Esther 5:14

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.

Then said {H559} Zeresh {H2238} his wife {H802} and all his friends {H157} unto him, Let a gallows {H6086} be made {H6213} of fifty {H2572} cubits {H520} high {H1364}, and to morrow {H1242} speak {H559} thou unto the king {H4428} that Mordecai {H4782} may be hanged {H8518} thereon: then go {H935} thou in merrily {H8056} with the king {H4428} unto the banquet {H4960}. And the thing {H1697} pleased {H3190}{H6440} Haman {H2001}; and he caused {H6213} the gallows {H6086} to be made {H6213}.

At this Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, "Have a gallows seventy-five feet high constructed, and in the morning speak to the king about having Mordekhai hanged on it. Then go in, and enjoy yourself with the king at the banquet." Haman liked the idea, so he had a gallows made.

His wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, “Have them build a gallows fifty cubits high, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and enjoy yourself.” The advice pleased Haman, and he had the gallows constructed.

Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning 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 5:14 depicts the culmination of Haman's rage and the sinister counsel he receives from his wife, Zeresh, and his friends. This verse is pivotal, revealing the depths of Haman's malice and setting the stage for the dramatic reversal of fortunes that is characteristic of the Book of Esther.

Context

Immediately preceding this verse, Haman has just returned home from a royal banquet hosted by Queen Esther, where he was the only guest alongside the king. Despite this immense honor and his vast wealth and power, Haman's joy was overshadowed by the sight of Mordecai, the Jew, who refused to bow to him at the king's gate (Esther 5:9). In a fit of wounded pride, Haman recounts his grievances to his wife and friends, who then offer this chilling advice. Their suggestion for a fifty-cubit-high gallows underscores Haman's desire not just for Mordecai's death, but for a public, humiliating spectacle.

Key Themes

  • Unchecked Pride and Vengeance: Haman's extreme pride and insecurity are laid bare. His inability to enjoy his blessings because of one man's defiance leads him to seek ultimate revenge. This illustrates how pride often precedes a fall.
  • Wicked Counsel: Zeresh and Haman's friends reinforce his evil intentions, validating his destructive path rather than offering wisdom or restraint. This highlights the dangers of surrounding oneself with those who affirm negative impulses.
  • Malicious Intent: The elaborate height of the gallows (fifty cubits, approximately 75 feet) demonstrates Haman's desire for an overtly public and humiliating execution, revealing the depth of his hatred for Mordecai and, by extension, all Jews (Esther 3:6).
  • Dramatic Irony and Foreshadowing: Unbeknownst to Haman, the very instrument he prepares for Mordecai will become the means of his own demise, a powerful example of divine justice at work in the narrative.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV translates the Hebrew word עֵץ ('ets) as "gallows." While "gallows" suggests a hanging structure, 'ets literally means "tree" or "wood." In this context, it likely refers to a tall impaling stake or gibbet, which was a common form of public execution and humiliation in ancient Persia. The immense height specified—fifty cubits—emphasizes Haman's grandiosity and the extraordinary public shame he intended for Mordecai.

Practical Application

Esther 5:14 serves as a stark warning against the destructive power of unchecked pride and bitterness. When our sense of self-worth is tied to external validation or the subjugation of others, it can lead to irrational and harmful decisions. The verse also reminds us of the importance of seeking wise counsel; bad advice can fuel destructive desires. Ultimately, this passage, viewed through the lens of the entire book, implicitly points to God's sovereign hand, working behind the scenes to turn the tables on the wicked. Haman's meticulous preparation of the gallows for Mordecai becomes a setup for his own downfall, illustrating that the wicked often fall into the pit they dig for others.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Esther 6:4

    ¶ And the king said, Who [is] in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.

  • 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.

  • Esther 7:10

    So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.

  • Psalms 37:32

    The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

  • 1 Kings 21:7

    And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, [and] eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.

  • Psalms 37:14

    The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, [and] to slay such as be of upright conversation.

  • Psalms 7:13

    He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

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