In the meantime the morning drew on, and Haman had entered the court of the palace to confer with the king about the hanging of Mordecai. We can well believe the mind of Ahasuerus was in a bad frame to talk about hanging the man who had saved his life by discovering the plot of the king’s chamberlains. But the king did not know what dark deeds were in the heart of Haman as he ordered him to be called. When Haman came into the presence of Ahasuerus, the king asked what should be done with the man whom he wanted to honor.
The king’s favorite, who had just shared two private banquets with the king, was so inflated with himself that he did not think there was another man in the Persian empire in whom Ahasuerus would be so delighted to honor as himself, so he advised that the royal apparel be brought forth and the king’s horse and his crown, and given to one of the noble princes to array the man whom the king delighted to honor, and take him through the city on horseback with a proclamation, “This is the man whom the king delighteth to honor.”
The command was given to Haman to thus honor Mordecai, which he did, with not very good grace, for, when he had finished his task, he “hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered,” and related his mortification to his wife and friends.
After all, for the moment at least, it must have seemed to Haman and his friends as a strange act on the part of the king, for while they were yet talking over the humiliation, the king’s chamberlains came, requesting Haman to hasten and come to the banquet Esther had prepared. It must have seemed to Haman that Esther had really gone into the banqueting business, so frequently had he been honored of late.
When the king and Haman sat down to the banquet the king again asked Esther what was her petition. Whereupon she humbly prayed the king that her life might be given her and her people, for a design was laid for the destruction of her and her kindred. At which the king asked with much anger who it was that durst do this thing. She told him that Haman, then present, was the author of the wicked plot, and she laid the whole scheme open to the king. Who can tell how much her own chance of salvation depended on her courage, self-control and tact? A look, even the droop of an eye-lid, might have betrayed her into the hands of the most cringing and unscrupulous of royal favorites, and sent her and her whole race to their death. But God held her steady in nerve and growing in faith, as He does all who put their whole trust in Him.
The king rose up with much wrath from the banquet and walked out into the garden.
Haman saw his opportunity. Quickly he stood up to plead for his life. Perceiving that there was evil determined against him by the king, he prostrated himself before the queen upon the couch on which she was sitting to supplicate for his life; in which position the king found him on his return.
The motive for Haman’s unhappy attitude before the queen was misunderstood by the king, and he spoke in great passion, “What, will he force the queen before me in the house!”
At which words the servants present immediately covered Haman’s face, as was the usage to condemned persons, and the chamberlain, who had called Haman to the banquet, acquainted the king with the gallows he saw in his house there prepared for Mordecai, who had saved the king’s life.
The king ordered Haman should be forthwith hanged thereon, which was accordingly done. A feast was then consecrated in commemoration of the deliverance of the Jews, called the feast of Purim.