Haman’s friends were right…
…bummer for Haman
Esther – Chapter 7
Review
- History Review
- When : Time – Some say 486-465 B.C or 464-415 B.C. Few say 135-104 B.C., during Maccabean period, but that disclaims/discredits the historical value of the story and assumes it’s a allegorical story.
- When : Relative to Daniel – After. Daniel was Babylonian to the start of Persian Empires. Esther is entirely within Persian Empire.
- Who : about – Esther. A Jewish girl.
- Who: wrote it – Unknown. A palace slave? Mordacai? Nehemiah? Jew or Gentile? Probably Jewish. Probably Nehemiah.
- Chapter 1
- Potential sympathy for Vashti
- No deep OBVIOUS theological message in Chapter 1 (yet).
- Chapter 2
- More character traits of King X. See Esther move into the scene.
- No deep OBVIOUS theological message in Chapter 2 (yet). But maybe there’s a lesson about God works even when it’s not obvious to us that He’s working – like in Esther.
- Chapter 3
- Mort rebels against bowing to Haman and the other gate-visitors turn Mort in.
- Death sentence for Jews
- King X still a dope.
- Chapter 4
- Mort mourning is a concern for Esther.
- Mort scolds Esther.
- Esther is reluctant, but agrees with Mort’s request.
- Chapter 5
- Haman’s pride will be his downfall
- Friends and family can be a powerful influence.
- Chapter 6
- God controls, even Haman.
- Haman’s friends turn out not to be too friendly
Introduction
- How did you all do this week reading Esther?
- What’s your opinion of Esther (thus far)? Easy, hard, straightforward, confusing, basic, advanced, etc? Compare it to Daniel or Romans, etc as well as your impression of it on its own.
- What is your opinion of this chapter? Easy or lots of questions, difficult and convoluted?
- Can you group any of these chapters together?
Lesson
- vv. 1-3 [READ – Est 7:1-3] Esther’s request - FINALLY
- V 1 – This is the second banquet. The first, we discussed, was probably originally INTENDED to be when Esther would make her petition, but instead, she lost her nerve and asked the King (and Haman) back for the second night.
- V 2 – The King inquires of Esther as he did the first night – What do you want? I’ll give you anything, up to half of my kingdom.
i. How huge is that statement? Last time he said it, we said it was pretty big, but since she was a woman (and a Jew), maybe it was symbolic more than true ownership. However, since he says it again, it feels like it has even more weight, even though it’s technically the same offer (which is still huge).
- V 3 – Esther’s request, especially the first part about her own life, must have been startling to the King.
i. She says “Grant me my life” and he must think “But you have your life. I don’t understand.”
ii. “Her people” – What do you think this meant to the King? Making the statement “her people” implies that they are a different people than the King, but that perhaps that’s news to the King? Perhaps not.
- vv. 4-6 [READ – Est 7:4-6] The accusation of Haman
- V 4 – Slavery would not have been important enough to bother the King. Why does she say that?
i. The Jews have been there, done that with slavery. One might think they would just accept it and not fight it, based on this statement (and some history).
ii. She may just be playing up to the king.
iii. She may also be using the contrast between the insignificance (real or perceived) of slavery vs. the importance of the edict. In other words, “King, this is a HUGE deal. Nothing trivial like slavery.”
- V 5 – In true King Xerxes’ form, he’s all “Who? Where?” (Almost “huh?” or “Duh! Which way did he go?”)
- V 6 – Haman is identified and starts to fret (at least)
i. What DOESN’T Haman do? Flee. Deny it.
- vv. 7-10 [READ – Est 7:7-10] Haman’s trial, sentencing, judgment, and execution.
- V 7-8 – Apparently, leaving your wine indicates you’re REALLY mad, ‘cause the King does it and goes to the garden. Meanwhile…
i. Haman begs Esther for his life.
ii. Haman knows “harm has been determined against him” - that’s putting it mildly.
iii. The King re-enters and believes that Haman is assaulting/molesting/raping/etc Esther. This also does not please the King. (v 8)
iv. Haman’s face is covered (not fit to be seen by the king. Similar to how lepers would be treated)
- V 9 – There’s an interesting lesson to be learned in this verse. If you build a 75-foot tall gallows next to your house, it’s COULD get noticed by neighbors.
i. The king, being the resourceful fellow he was, saw fit to use said gallows given his recent need for a discipline technique for a former employee. Ironic how that former employee and the commissioner of the gallows is one and the same. (Haman)
- V 10 – So, they hanged Haman.
i. I would give anything for this verse to say “and this pleased the king” as other verses have said… :)
Summary
- What’s your key verse? V 10
- Try keeping a list of where God is acting in this story. What can you add to that list? Where do you see God in Ch. 6?
- Judgment to Haman?
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- What do you think about Haman’s friends and family now? Do you think they got any message or meaning out of the irony of Haman being subjected to his own gallows?
- The truth is they were right when they said Haman (and likewise themselves) would fall against Mort (and the Jews).