Haman is hanged on the very gallows he built for Mordecai, reversing his plot and demonstrating the triumph of justice.
So they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai, and the king’s anger subsided. (v.10)
Esther 7:10 concludes an episode in the Persian city of Susa, during the reign of King Ahasuerus (also known as Xerxes I, who ruled from 486 to 465 BC). Here, “they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai” (v.10) demonstrates a dramatic reversal of fortune. Haman, once a powerful official within the royal court, had built the gallows intending to execute Mordecai. Instead, Haman now faces his own trap, highlighting how pride and hatred have led to his downfall. Although the text does not explicitly mention God, the narrative throughout Esther suggests God’s unseen hand orchestrating deliverance and justice for His people. In a New Testament sense, we learn that no scheme fashioned against God’s people can ultimately triumph (reference Romans 8:31).
Within the broader context of Esther, this verse shows that human plots against the righteous can—and often do—backfire (reference Proverbs 26:27). Haman had manipulated circumstances to attempt genocide against the Jewish people, but through Queen Esther’s courage and Mordecai’s faithfulness, these plans are thwarted. Historically, Haman was an Agagite serving in a high position in the Persian Empire, a period shortly after the Jews were allowed to return from exile, though some like Esther and Mordecai remained in Persia. The citadel at Susa served as one of the king’s principal seats of power, and it became the location where Esther bravely interceded for her people and exposed Haman’s intentions.
Finally, this moment foreshadows the ultimate triumph of justice and deliverance. Though the Book of Esther does not name God directly, the deliverance of the Jews echoes the theme of divine intervention found throughout Scripture, even culminating in the salvation that Jesus Christ brings (reference John 3:16). In that sense, Haman’s downfall serves as a reminder that prideful opposition to God and His people is never the last word. “…and the king’s anger subsided” (v.10) also symbolizes that righteous judgment was met, allowing peace to return to the realm.
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Esther 7:10 meaning
So they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai, and the king’s anger subsided. (v.10)
Esther 7:10 concludes an episode in the Persian city of Susa, during the reign of King Ahasuerus (also known as Xerxes I, who ruled from 486 to 465 BC). Here, “they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai” (v.10) demonstrates a dramatic reversal of fortune. Haman, once a powerful official within the royal court, had built the gallows intending to execute Mordecai. Instead, Haman now faces his own trap, highlighting how pride and hatred have led to his downfall. Although the text does not explicitly mention God, the narrative throughout Esther suggests God’s unseen hand orchestrating deliverance and justice for His people. In a New Testament sense, we learn that no scheme fashioned against God’s people can ultimately triumph (reference Romans 8:31).
Within the broader context of Esther, this verse shows that human plots against the righteous can—and often do—backfire (reference Proverbs 26:27). Haman had manipulated circumstances to attempt genocide against the Jewish people, but through Queen Esther’s courage and Mordecai’s faithfulness, these plans are thwarted. Historically, Haman was an Agagite serving in a high position in the Persian Empire, a period shortly after the Jews were allowed to return from exile, though some like Esther and Mordecai remained in Persia. The citadel at Susa served as one of the king’s principal seats of power, and it became the location where Esther bravely interceded for her people and exposed Haman’s intentions.
Finally, this moment foreshadows the ultimate triumph of justice and deliverance. Though the Book of Esther does not name God directly, the deliverance of the Jews echoes the theme of divine intervention found throughout Scripture, even culminating in the salvation that Jesus Christ brings (reference John 3:16). In that sense, Haman’s downfall serves as a reminder that prideful opposition to God and His people is never the last word. “…and the king’s anger subsided” (v.10) also symbolizes that righteous judgment was met, allowing peace to return to the realm.