Esther 7 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study
Esther 7 Short Summary:
In Esther 7, we see the tables turned and the script flipped on the evil Haman. At Esther’s second feast, she exposed Haman by revealing that she was a Jew, and asked the king to spare her life and the life of her people from Haman’s extermination plot. When the king realized Haman’s evil, he ordered him to be arrested and hung him on the gallows that were originally intended for Mordecai.
Esther 7 Bible Study
WHEN:
538 BC – Cyrus the Great of Persia frees the Jews from their Babylonian captivity.
516 BC – The rebuilding of the Temple is completed in Jerusalem.
483 BC – The story of Esther begins in the 3rd year of Ahasuerus’ reign.
479 BC – Esther becomes queen of Persia.
457 BC – Ezra arrives in Jerusalem.
444 BC – Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem.
KEY CHARACTERS:
King Ahasuerus – Also known as Xerxes. Reigned as king of Persia from 486-464 B.C.
Esther – A young Jewish woman who was chosen by Ahasuerus to become queen of Persia. She was an orphan who was raised by her cousin Mordecai.
Mordecai – A Jew who lived in Susa. He raised Esther after her parents died.
Haman – An Agagite. He was a vengeful man who King Ahasuerus elevated to high authority.
WHERE:
Susa – The capital of the Persian Empire. The location of the palace of Ahasuerus.
OUTLINE:
ESTHER’S SECOND FEAST (7:1-6):
*As we begin this chapter, remember that Esther kept her Jewish heritage a secret from the king and from Haman (2:10).
At the end of the last chapter, Haman had been summoned to Esther’s second feast.
When the feast had been eaten, the King asked, “What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you” (7:2).
Esther’s answer shocked both men at the table. She begged for her own life and for the life of her people.
The king was confused and asked Esther what man would dare try to annihilate the queen and her people.
Esther pointed at Haman and said, “A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman” (7:6).
HAMAN IS HANGED (7:7-10):
The king was furious when he realized what was happening. Haman had asked him for permission to exterminate a group of people (3:8-9), and that group included his wife!
Haman was also mortified! He had no idea there were any high-ranking Jews in the palace. He never expected his revenge plot against Mordecai to run into this kind of complication.
King Ahasuerus got up from the feast in wrath and went into the palace garden.
Haman knew he had made a fatal mistake. He rushed over to Queen Esther to beg her for his life.
When the king returned, Haman had “fallen on the couch where Esther was” and it looked to the king like Haman might be assaulting the queen.
The royal guards arrested Haman and covered his face.
One of the king’s eunuchs, Harbona, informed Ahasuerus that Haman had built a gallows with the intention of hanging Mordecai (the man who the king had just honored).
Ahasuerus ordered Haman to be hung.
When the deed was done, the king’s wrath was abated.
APPLICATION
Be careful before you think you’re clever enough to get away with evil, there is an infinitely more clever force working against you.
Some of you think you are clever enough to not get caught stealing from your work, cheating on your spouse, lying on your taxes, watching things on your computer you shouldn’t be, or pretending to be somebody you’re not.
Here is what you should know about your perceived cleverness… You are never safe!
Haman was blindsided by Esther’s Jewish heritage. God made Esther queen before Haman was even elevated to power. God prepped to expose Haman’s plot potentially years before the plot was conceived in his own mind.
You can’t outmaneuver God! So rather than spending all of your time and energy cleverly concealing your sins, use that time and energy to bring your life into alignment with God, repent of your sins, and live a life that doesn’t need to be concealed.
