1 So the King and Haman came to banquet with Esther the Queene.
2 And the king said againe vnto Esther, on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, Queene Esther, and it shalbe granted thee? and what is thy request? and it shall bee performed, euen to the halfe of the kingdome.
3 Then Esther the Queene answered, and said; If I haue found fauour in thy sight, O King, and if it please the King, let my life be giuen me at my petition, and my people at my request.
4 For we are sold, I, and my people, to be destroyed, to be slaine, and to perish: but if we had bene sold for bondmen, and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not counteruaile the kings dammage.
5 ¶ Then the king Ahasuerus answered, & said vnto Esther the Queene: Who is he? and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?
6 And Esther said, The aduersary and enemie, is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the King and the Queene.
7 ¶ And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath, went into the palace garden: and Haman stood vp to make request for his life to Esther the Queene: for he saw that there was euill determined against him by the King.
8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden, into the place of the banquet of wine, and Haman was fallen vpon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the King, Will hee force the Queene also before me in the house? As the word went out of the Kings mouth, they couered Hamans face.
9 And Harbonah one of the chamberlaines, said before the king; Behold also the gallowes, fiftie cubites high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.
10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the Kings wrath pacified.
Esther accuses Haman. (1-6) Haman hanged on his own gallows. (7-10)
1-6 If the love of life causes earnest pleadings with those that can only kill the body, how fervent should our prayers be to Him, who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell! How should we pray for the salvation of our relatives, friends, and all around us! When we petition great men, we must be cautious not to give them offence; even just complaints must often be kept back. But when we approach the King of kings with reverence, we cannot ask or expect too much. Though nothing but wrath be our due, God is able and willing to do exceeding abundantly, even beyond all we can ask or think.
7-10 The king was angry: those that do things with self-will, reflect upon them afterward with self-reproach. When angry, we should pause before we come to any resolution, and thus rule our own spirits, and show that we are governed by reason. Those that are most haughty and insolent when in power and prosperity, commonly, like Haman, are the most abject and poor-spirited when brought down. The day is coming when those that hate and persecute God's chosen ones, would gladly be beholden to them. The king returns yet more angry against Haman. Those about him were ready to put his wrath into execution. How little can proud men be sure of the interest they think they have! The enemies of God's church have often been thus taken in their own craftiness. The Lord is known by such judgments. Then was the king's wrath pacified, and not till then. And who pities Haman hanged on his own gallows? who does not rather rejoice in the Divine righteousness displayed in the destruction his own art brought upon him? Let the workers of iniquity tremble, turn to the Lord, and seek pardon through the blood of Jesus.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.