Esther 7:7-10
New English Translation
7 In rage the king arose from the banquet of wine and withdrew to the palace garden. Meanwhile, Haman stood to beg Queen Esther for his life,[a] for he realized that the king had now determined a catastrophic end for him.[b]
8 When the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet of wine, Haman was throwing himself down[c] on the couch where Esther was lying.[d] The king exclaimed, “Will he also attempt to rape the queen while I am still in the building?”
As these words left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 9 Harbona,[e] one of the king’s eunuchs, said, “Indeed, there is the gallows that Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke out on the king’s behalf. It stands near Haman’s home and is 75 feet[f] high.”
The king said, “Hang him on it!” 10 So they hanged Haman on the very gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. The king’s rage then abated.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Esther 7:7 sn There is great irony here in that the man who set out to destroy all the Jews now finds himself begging for his own life from a Jew.
- Esther 7:7 tn Heb “for he saw that calamity was determined for him from the king”; NAB “the king had decided on his doom”; NRSV “the king had determined to destroy him.”
- Esther 7:8 tn Heb “falling”; NAB, NRSV “had (+ just TEV) thrown himself (+ down TEV).”
- Esther 7:8 tn Heb “where Esther was” (so KJV, NASB). The term “lying” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons; cf. NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT “was reclining.”
- Esther 7:9 sn Cf. 1:10, where Harbona is one of the seven eunuchs sent by the king to summon Queen Vashti to his banquet.
- Esther 7:9 tn Heb “50 cubits.” See the note on this expression in Esth 5:14.
Esther 7:7-10
International Standard Version
7 The king got up from the banquet in anger and went out to the palace garden, while Haman stood there begging Queen Esther to spare his life,[a] because he realized that the king intended to harm him.[b]
8 When the king returned to the banquet hall from the palace garden, Haman was prostrate on the couch where Esther was. The king asked, “Will this man[c] even assault the queen with me in the house?” The king had no sooner spoken than they covered Haman’s face. 9 Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs attending the king, observed, “Look there! A pole is standing 50 cubits[d] high at Haman’s house that he prepared for Mordecai, whose report benefitted[e] the king!”
The king said, “Hang[f] him on it.” 10 So they hanged[g] Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai, and then the king’s anger subsided.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Esther 7:7 Lit. the queen for his life
- Esther 7:7 Lit. to bring evil on him
- Esther 7:8 Lit. he
- Esther 7:9 I.e. about 75 feet; a cubit was about eighteen inches
- Esther 7:9 Lit. who spoke good for
- Esther 7:9 Or Impale
- Esther 7:10 Or impaled
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