Inspire Catholic Bible - Esther - Flipbook - Page 11
Esther 7:4
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sharpened pole that stands seventy-five feet* tall, and in the morning
ask the king to impale Mordecai on it. When this is done, you can go on
your merry way to the banquet with the king.” This pleased Haman, and
he ordered the pole set up.
The King Honors Mordecai
That night the king had trouble sleeping, so he ordered an atten
dant to bring the book of the history of his reign so it could be read
to him. 2 In those records he discovered an account of how Mordecai
had exposed the plot of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who
guarded the door to the king’s private quarters. They had plotted to
assassinate King Xerxes.
3 “What reward or recognition did we ever give Mordecai for this?”
the king asked.
His attendants replied, “Nothing has been done for him.”
4 “Who is that in the outer court?” the king inquired. As it happened,
Haman had just arrived in the outer court of the palace to ask the king
to impale Mordecai on the pole he had prepared.
5 So the attendants replied to the king, “Haman is out in the court.”
“Bring him in,” the king ordered. 6 So Haman came in, and the king
said, “What should I do to honor a man who truly pleases me?”
Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king wish to honor
more than me?” 7 So he replied, “If the king wishes to honor someone,
8 he should bring out one of the king’s own royal robes, as well as a horse
that the king himself has ridden—one with a royal emblem on its head.
9 Let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most
noble officials. And let him see that the man whom the king wishes to
honor is dressed in the king’s robes and led through the city square on
the king’s horse. Have the official shout as they go, ‘This is what the king
does for someone he wishes to honor!’”
10 “Excellent!” the king said to Haman. “Quick! Take the robes and my
horse, and do just as you have said for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the
gate of the palace. Leave out nothing you have suggested!”
11 So Haman took the robes and put them on Mordecai, placed him
on the king’s own horse, and led him through the city square, shouting,
“This is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor!” 12 After
ward Mordecai returned to the palace gate, but Haman hurried home
dejected and completely humiliated.
13 When Haman told his wife, Zeresh, and all his friends what had
happened, his wise advisers and his wife said, “Since Mordecai—this
man who has humiliated you—is of Jewish birth, you will never succeed
in your plans against him. It will be fatal to continue opposing him.”
14 While they were still talking, the king’s e
unuchs arrived and quickly
took Haman to the banquet Esther had prepared.
6
The King Executes Haman
So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet. 2 On this
second occasion, while they were drinking wine, the king again said
to Esther, “Tell me what you want, Queen Esther. What is your request?
I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom!”
3 Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor with the king, and if it
pleases the king to grant my request, I ask that my life and the lives of
my people will be spared. 4 For my people and I have been sold to those
who would kill, slaughter, and annihilate us. If we had merely been sold
7
5:14 Hebrew 50 cubits [23 meters].
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