Esther 7 · Grade 5

Justice at the Second Banquet

Name Date

Read and Think

At the second banquet of wine, the king again asked what Esther's petition was, even to the half of the kingdom. The moment had come. Esther asked that her life be given her at her petition, and her people at her request. She said she and her people had been sold to be destroyed. She added that if they had only been sold as servants, she would have held her peace.

The king asked who had dared to presume in his heart to do so. Esther answered that the adversary and enemy was this wicked Haman. Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. The king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden. Haman stood up to make request for his life to Queen Esther, for he saw that evil was determined against him.

When the king returned, he found Haman fallen on Esther's couch, and his anger grew. Harbonah, one of the eunuchs, pointed to the gallows fifty cubits high that Haman had made for Mordecai. The king commanded that Haman be hanged on it. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai, and the king's wrath was pacified. Christians see in the reversal that God, though unnamed, brings justice. Christians remember that evil does not have the final word.

Show What You Know

What would Esther have done if her people had only been sold as servants?
What did the king ask when Esther made her request?
What did Haman see was determined against him?
Who pointed to the gallows?
What became of the gallows Haman had prepared?

Crossword

Across

Esther called Haman this.
The king went out into this.

Down

let my ____ be given me at my petition
Then the king’s ____ was pacified
An adversary and an ____

Think About It

Esther spoke with care and wisdom, not just boldness. How can you combine courage with wisdom when you speak up?
Haman's evil came back on himself. In the New Testament, Paul writes that God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap (Galatians 6:7). How does this shape the way you live?

Memory Verse

Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen, “Who is he, and where is he who dared presume in his heart to do so?”

Esther 7:5 (WEB)

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Prayer

Dear God, thank You for helping me speak up. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you combine courage with wisdom?
What does Galatians 6:7 teach about sowing and reaping?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?