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So the king and Haman went in to drink with the queen.
Verse 1. Drink. Wine was only used at great feasts. Sirach 31:17. Water was served up first, from the river Choaspes only. The king and his eldest son were allowed to drink of “the golden waters,” of which they alone had 70 fountains. Athen. xii. 2.—Their wine was brought from Chelbon, near Damascus. Id. i. 22. Ezekiel 27:18. Calmet.
The king said to Esther at the banquet on the second day, “What is it, queen Esther? What is your request? What is your petition? It shall be done for you, up to half of my kingdom.”
She answered and said, “If I have found favor in the sight of the king, let my life be granted as my petition, and my people as my request.
Verse 3. People. She was more concerned for these than for half of the kingdom. Hence all fasted and prayed, and Esther obtained their deliverance. Worthington.
For both I and my people are sold for destruction, pillage, and genocide. If both we and our children were sold for male and female slaves, I would not have bothered you, for this isn’t worthy of the king’s palace.”
Verse 4. Perish. Three terms of the same import express the greatness of the misery. Bible.—King. Whose revenue will be greatly impaired, ( Calmet.) and character injured, for having given such power to a monster. Bible.—The kings of Persia had taken many precautions not to be thus deluded, having appointed officers, who were styled “the eyes and ears” of the king, purposely to obtain all necessary information. But these eyes were often darkened; these ears were often deaf, ( Calmet.) and unwilling to act with fidelity; ( Bible.) though their diligence in make secret transactions known, caused the people to look upon their kings as gods. Apul. Mund. Cyrop. viii. Calmet.
see Hebrew: slanderer
The king said, “Who has dared to do this thing?”
Verse 5. What. Hebrew “where, who durst entertain this design?” Bible.
Esther said, “The enemy is Haman, this wicked man!” Then Haman was terrified in the presence of the king and the queen.
Verse 6. Astonished. Horror of a guilty conscience is the first punishment. Saint John Chrysostom Worthington.
The king rose up from the banquet to go into the garden. Haman began to beg the queen for mercy, for he saw that he was in serious trouble.
Verse 7. Set. Hebrew “of the palace,” ( Bible.) belonging to the queen. Calmet.
The king returned from the garden; and Haman had fallen upon the couch, begging the queen for mercy. The king said, “Will you even assault my wife in my house?” And when Haman heard it, he changed countenance.
Verse 8. My own. Hebrew “will he force … in the house?” Bible.—Those who know with what jealousy the Persians treated their wives, so at to punish with death those who crossed the road before the queens, (Plut. Artax.) or touched them, will not wonder at the indignation of Assuerus, ( Calmet.) though his suspicions were groundless. Bible.—Aman wished to incline the queen to shew clemency, ( Menochius.) and intercede for him. He threw himself as a suppliant at her feet, as she lay on the bed at table. Bible.—Face. His crime was notorious; no trial was requisite, and the kings could treat their subjects as slaves. It was customary to cover the faces of those who were led to execution. Philotas was thus conducted into the presence of Alexander. Curt. vi.
And Bugathan, one of the chamberlains, said to the king, “Behold, Haman has also prepared a gallows for Mordecai, who spoke concerning the king, and a fifty cubit high gallows has been set up on Haman’s property.” The king said, “Let him be hanged on it!”
Verse 9. Harbona. Cr. “Bougathan.” Bible.—He had been to call Aman to the feast. Jos.—Little dependance is to be had on false friendship, when a man is disgraced. Worthington.—Upon it. His body was perhaps afterwards exposed in the street. Calmet. 16:18. It is not clear that he was nailed to the cross, though this custom prevailed in the country. 1 Ezra 6:11. Alexander crucified many satraps. Curt. ix.—The old Vulg. observes that the wife and ten children of Aman suffered with him. Calmet. 9:6. Calmet.
Or, impaled.
So Haman was hanged on the gallows that had been prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath was abated.