to approach him. She must have been relieved that he accepted her visit. He asked her what it was that she desired. He must have been feeling awfully generous that day for he offered to give her whatever she desired to half of the kingdom. That was quite an offer.
Esther was smart. She did not blurt out what she really desired–that she and her people be spared Haman’s death threat, but rather came up with a plan that would hopefully result in her desire being fulfilled and Haman’s deceit and hatred being revealed to the king. The king had promoted Haman, thus he must have had a favorable opinion of him. For Esther to start bad-mouthing Haman would have likely cast her in an unfavorable position with her husband. Her plan involved two banquets, with the first being that same day. The king and Haman were both invited. At the banquet, Ahasuerus asked Esther again about her request. She told the king that she would tell him the next day at another banquet that she would prepare for him and for Haman. When Haman received his invitations to both banquets, he thought he was in the catbird’s seat. He went home and bragged to his family about the invitations, but he had mixed feelings because, on the way home, he had seen Mordecai who did not bow to him. Haman told his wife about Mordecai’s refusal to honor him, and she suggested that the next day he build some gallows and hang Mordecai. He liked the idea and sent workers to build the gallows.
After the first banquet, King Ahasuerus could not sleep that night and requested the records of the daily activities be brought to him. He read the entry which told of Mordecai’s report of the two servants who had plotted against the king. He wanted to know what had been done to honor Mordecai. He was told that nothing had been done. After the night passed, Haman came to see the king who asked what could be done for the man who honored the king? Of course, Haman thought that the king was speaking of him so he suggested that this man to be honored should be dressed in royal clothes, wear a crown, and ride upon the king’s horse. I can just imagine Haman picturing himself striding through town on the king’s horse with everyone looking adoringly at him. And then his bubble burst when the king told him to give Mordecai that honor. Haman did as the king said, begrudgingly, and then went home and sulked. He covered his head as a man in mourning. Later that day, the king’s servants came to take Haman to the second banquet.
Esther finally got her opportunity to tell the king about the evil Haman. Ahasuerus asked her again about her request, and she said that there was a plan to destroy her and her people. The king demanded to know who was this evil person that would do such a thing. She said, “The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman”. I can only imagine the fear that came over Haman. Be sure that your sins will find you out (Numbers 32:23). The king left the room and went out into the garden. My guess is that he was so angry that he wanted to cool down before he did something that he would regret. Meantime, Haman began to plead with Esther to persuade the king not to take his life. Apparently, all three had been declining at the table to eat like Jesus and His disciples did in the Upper Room at Passover. Esther was reclining either at the table or she had laid down on her bed because she was anxious about the king’s response to Haman who fell onto her bed just as the king reentered the room. Imagine how that appeared to Ahasuerus. He thought that Haman was about to force himself upon the queen. Some of the king’s servants must have heard the commotion and had come to help. They immediately put a cover over Haman’s head, told the king about the gallows that Haman had built on which to hang Mordecai, and the king said, “Hang him high”. He didn’t really say it that way, but he did say to hang Haman on the gallows.
Ahasuerus promoted Mordecai, but Esther was still worried about the decree to kill the Jews. There was a major problem. The king couldn’t go back on the order he had already given. Instead, he gave Mordecai an order to write to all the Jews in all locations throughout Persia on the king’s official letterhead. This letter gave the Jews permission to fight and kill any mercenaries who would come to attack them. Once the official order to destroy the Jews went out, it would have been very difficult to be certain that all who would attack them would get the message to refrain. Thus, by allowing them to defend themselves would help keep them safe. Mordecai was honored and given a crown. The Jews celebrated, were thankful for deliverance, and were victorious over those who would have destroyed them. One other positive result was that many of the Persians became Jews, that is, they came to honor the God of Israel.