Esther 7:6

Analysis & Commentary

And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. When the king demanded to know who dared decree the queen's destruction (v. 5), Esther identified Haman: "The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman." The threefold description—"adversary" (tsar, צָר), "enemy" (oyev, אֹיֵב), and "wicked" (ra, רָע)—piles up condemnatory terms. Pointing to Haman at the banquet table—the intimate setting where he thought himself honored—created devastating shock. Haman's response: "afraid before the king and queen" demonstrates he immediately recognized his danger. The man who wielded power to decree genocide now trembles before those he had threatened. This reversal demonstrates how quickly pride falls and power dissolves when God moves.

Historical Context

The banquet setting made Haman's unmasking particularly dramatic. He had attended two feasts thinking himself specially honored (5:12), only to discover he was being set up for exposure and judgment. Ancient Near Eastern banquets created obligations of hospitality and protection—violating a guest was serious offense. Yet Haman had violated the queen herself through his decree, superseding any protection the banquet setting might provide. His fear was justified—kings dealt harshly with threats to the royal family, and Haman's decree threatened not only the queen but exposed the king to potential guilt for authorizing his wife's murder.

Questions for Reflection

• How does Haman's sudden reversal from honored guest to condemned enemy illustrate how quickly God can overthrow the proud and powerful?
• What does the banquet setting teach about how divine justice sometimes operates through ironic reversals in the very places enemies feel secure?