Ester 7

Ester 7:1-10

7:4 "for we have been sold" This VERB (BDB 569, KB 581, Niphal PERFECT) is used in Lev. 25:34,48 in the sense of "sold for debt" (cf. Neh. 5:8). It became the theological opposite of "redeem." Esther sees herself and her people as sold to Haman's hatred and by implication, the king's nonchalance. ▣ "to be destroyed, to be killed and to be annihilated" These three INFINITIVES (Hiphil [BDB 1029, KB 1552], Qal [BDB 246, KB 255], and a Piel [BDB 1, KB 2]) describing the doom awaiting all the Jews in Persia. The series is for intensity! It also is exactly what Haman had written in his decree (which Mordecai had given to Esther, cf. Esth. 3:13) under the king's authority. "for the trouble would not be commensurate with the annoyance to the king" "the enemy could never compensate for the king's loss" "but no enemy can compensate for this damage to the king" -----omitted----- "it will be beyond the persecutor's means to make good the loss that the king is about to sustain" "for the adversary is not worthy of the king's trouble" This is polite court language. It is not meant to be literal, but demure. All of the "ifs" in Esth. 7:4 serve the same purpose. The translations differ over how to take the term nzq (BDB 634, KB 684) an Aramaic loan word found only here in the Bible. Some translations take it as "trouble" or "annoyance" but others as "damage" or "loss" (referring to the money Haman offered in Esth. 3:9; 4:7) Esther is thinking of herself, her people, and her king! 7:5 "who would presume to do thus" There may be a sound play in the term "sell" (Esth. 7:4, BDB 569, KB 581, Niphal PERFECT) and "presume" (lit. "fill," BDB 569, KB 583, Qal PERFECT). The king has asked the crucial question! 7:6 "foe. . .enemy. . .wicked" Esther combines a series of words (as Esth. 7:4) to describe the depth of her animosity toward Haman. ▣ "terrified" The Arabic root means "to come upon suddenly." In Hebrew (BDB 129, KB147, Niphal PERFECT) the Niphal stem denotes terror (cf. 1 Chr. 21:30; Dan. 8:17). 7:7 "The king arose in his anger from drinking wine" This shows how alcohol accentuates the emotions (cf. Esth. 1:12). Special Topic: Wine and Strong Drink 7:8 "falling on the couch where Esther was" It must be remembered that the wife of the king took on something of his royal person. Therefore, to touch her was a grave offense. Haman probably had grasped Esther's legs and may even have been kissing them when the king re-entered. Jealousy and anger took over! It is interesting to speculate from a Jewish perspective how Haman was seen as wanting to be king himself: wants the king's clothes wants to ride the king's horse Esther's accusation in Esth. 7:4 may have implied a charge of treason wants the king's wife (or so the king thought) ▣ "they covered Haman's face" Although we do not know this from the Persian period, we learn from Greek and Roman literature that this was done to condemned people (from the Anchor Bible, vol. 7B, p. 72; Curtius 6.8,22; Livy 1.26.25). Some scholars say that they have no right to see the king anymore, while other scholars say it was to protect the king from the person's evil eye. 7:9 What irony!! In context Haman was trying to kill the very one who the king was honoring! ▣ "cubit" See Special Topic: Cubit. 7:10 "hanged Haman on the gallows" This was probably impaling, not hanging as we understand the term. See note at Esth. 2:23. Special Topic: Hang