Ester 7

1 El rey ejecuta a Amán
Entonces el rey y Amán fueron al banquete de la reina Ester.

2 En esta segunda ocasión, mientras bebían vino, el rey volvió a decir a Ester:
—Dime lo que desees, reina Ester. ¿Cuál es tu petición? ¡Yo te la daré, aun si fuera la mitad del reino!

3 La reina Ester contestó:
—Si he logrado el favor del rey, y si al rey le agrada conceder mi petición, pido que mi vida y la vida de mi pueblo sean libradas de la muerte.

4 Pues mi pueblo y yo hemos sido vendidos para ser muertos, masacrados y aniquilados. Si solo nos hubieran vendido como esclavos, yo me quedaría callada, porque sería un asunto por el cual no merecería molestar al rey.

5 —¿Quién sería capaz de hacer semejante cosa? —preguntó el rey Jerjes—. ¿Quién podría ser tan descarado para tocarte a ti?

6 Ester contestó:
—Este malvado Amán es nuestro adversario y nuestro enemigo.
Amán se puso pálido de miedo delante del rey y de la reina.

7 Entonces el rey, enfurecido, se levantó de un salto y salió al jardín del palacio.
Amán, en cambio, se quedó con la reina Ester para implorar por su vida, porque sabía que el rey pensaba matarlo.

8 En su desesperación se dejó caer sobre el diván donde estaba reclinada la reina Ester, justo cuando el rey volvía del jardín del palacio.
El rey exclamó: «¿Hasta se atreve a atacar a la reina aquí mismo, en el palacio, ante mis propios ojos?». Entonces, en cuanto el rey habló, sus asistentes le cubrieron la cara a Amán en señal de condena.

9 Luego Harbona, uno de los eunucos del rey, dijo:
—Amán ha levantado un poste afilado de veintidós metros y medio
en el patio de su casa. Tenía pensado utilizarlo para atravesar a Mardoqueo, el hombre que salvó al rey de ser asesinado.
—¡Que atraviesen a Amán en ese poste! —ordenó el rey.

10 Entonces atravesaron a Amán con el poste que había levantado para Mardoqueo, y la furia del rey se calmó.

Ester 7 Commentary

Chapter 7

Esther accuses Haman. (1-6) Haman hanged on his own gallows. (7-10)

Verses 1-6 If the love of life causes earnest pleadings with those that can only kill the body, how fervent should our prayers be to Him, who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell! How should we pray for the salvation of our relatives, friends, and all around us! When we petition great men, we must be cautious not to give them offence; even just complaints must often be kept back. But when we approach the King of kings with reverence, we cannot ask or expect too much. Though nothing but wrath be our due, God is able and willing to do exceeding abundantly, even beyond all we can ask or think.

Verses 7-10 The king was angry: those that do things with self-will, reflect upon them afterward with self-reproach. When angry, we should pause before we come to any resolution, and thus rule our own spirits, and show that we are governed by reason. Those that are most haughty and insolent when in power and prosperity, commonly, like Haman, are the most abject and poor-spirited when brought down. The day is coming when those that hate and persecute God's chosen ones, would gladly be beholden to them. The king returns yet more angry against Haman. Those about him were ready to put his wrath into execution. How little can proud men be sure of the interest they think they have! The enemies of God's church have often been thus taken in their own craftiness. The Lord is known by such judgments. Then was the king's wrath pacified, and not till then. And who pities Haman hanged on his own gallows? who does not rather rejoice in the Divine righteousness displayed in the destruction his own art brought upon him? Let the workers of iniquity tremble, turn to the Lord, and seek pardon through the blood of Jesus.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ESTHER 7

Esther, being solicited by the king to tell him her petition, asks for her life and the lives of her people, who were sold to be destroyed, Es 7:1-4, the king, amazed at her request, inquires who was the person that dared to do so vile a thing; and was told by her it was Haman there present, Es 7:5,6 on which the king went out into the garden in wrath, and, returning, found Haman on Esther's bed, which still more incensed him; and being told that Haman had prepared a gallows for Mordecai, the king ordered that he himself should be hanged upon it, which was done accordingly, Es 7:7-10.