7-8 The king, raging, left his wine and stomped out into the palace garden.

Haman stood there pleading with Queen Esther for his life—he could see that the king was finished with him and that he was doomed. As the king came back from the palace garden into the banquet hall, Haman was groveling at the couch on which Esther reclined. The king roared out, “Will he even molest the queen while I’m just around the corner?”

When that word left the king’s mouth, all the blood drained from Haman’s face.

Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, spoke up: “Look over there! There’s the gallows that Haman had built for Mordecai, who saved the king’s life. It’s right next to Haman’s house—seventy-five feet high!”

The king said, “Hang him on it!”

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The king got up in a rage,(A) left his wine and went out into the palace garden.(B) But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate,(C) stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.

Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch(D) where Esther was reclining.(E)

The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?”(F)

As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.(G) Then Harbona,(H) one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits[a](I) stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.”

The king said, “Impale him on it!”(J)

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Footnotes

  1. Esther 7:9 That is, about 75 feet or about 23 meters