Haman Impaled
1So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet, 2and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”
3Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. 4For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.7:4 Or quiet, but the compensation our adversary offers cannot be compared with the loss the king would suffer”
5King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is he—the man who has dared to do such a thing?”
6Esther said, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!”
Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. 7The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.
8Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining.
The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?”
As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 9Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits7:9 That is, about 75 feet or about 23 meters stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.”
The king said, “Impale him on it!” 10So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided.
Hamani Aangikwa
17:1 Mwa 40:20-21; Mt 22:1-14Basi mfalme na Hamani wakaenda kula chakula pamoja na Malkia Esta. 27:2 Es 5:3Walipokuwa wakinywa mvinyo katika siku ya pili, mfalme akauliza tena, “Malkia Esta, ni nini haja yako? Utapewa. Ombi lako ni nini? Hata nusu ya ufalme, utapewa.”
3Kisha Malkia Esta akajibu, “Kama nimepata kibali kwako, ee mfalme, tena kama inapendeza utukufu wako, nijalie maisha yangu, hii ndiyo haja yangu. Pia uokoe watu wangu, hili ndilo ombi langu. 47:4 Es 3:9Kwa kuwa mimi na watu wangu tumeuzwa kwa kuangamizwa, kuchinjwa na kuharibiwa. Kama tungalikuwa tumeuzwa tu kuwa watumwa wa kiume na wa kike, ningalinyamaza kimya, kwa sababu shida kama hii isingalitosha kumsumbua mfalme.”
5Mfalme Ahasuero akamuuliza Malkia Esta, “Ni nani huyu? Yuko wapi mtu huyu aliyethubutu kufanya jambo kama hili?”
6Esta akasema, “Mtesi na adui ni huyu mwovu Hamani.”
Hamani alifadhaika mbele ya mfalme na malkia. 77:7 Mwa 34:7; 2Fal 21:18Mfalme akainuka kwa ghadhabu, akaacha mvinyo wake, akaenda kwenye bustani ya jumba la kifalme. Lakini Hamani, akitambua kwamba mfalme ameshaamua hatima yake, alibaki nyuma kumsihi Malkia Esta aokoe maisha yake.
8Mara mfalme aliporudi kutoka bustani ya jumba la kifalme na kuja kwenye ukumbi wa karamu, Hamani alikuwa akijitupa juu ya kiti mahali ambapo Esta alikuwa akiegemea.
Mfalme akasema kwa nguvu, “Je, atamdhalilisha malkia hata huku nyumbani akiwa pamoja nami!”
Mara neno lilipotoka kinywani mwa mfalme, walifunika uso wa Hamani. 97:9 Za 7:14-16; Mit 11:5-6Kisha Harbona, mmoja wa matowashi wanaomtumikia mfalme, akasema, “Mahali pa kuangika watu penye urefu wa mita ishirini na mbili pako nyumbani mwa Hamani. Alikuwa amepatengeneza kwa ajili ya Mordekai, ambaye alizungumza ili kumsaidia mfalme.”
Mfalme akasema, “Mwangikeni juu yake!” 107:10 Mwa 40:22; Mit 10:28Kwa hiyo wakamtundika Hamani mahali alipokuwa ameandaa kwa ajili ya Mordekai. Ndipo ghadhabu ya mfalme ikatulia.
