Esther 7:9
And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits 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.
Original Language Analysis
מִן
H4480
מִן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
4 of 29
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הַסָּֽרִיסִ֜ים
of the chamberlains
H5631
הַסָּֽרִיסִ֜ים
of the chamberlains
Strong's:
H5631
Word #:
5 of 29
a eunuch; by implication, valet (especially of the female apartments), and thus, a minister of state
לִפְנֵ֣י
before
H6440
לִפְנֵ֣י
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
6 of 29
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
גַּ֣ם
H1571
גַּ֣ם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
8 of 29
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
הָעֵ֣ץ
Behold also the gallows
H6086
הָעֵ֣ץ
Behold also the gallows
Strong's:
H6086
Word #:
10 of 29
a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
11 of 29
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
עָשָׂ֪ה
had made
H6213
עָשָׂ֪ה
had made
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
12 of 29
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
אֲשֶׁ֧ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֧ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
15 of 29
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
דִּבֶּר
who had spoken
H1696
דִּבֶּר
who had spoken
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
16 of 29
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
ט֣וֹב
good
H2896
ט֣וֹב
good
Strong's:
H2896
Word #:
17 of 29
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
18 of 29
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
עֹמֵד֙
standeth
H5975
עֹמֵד֙
standeth
Strong's:
H5975
Word #:
20 of 29
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
בְּבֵ֣ית
in the house
H1004
בְּבֵ֣ית
in the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
21 of 29
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
אַמָּ֑ה
cubits
H520
אַמָּ֑ה
cubits
Strong's:
H520
Word #:
25 of 29
properly, a mother (i.e., unit of measure, or the fore-arm (below the elbow), i.e., a cubit; also a door-base (as a bond of the entrance)
Cross References
Esther 5:14Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.Esther 1:10On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,Psalms 35:8Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.Psalms 141:10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.Daniel 6:24And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.Psalms 73:19How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.1 Samuel 17:51Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.Daniel 6:7All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.Esther 6:14And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.Esther 9:25But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.
Historical Context
Harbonah, one of the seven eunuchs who served the king (1:10), apparently knew about both the gallows and Mordecai's service. His intervention suggests palace officials recognized Haman's injustice and seized opportunity to expose it. The 50-cubit (75-foot) height made the gallows highly visible from the palace, explaining Harbonah's knowledge. That execution occurred immediately demonstrates Persian justice's swift nature once the king decided. Archaeological evidence shows ancient Near Eastern executions could proceed very rapidly after condemnation, particularly for high-profile cases threatening the king or royal family.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Haman's execution on his own gallows demonstrate divine justice's perfect irony and poetic nature?
- What does Harbonah's intervention teach about how God uses multiple human agents to accomplish His purposes?
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Analysis & Commentary
And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits 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. Harbonah informed the king about Haman's 75-foot gallows prepared for Mordecai. The revelation that Mordecai—who saved the king's life (2:21-23; 6:2)—was Haman's intended victim added to the outrage. Harbonah's mention of Mordecai having "spoken good for the king" emphasized this injustice. The king's immediate command "Hang him thereon" sealed Haman's fate with perfect poetic justice—execution on his own gallows. This fulfills Proverbs 26:27: "Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein." The instrument of intended murder becomes the means of the murderer's judgment.