Friday, December 9, 2016

Esther 7: The Old Switcheroo

Haman was already surprised and humiliated by the sudden elevation of Mordecai in chapter 6.  In chapter 7, he is shocked to discover that Queen Esther is among the Jewish people he had persuaded the king to exterminate!

Things are not looking good for Haman.  Rather than being a guest of honor in the king and queen's presence at their banquet, he is accused by the queen of being her executioner.  Esther explains to her husband how her people have been sentenced to die, and reveals that the architect of the plot was none other than Haman.
King Ahasuerus is chagrined to hear what Haman has done in his name.  While he goes out to cool off in the garden, Haman throws himself (literally) upon Queen Esther's mercy.  The king returns just in time to see Haman sprawled upon the queen.  That was the end of Haman.

Fittingly, the "old switcheroo" is pulled when Haman is sentenced to be hanged on the gallows he had built for Mordecai.  While the concept of "karma" is not found in the Bible, it does seem to be a principle that what goes around comes around!

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