The Queen's Dinner Party

After three days of fasting and praying, Esther put on her most beautiful queen dress. She walked to the throne room, even though she hadn't been invited. Her heart was beating fast!

The king looked up and saw her. Would he be angry? Would he send her away?

No! The king smiled! He held out his golden stick to her. Esther was safe!

'What do you want, Queen Esther?' the king asked. 'I'll give you anything you ask for—even half my kingdom!'

Esther had a smart plan. 'Would you and Haman come to a special dinner I made for you?'

The king said yes! At the dinner, he asked again what she wanted. Esther said, 'Come to another dinner tomorrow, and I'll tell you then.'

Haman left feeling very important. But when he saw Mordecai not bowing, he got angry again. At home, he bragged to his wife and friends. 'The queen invited only me and the king to her dinner! But I still hate that Mordecai!'

His wife said, 'Build a super tall tower to hang Mordecai on it. Then you can enjoy the party!' Haman thought that was a great idea.

That night, something important happened. The king couldn't sleep! He asked his helpers to read him his history book.

They read about how Mordecai saved the king's life from bad guys. 'Did we ever thank Mordecai?' the king asked.

'No, we didn't do anything for him,' they answered.

Just then, Haman came to ask about hanging Mordecai. But the king asked him first: 'What should I do for someone I want to honor?'

Haman thought the king meant HIM! 'Dress him in royal robes! Put him on your horse! Have someone lead him through town shouting how great he is!'

'Perfect!' said the king. 'Go do that for Mordecai!'

Oh no! Haman had to honor the man he hated! He was so embarrassed!

That evening at Esther's second dinner, the king asked again, 'What do you want, Esther?'

Esther took a deep breath and said, 'Please save my life and my people's lives! Someone has made a plan to kill all of us!'

'WHO would do such a thing?' the king shouted.

Esther pointed at Haman. 'This wicked man!'

The king was SO angry! Haman fell down begging Esther to save him. The king thought Haman was attacking the queen!

A helper said, 'Haman built a tall tower to hang Mordecai—the man who saved your life!'

The king ordered, 'Hang Haman on it instead!'

And that's exactly what happened. The trap Haman made for someone else caught him instead! God protected His people!