The Story of Mordechai and Esther, Ahasuarus and Haman PART SIX

Haman has built his gallows and is about to approach the king to have Mordi hanged on it. Let's see what happens next.

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven

THE DECISION OF THE KING

That night, the king couldn’t sleep in anticipation of the banquet with the beautiful Ester. He thought of the most boring document in his library, the chronicle of notable events. I know, I’ll read that and it’ll put me to sleep for sure. His servants brought him the scroll and he read the report about the two guards who were plotting to kill him and replace him with another.

“How did Ester know about the plot?” he asked his servants. They said, “The man who judges at the gate of the city overheard them and he sent a letter to Ester.” The king asked “What was done to reward this man who judges at the gate of the city for saving my life?” The servant said “Ummm… nothing.”

Meanwhile, wicked Haman (booo!), who feeling pretty good about himself, was coming to king Akav-sheriff to suggest having MORDECHAI hanged on his new gallows. It would make him feel so much better, knowing MORDECHAI the JEW was publicly hanged and disgraced, surely the king would sign off on this. He stood in the courtyard of the king, pacing back and forth waiting for an audience.

The king looked out his window and saw a man pacing around and asked “Who is that in the court?” (Haman wasn’t wearing his signature triangle hat, you see). The servant said “Haman” The king said “Bring him up here, I want to ask him something.”

Haman entered the presence of the king and the king Akav-Sheriff asked him “In all your great wisdom, Haman (booo!) I want to ask your advice on something. What should be done for the man whom the king wishes to reward?”

Haman was having the best week ever! First a exclusive banquet, then a giant gallows and now the king wants to know how to reward his trusted advisor… something that’s been a long time coming after all.

“My king” he began “I know exactly what should be done for the man whom the king wants to reward. You should have him put on the royal robe and the royal adornments that you wore when the royal crown wasp placed upon your head. Then place him upon your royal white horse that is normally reserved only for the king and have him riding through the public square of the city and cry before him “This is what is done for the man whom the king wishes to reward!”

The king was delighted with this suggestion and said “Excellent! Haman, you go and fetch my royal adornments and crown and get my horse, just as you suggested, and bring them to MORDECHAI the one who judges at the city gates and let him ride through the public square of the city and cry before him “this is what is done for the man whom the king wishes to reward!” Do everything exactly as you suggested.”

Haman’s face became pale and his mouth opened agape. He turned around, stunned, and shuffled his way back to the courtyard, completely forgetting his request for the king. He got the robe and adornments and crown and the royal horse and brought them to the city gates, hoping nobody would be there.
Everyone was there.

Haman (boo!) tapped MORDECHAI on his shoulder and told him what the king required of him to do for MORDECHAI. At first MORDECHAI was about to decline, because he is a humble man and he did not want to be exulted, but then he smiled. He recognized the hand of God and decided that by receiving this honor, God’s will would be done for God’s glory.

The voice of Haman echoed through the streets, sad and depressed saying “This is what is done… for the man… whom the king… wishes to reward….”

Humiliated, Haman (booo!) returned home to his wife and friends. They tried not to laugh. It’s not nice to laugh, but they recognized the irony of the situation. They said “If this man is of the Jews, you’re in serious trouble. You were outsmarted by the lowliest of them, how will their blood flow in the streets? You will surely be defeated by them.” Haman was furious. At least he had a banquet to look forward to.

THE SECOND BANQUET OF ESTER

So the day arrived when the king (and Haman) went to the banquet of Ester. Again, they drank and drank and drank until the room was spinning in 10 different directions. The king remembered that Ester had a request, so he said (trying to hiccup less this time) “Whatever you ask for shall be granted (hiccup) and whatever request you make (hiccup) shall be honored even if it’s half (hiccup) my kingdom.”

Queen Ester replied “If I have found favor with you, Oh king, and it pleases your majesty, I ask that my life be spared and I beg that you spare the lives of my people. For my people and I have been delivered to destruction, slaughter and extinction. If we were to be sold into slavery, I would remain silent, but as it is, the enemy would be unable to repair the disastrous harm done to the king and his glorious kingdom.”

The king suddenly sobered up. “What is this you are saying, Ester? Who is the man who dares to do this to you and your people? Where is he?”

Ester replied “The enemy who oppresses us is this wicked… Haman!”

Haman was too self-absorbed and drunk to even notice his name being mentioned. He was still recounting the words “this is what is done… blab la bla…” Oh, what a miserable time that was.

The king left in a rage to sober up enough to decide what to do, meanwhile Haman was left alone with Queen Ester. Haman casually asked Ester, “Um, where did the king go?” Ester replied, “He left in a rage, since I told him that you were plotting to have me killed.” Haman looked at her and said “I wouldn’t lay a finger on you, my dear.” Ester said smiling “I am among those whom you call a “national security threat” and a “Zionist Enemy”. You are plotting to have me killed along with my entire race of people. It’s on your calendar”

Haman’s face became twisted in rage towards Ester. When he looked at her, all he could see is that JEW MORDECHAI with a smile on his face. He wanted to punch him. He forgot that it’s not polite to punch a beautiful queen in the face. He lunged towards her, ready to pummel her. She screamed, just as the king returned into the room.

“Will this wicked Haman not only kill, but also violate my queen while she is in my own house????” Haman froze, realizing that he was done for. He was tied up and his face was covered with a sack.

The king calmed down and tried to make a decision, but his trusted advisor was tied up with a hood on his head. He didn’t know who to ask what to do. Oh man, this is difficult. Being a king is easy when others make all the decisions for you.

So the king did something he never did before. He made a decision on his own.

He looked out his window and saw this GIANT gallows, like 200 feet tall, and said “Hang this wicked Haman on that gallows. The one that looks like it’s 200 feet tall.” And they did. That was the end of wicked Haman. (Yaaaay!)