Esther's Brave Plan
Esther approaches the king and invites him and Haman to banquets, while God orchestrates events—including a sleepless night—to bring about Haman's downfall.
Esther 5:1-14, Esther 6:1-14, Esther 7:1-10
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The Story
On the third day, Esther put on her royal apparel and stood in the inner court of the king's house, opposite his hall. The king sat upon his throne in the royal house, facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight. He held out the golden scepter in his hand, and Esther approached and touched its top.
'What is your wish, Queen Esther?' the king asked. 'What is your request? It shall be given you, even to half of the kingdom.'
Esther answered wisely, 'If it seem good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.' The king commanded Haman to come quickly, and they attended Esther's feast.
At the banquet, the king again asked, 'What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to half the kingdom, it shall be performed.'
Esther replied, 'If I have found favor in the king's sight, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I shall prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.'
Haman left that day joyful and glad of heart. But when he saw Mordecai at the gate, who neither stood nor moved for him, he was filled with indignation. Yet he restrained himself and went home. He called for his friends and Zeresh his wife, boasting of his riches, his many sons, his promotions, and his invitation to the queen's exclusive banquet. 'Yet all this avails me nothing,' Haman said, 'so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.'
Zeresh and his friends counseled him, 'Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and tomorrow speak to the king that Mordecai may be hanged on it. Then go merrily with the king to the banquet.' The idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.
That night, the king could not sleep. He commanded the book of records, the chronicles, to be brought and read to him. There it was found written that Mordecai had exposed the plot of Bigthan and Teresh to assassinate the king.
'What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?' the king asked.
'Nothing has been done for him,' his servants answered.
At that moment, Haman entered the outer court to speak about hanging Mordecai. The king called him in and asked, 'What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?'
Haman, thinking the king meant to honor him, described an elaborate ceremony—royal robes, the king's horse, a crown, a public proclamation. 'Let this be done to the man the king delights to honor!'
'Make haste,' the king commanded, 'take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew who sits at the king's gate. Let nothing fail of all you have spoken.'
Humiliated, Haman obeyed, leading Mordecai through the city and proclaiming his honor. Afterwards, Haman rushed home mourning, his head covered. His wife and wise men said ominously, 'If Mordecai is of the seed of the Jews, you will not prevail against him, but will surely fall before him.'
Before they finished speaking, the king's chamberlains arrived to bring Haman to Esther's banquet. At the feast, the king asked again, 'What is your petition, Queen Esther?'
Esther answered, 'If I have found favor in your sight, O king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request. For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish.'
'Who is he, and where is he, who dares presume in his heart to do so?' the king demanded.
Esther said, 'The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!'
Haman stood terrified before the king and queen. The king rose in his wrath and went into the palace garden. Haman, seeing that evil was determined against him, stayed to beg Queen Esther for his life. He fell upon the couch where Esther was.
The king returned and exclaimed, 'Will he even assault the queen while I am in the house?' As the words left the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face—the sign of condemnation.
Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said, 'Behold, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke good for the king, stands in Haman's house.'
The king said, 'Hang him on it.' So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's wrath was pacified.
The Queen's Dinner Party
Kids Version
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!
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Characters in This Story
Scripture — Esther 5:1-14 (KJV)
1Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
2And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
3Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.
4And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.
5Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.
7Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;
8If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said. perform: Heb. do
9Then 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.
10Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife. called: Heb. caused to come
11And 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.
12Haman 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.
13Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
14Then 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. gallows: Heb. tree
Memory Verse
“Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.”
— Esther 5:1 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Esther's Brave Plan” in the Bible?
Esther approaches the king and invites him and Haman to banquets, while God orchestrates events—including a sleepless night—to bring about Haman's downfall. This story is found in Esther 5:1-14, Esther 6:1-14, Esther 7:1-10.
Where is “Esther's Brave Plan” found in the Bible?
“Esther's Brave Plan” is found in Esther 5:1-14, Esther 6:1-14, Esther 7:1-10, in the book of Esther.
What can children learn from “Esther's Brave Plan”?
This story teaches children about Courage, Wisdom, God's timing, Justice, Reversal of fortunes. Esther invited the king to dinner and bravely told him about Haman's plan. The king was angry at Haman! The trap Haman made for Mordecai caught Haman instead!