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Haman Expresses His Hatred of Mordecai

Now Haman went forth that day pleased and very much encouraged.[a] But when Haman saw Mordecai at the king’s gate, and he did not rise or tremble in his presence,[b] Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai. 10 But Haman restrained himself and went on to his home.

He then sent for his friends to join him,[c] along with his wife Zeresh. 11 Haman then recounted to them his fabulous wealth,[d] his many sons,[e] and how the king had magnified him and exalted him over the king’s other officials and servants. 12 Haman said, “Furthermore, Queen Esther invited[f] only me to accompany the king to the banquet that she prepared. And also tomorrow I am invited[g] along with the king. 13 Yet all this fails to satisfy me so long as I have to see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”

14 Haman’s[h] wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a gallows 75 feet[i] high built, and in the morning tell the king that Mordecai should be hanged on it. Then go with the king to the banquet contented.”[j]

It seemed like a good idea to Haman, so he had the gallows built.

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Footnotes

  1. Esther 5:9 tn Heb “happy and good of heart”; NASB “glad and pleased of heart”; NIV “happy and in high spirits.”
  2. Esther 5:9 tn Heb “tremble from before him”; NIV “nor showed fear in his presence”; TEV “or show any sign of respect as he passed.”
  3. Esther 5:10 tn Heb “sent and brought.” The expression is probably a hendiadys (a figure of speech in which a single idea is expressed through two words or phrases), in which case the two verbs could be translated simply as “summoned” (so NAB) or “sent for” (NASB).
  4. Esther 5:11 tn Heb “the glory of his riches” (so KJV, NASB); NRSV “the splendor of his riches.”
  5. Esther 5:11 sn According to Esth 9:10 Haman had ten sons.
  6. Esther 5:12 tn Heb “caused to come”; KJV “did let no man come in…but myself.”
  7. Esther 5:12 tn Heb “called to her”; KJV “invited unto her”; NAB “I am to be her guest.”
  8. Esther 5:14 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Haman) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  9. Esther 5:14 tn Heb “50 cubits.” Assuming a standard length for the cubit of about 18 inches (45 cm), this would be about 75 feet (22.5 meters), which is a surprisingly tall height for the gallows. Perhaps the number assumes the gallows was built on a large supporting platform or a natural hill for visual effect, in which case the structure itself may have been considerably smaller. Cf. NCV “a seventy-five foot platform”; CEV “a tower built about seventy-five feet high.”
  10. Esther 5:14 tn Or “joyful”; NRSV “in good spirits”; TEV “happy.”

Haman Plans to Have Mordecai Hung

Haman went out that day happy and in good spirits, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was infuriated with Mordecai;(A) 10 nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Then he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh,(B) 11 and Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the ministers of the king.(C) 12 Haman added, “Even Queen Esther let no one but myself come with the king to the banquet that she prepared. Tomorrow also I am invited by her, together with the king.(D) 13 Yet all this does me no good so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”(E) 14 Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a pole fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hung on it; then go with the king to the banquet in good spirits.” This advice pleased Haman, and he had the pole made.(F)

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