Haman Is Punished

1King Artaxerxes and Haman dined with Queen Esther 2on that second day. And while they were drinking wine, Artaxerxes said, "Esther, my queen, what can I do for you? Just ask, and I will give you as much as half of my kingdom!"

3Esther answered, "Your Majesty, if you really care for me, you can save me and my people. 4I have learned that all of us, even our children, have been sold, so that we can be robbed and made slaves or killed. We have an enemy in your court who is not worthy to serve you."

5"Who would dare to do such a thing?" the king asked.

6Esther replied, "That evil Haman is the one out to get us!"

Haman was terrified as he sat there in front of the king and the queen.

7The king got up from the table and went into the palace garden.

Haman started begging Queen Esther for mercy, because he knew he was in trouble. 8He even threw himself on her couch to plead with her. Just then the king came in from the garden and shouted, "He's even trying to rape my wife in my own house!"

Haman knew he was doomed.

9Then Bugathan, one of the king's personal servants, said, "Your Majesty, Haman built a tower 22 meters high beside his house, so he could hang Mordecai on it. And Mordecai is the one who spoke up and saved your life."

"Hang Haman from his own tower!" the king said. 10And immediately, Haman was hanged on the tower he had built to hang Mordecai. Afterward, the king calmed down.