Esther 7:9

9 Then 1Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, "Moreover, 2the gallows[a] that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, 3whose word saved the king, is standing at Haman's house, fifty cubits[b] high."

Esther 7:9 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 7:9

And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king,
&c.] One of the seven chamberlains, see ( Esther 1:10 ) , his name, with Josephus F25, is Sabouchadas.

Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for
Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of
Haman.
This man, perhaps, had seen it there, when he went with others to fetch Haman to the banquet, ( Esther 6:14 ) . The sin of Haman is aggravated by preparing a gallows for a man before he was accused to the king, or condemned, or had a grant for his execution, and for a man that had well deserved of the king for discovering a conspiracy against him, and whom now the king had delighted to honour:

then the king said, hang him thereon;
immediately, being ready prepared, the king's word was enough, being a sovereign and tyrannical prince.


FOOTNOTES:

F25 Antiqu. l. 11. c. 6. sect. 11.

Esther 7:9 In-Context

7 And the king arose in his wrath from the wine-drinking and went into the palace garden, but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm was determined against him by the king.
8 And the king returned from the palace garden to the place where they were drinking wine, as Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. And the king said, "Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?" As the word left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman's face.
9 Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, "Moreover, the gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, is standing at Haman's house, fifty cubits high."
10 And the king said, "Hang him on that."So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated.

Cross References 3

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Or stake; also verse 10
  • [b]. A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.