1 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
This is the second party Ether has held in two days.
2 And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, “What is thy petition, queen Esther? And it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? And it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.”
The king repeats his promise to Esther to give her whatever she wants.
3 Then Esther the queen answered and said, “If I have found favor in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:”
This plea coming out of the blue like this must have shocked both Haman and the king.
4 “For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.”
“I wouldn’t have complained if we were just being abused, but we are going to be killed.”
5 Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, “Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?”
“How dare anyone threaten my queen?! Who is the scoundrel?”
6 And Esther said, “The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman.” Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
“Haman was afraid.” Ya think?
7 And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.
The king had to leave the room to clear his head. Sometimes it is wisdom to give yourself some space and have a cooling off time.
8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, “Will he force the queen also before me in the house?” As the word went out of king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.
This “bed” is likely a dining couch like those used by the Greeks and Romans.
In extreme distress, it was common in Rome and Greece to grab the legs or feet of the one you are pleading with. This is most likely what Haman was actually doing, not attempting rape. Not only was Haman already in danger of death, but the room was full of servants, so it is highly unlikely he would be attempting what the king accused him of. The king, however, was so mad that he put the worst light on what he saw.
It was the custom in many ancient countries to cover the face of one condemned to death so the king doesn’t have to look at them anymore.
9 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, “Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who spoken good for the king, stands in the house of Haman.” Then the king said, “Hang him thereon.”
Interesting that this servant felt comfortable enough to make suggestions to the king about execution. It speaks well of Ahasuerus’ intelligence and sensibility.
We must admire the Divine justice of Haman being hanged on his own gallows.
10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.