ESTHER COMES IN BEFORE THE KING, WHO RECEIVES HER KINDLY. SHE INVITES THE KING AND HAMAN TO HER BANQUET. HAMAN IS HANGED UPON THE GALLOWS THAT HE MADE FOR MORDECAI. THE JEWS DESTROY THEIR ENEMIES.
ON the third day Esther dressed herself in her royal robes and went into the inner part of the king's palace, and stood where the king, as he sat on his throne, could see her. And it was so, when he saw her, that God made him feel kindly toward her, and he held out his golden sceptre to Esther. So she came near to him, and touched the top of the sceptre. Then said the king to her, What is thy desire, Queen Esther, and what is thy request? It shall be given thee, even to the half of my kingdom. Esther answered, If the king be willing, I want the king and Haman to come to-day to a banquet that I have made ready for him. Then the king spoke to his servants, saying, Tell Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther has said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther made ready.
Now the king knew that Esther had invited him because she wanted to ask some favor of him, and as they sat at the banquet, he said to her again. What is thy desire? It shall be given thee, even to the half of my kingdom. Esther answered, My desire is, if the king be willing, that the king and Haman come to another banquet which I shall make ready for them to-morrow, and then I will tell the king what it is I would ask of him. So the king and Haman went from the queen's house that day. And Haman's heart was filled with pride because he had been to the queen's banquet, and was invited to her house again on the morrow. But as he went out, and passed Mordecai at the king's gate, and saw that he did not bow to him, nor do him reverence, he was filled with anger, yet he said nothing.
When he came to his home, he sent and called for his friends and for his wife. And Haman boasted to them of his riches and greatness, and told them how the king had set him above all the princes, and above all the king's other servants. He said also, Yes, and Esther the queen, allowed no man to come in with the king, to the banquet that she had made ready, excepting myself. And to-morrow I am invited to come again with the king to her house. Yet ail these things cannot make me happy while I see Mordecai, the Jew, sitting in the king's gate. Then his wife, and all his friends, said to him, Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and to-morrow ask the king that Mordecai may be hanged on it; then, after that, go thou in merrily to the queen's banquet. And Haman was pleased with what they said to him, and he went out and commanded the gallows to be made.
That night the king could not sleep. And he told his servants to bring him the book, in which was written down an account of the principal things that had happened in his kingdom. And the book was brought and read before him, and there it was found written, that Mordecai had, a long while before, saved the king's life by telling of two of the king's officers who had intended to kill him.
Then king Ahasuerus said to his servants, What reward has been given Mordecai, or what honor has been done to him, because he did this? They answered, There has been nothing done for him. While the king was speaking to his servants, some one came into the court of the palace. And the king said, Who is it in the court? Now Haman had just come there that he might speak with the king, and ask his permission to have Mordecai hanged on the gallows which was made ready for him. And the king's servants answered, It is Haman who stands in the court. The king said, Let him come in.
So Haman came in, and the king said to him, What shall be done for the man whom the king wants greatly to honor? Then Haman said to himself, The king means me: I am the one whom he wants greatly to honor. Therefore he answered the king, saying, Let the royal robes that the king wears, and the horse that he rides, and the crown that is set on his head, be brought to the man whom the king wants greatly to honor. And let him wear the king's robes, and his crown, and let him ride upon the king's horse; and let one of the king's most noble princes lead the horse through the streets of the city, and cry out to all the people, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honor!
Then the king said to Haman, Make haste and take the robes, and the horse, and the crown, and do to Mordecai, the Jew, as thou hast said; leave nothing that thou hast spoken undone. Then Haman, because he dared not disobey the king, took the king's robes, and his horse, and his crown, and brought them to Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the streets of the city, and cried out before him to all the people, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honor. After all this, Mordecai came and sat down again, humbly, in his place at the king's gate. But Haman made haste to his home, full of shame, and with his face covered, so that no one might know him. And he told his wife and all his friends what had happened to him. While he was yet talking with them, the king's messenger came to bring him to the banquet that Esther had made ready.
So the king and Haman came to the banquet of Esther, the queen. And the king again said to Esther, What is thy petition, Queen Esther? and what is thy request? for it shall be given thee, even to the half of my kingdom. Esther answered, If the king be pleased with me, this is my request, that the king will save my life, and the lives of all the Jews. For evil things have been spoken against us, which are not true, and I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. King Ahasuerus said, Who is the man that has dared to do these things? Esther answered, Our enemy is this wicked Haman.
Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. And the king arose from the banquet in great anger, and went out into the palace garden. When he came again into the banquet-ing-room, Haman had fallen down before the queen to beg for his life. But one of the king's officers said to the king, Behold the gallows, fifty cubits high, which Haman made ready for Mordecai, who saved the king's life, is standing by the house of Haman. And the king said, Hang him upon it. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had made ready for Mordecai; and the king's anger went from him.
On the same day, King Ahasuerus gave to Esther the house in which Haman had lived. And Mordecai was called in before the king, for Esther told him that Mordecai was her relation, and how kind he had been to her. And the king took off his ring, which he had before given to Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther made Mordecai ruler over the house that had belonged to Haman.
But Esther was still troubled, because the decree which Haman had written and sealed with the king's ring, had been sent out to all the provinces, telling the governors, the rulers, and the people of Persia, that on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, they should kill and destroy the Jews in every city, and take away whatever belonged to them. Therefore Esther came again to the king, though he had not called for her, and she fell down at his feet and wept there. Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward her. So she arose and stood before him, and begged that the decree of Haman might be changed, for, she said, How can I bear to see my people perish?
Now the king, himself, could not change the decree which he had allowed Haman to make, because, as we have read, no law, or decree, of the Medes and Persians might ever be changed. But King Ahasuerus told Esther and Mordecai that they might make another decree concerning the Jews, such an one as should please them, and might seal it with the king's ring. Then Mordecai called the king's scribes together, and commanded them to write another decree, saying, That the Jews had permission, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, to gather themselves together in every city, and to slay and destroy all who should try to harm them.
And Mordecai sent copies of this decree to the different provinces of the kingdom, by messengers on horseback, and by riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries. And the messengers went out in haste, according to the king's commandment, for the decree was made at Shushan the palace. And Mordecai, after he had done talking with the king, came out from the palace clothed in royal garments, such as the king himself wore, of blue and white, and with a crown of gold upon his head. And all the people of Shushan were glad, and everywhere the Jews were filled with joy, and they feasted and were happy.
And on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month the Jews took their swords, and gathered themselves together in every city, to fight for their lives; and they gained the victory over all who came out against them. But on the fourteenth and fifteenth days they rested from fighting against their enemies. So God saved Esther and her people from those who had hoped to destroy them. Then Esther and Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews, telling them to keep the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the twelfth month, every year, as a time of feasting and gladness, when they should rejoice together, and give presents to one another and gifts to the poor. Because at that time they had been saved from their enemies, and their sorrow and mourning had been turned into joy.