Esther heard the mourning and crying outside the palace and sent two servants to find out what was wrong. When the servants came back, they had a message from Mordecai.

"Queen Esther, Mordecai says that King Xerxes has signed a decree that says every Jew must die on the 13th day of the 12th month," said Hathach. "He wants you to go to the King and get him to change the law," the other man said.

Esther put her hands on her head and began pacing back and forth. "But it's been 30 days since I was last called by the King. If I go to his throne room without being asked to, it will be me who is put to death."

Esther awoke from her sleep that night with a start, "Perhaps God wanted me to become Queen to stop the Jews from being put to death! Why else had she been chosen Queen?"

The next morning, Esther said to her servant, "Go now and tell Mordecai to get all the Jews together and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days. I too will fast and when it is done, I will go before the King, even though it may mean my death."

Esther leaned against the door outside the throne room and sighed heavily. This was going to be even harder than she'd thought. She was weak from her fast and very scared at the prospect of the King's wrath. But she pushed her hair out of her face and took a deep breath.

The king looked up angrily. He hadn't invited anyone to come to the throne room that morning. Why couldn't people understand how much work it was to run a kingdom. How dare they interrupt! Why he would'

But he softened as soon as he saw Esther's beautiful face. He could see how scared she was and she seemed quite a bit paler than usual.

A broad smile spread across the King's face. Esther almost fainted with relief when she saw that the King would forgive her for her interruption.

"What is it that you wish, Queen Esther? Whatever you want, you will get, even if it is HALF my kingdom," King Xerxes said with a welcoming smile.

Esther swallowed and said in a rush, "My lord, if it please the King, would you and Haman come to a banquet I have prepared for you both today?"

King Xerxes smile widened. Why the pretty young thing missed him! Yes, it had been sometime since he'd seen her. The King turned to his aides and said, "Tell Haman to hurry and get ready that he may do as Esther has said."

So the King and Haman came to Esther's banquet. King Xerxes knew Esther wanted to ask some sort of favor of him, so he asked her again what it was. "My Queen, what is it that you wish for? I will give it to you, even if it means HALF my kingdom."

Esther answered, "Please come with Haman to another banquet that I shall prepare for you tomorrow. Then I will tell you what it is that I want."

Haman was proud that he had been invited to both banquets - he and no one but the King - but, as he was leaving the palace, he passed Mordecai outside the gates. Not only did Mordecai refuse to bow, but he didn't even stand up when Haman passed.

When Haman returned home he was absolutely fuming. He paced back and forth, complaining bitterly about the nerve of Mordecai the Jew. How dare he not show Haman more respect.

Then Haman's wife made a suggestion. "Make a gallows seventy-five feet high and tomorrow ask the King for permission to hang the man! Then you'll be able to enjoy the Queen's banquet in peace."

Haman was SO pleased with this suggestion, he had the gallows made that very evening. 

That night, the King could not sleep. He called to his servants to bring him the history book telling of the most important events of his reign. As the servants read to the King, he noticed the item about how Mordecai had saved his life, for he had been the one to tell him about the plot through Esther.

"Stop! Wait a minute!" King Xerxes commanded. "How has Mordecai been rewarded for this?"

"My lord, I don't believe anything has been done for him," they replied to the King.

The next day, Haman went to see the King to ask permission to hang Mordecai, not knowing that Mordecai had once saved the King's life.

Hearing some whispering in the outer court, the King asked, "Who's there?"

"Haman is here," replied the servants.

"Let him come in," said King Xerxes.

When the King saw Haman, he immediately asked, "Haman, what should be done to the man I want to honor?"

Haman smiled, thinking selfishly, "Why, of course, the only man King Xerxes could be talking about is me!" So he answered, "Send the King's robe, the King's horse, and the King's crown, to one of the King's MOST noble princes, and let them dress the man in your robes, put your crown upon his head, and lead him throughout the city on your horse, proclaiming to all the people, 'SEE HOW THIS MAN IS HONORED BY THE KING!'"

Then King Xerxes smiled with much pleasure. "I knew you'd have a good idea Haman. Now hurry and take these robes of mine, get my personal horse and do as you have said to Mordecai the Jew that sits at my gate. Do not fail to do ONE thing of all that you have said!"

Haman did his best to hide how shocked and angry he was at the king's command, but it wasn't easy. The very man he wanted to hang was going to be HONORED by the King - with all these things he himself had suggested!

Haman relunctantly dressed Mordecai up in the King's robe and crown, and led him through the city on the King's personal horse shouting, "THIS MAN IS BEING HONORED GREATLY BY THE KING!"

Afterwards, Mordecai returned to his post at the gates, and Haman hurried home in despair. He poured out the story of how the King honored Mordecai over him at his VERY suggestion, and he cried bitterly. His wife and his friends could do nothing to comfort him.

While they were still talking, a few of the King's messengers came to the door. "We are come to bring Haman at once to the banquet Queen Esther has prepared." Haman hastily straightened his hair and dared not let on the way he was truly feeling.

Haman met the King at the palace, and, together, they headed for the second banquet with Esther the Queen.

"What is it that you want, my Queen? What is your request? Whatever it is, I will give it to you, even if you desire half my kingdom," the King repeated when everyone had settled.

"If the King is pleased with me, I request that the King will save my life and the life of all Jews. We face death soon. I and all my people are to be killed; every one of us must die."

King Xerxes became very angry. "Who would dare touch you or any of your relatives?"

Esther looked directly at Haman and pointed. "This wicked Haman is our enemy."

Haman was so eaten up with envy, he tried to destroy an entire people just to get to one man - Mordecai the Jew!

Now Haman turned white as a ghost with fright. The King got up from his seat and stormed out of the room into the palace garden.

As soon as the King went out the door, Haman quickly left his seat and went over to Queen Esther, begging for his life desperately. He knew the King was ready to have him slain for the evil he had planned to carry out on the Jews.

By the time the King returned, Haman had thrown himself upon the Queen, begging for mercy. Seeing this, the King yelled and servants came running to hold Haman back from the Queen.

"Why not hang him on the gallows he built for Mordecai?" someone suggested. The King sat back at the table and nodded. "YES!" he spoke with authority. "HANG HIM THERE!"

And that is the way Haman died, for, in the end, Haman's jealousy cost him his life. He was hung on the gallows he had built for Mordecai. Peace was restored to the kingdom. Esther and her people were safe because Esther was willing to go before the King, even if it cost her her life.

Esther's courage is celebrated by the Jewish holiday known as Purim, which is celebrated in March.

Click to learn more about Purim