Zeresh

9That day Haman went out feeling happy and glad. But at the king's gate he saw Mordecai. Mordecai did not stand up or act afraid of him at all. So Haman was filled with anger at Mordecai.

Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.

NoteThe king's gate was the big doorway of the palace. The king's workers sat there and did their jobs. Mordecai worked there. When an important man walked by, people were supposed to stand up and bow. Mordecai would not do that for Haman.

10Even so, Haman held his anger in. He went home and sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh.

Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.

11Haman told them how rich he was and how many sons he had. He told them all the ways the king had honored him. The king had made him more important than all the other leaders and servants.

And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.

NoteBack then, having many sons made a man look important and lucky. So Haman bragged about his sons the same way he bragged about his money.

12Haman also said, "And that is not all. Queen Esther invited no one but me to eat with the king. Tomorrow she has invited me to come again with the king.

Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king.

13"But none of this makes me happy. Not while I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate."

Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.

NoteThe Jews were God's people. Their home was the land of Israel, far away. Armies had carried many of them off to live in Persia, where this story happens. Mordecai was one of them.

14His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Have a tall wooden pole built for hanging a man. Make it fifty cubits high. In the morning, ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go to the meal with the king and enjoy yourself." Haman liked this idea, so he had the pole built.

Then 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.

NoteA cubit is about as long as a grown-up's arm from the elbow to the fingertips. That is around eighteen inches. Fifty cubits is about seventy-five feet, taller than most houses. Hanging a man that high was meant to shame him where everyone could see.

12Then Mordecai went back to the king's gate. But Haman hurried home with his head covered. He was full of sadness and shame.

And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.

NoteLong ago people covered their heads when they felt very sad or ashamed. It let others see how they felt inside.

13Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, "Mordecai is a Jew. You have already started to fall in front of him. You will not win against him. You will surely fall."

And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.

NoteAdvisers were people whose job was to help someone decide what to do. Here, to fall means to lose, not to trip and land on the ground.

14They were still talking with him when the king's servants came. They hurried Haman away to the dinner Esther had made ready.

And while they were yet talking with him, came the king’s chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.

NoteEsther was the queen. She had already invited the king and Haman to a special dinner.