Esther 7:9

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Harbona, one of the king’s eunuchs, said,“Indeed, there is the gallows that Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke out in the king’s behalf. It stands near Haman’s home and is seventy-five feet high.”The king said,“Hang him on it!”

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר חַ֠רְבוֹנָה אֶחָ֨ד מִן־הַסָּרִיסִ֜ים לִפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ גַּ֣ם הִנֵּה־הָעֵ֣ץ אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֪ה הָמָ֟ן לְֽמָרְדֳּכַ֞י אֲשֶׁ֧ר דִּבֶּר־ט֣וֹב עַל־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ עֹמֵד֙ בְּבֵ֣ית הָמָ֔ן גָּבֹ֖הַּ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים אַמָּ֑ה וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ תְּלֻ֥הוּ עָלָֽיו׃

Transliteration

And wayyōʾmer ḥarbônâ one from the sārîsîm before the melek, "Also behold the ʿēṣ which ʿāśâ hāmān for mordŏkay who dibber-ṭôḇ on the melek ʿōmēd in bêt hāmān gāḇōha fifty ʾammâ." And wayyōʾmer the melek, "tᵊluhû on it."

Grammar Details

• *wayyōʾmer*: waw consecutive + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and he said
• *ḥarbônâ*: proper noun - Harbona
• *sārîsîm*: noun, masculine plural with definite article - the eunuchs/officials
• *melek*: noun, masculine singular with definite article - the king
• *ʿēṣ*: noun, masculine singular with definite article - the wooden structure/gallows/tree
• *ʿāśâ*: qal perfect 3rd masculine singular - made/prepared
• *hāmān*: proper noun - Haman
• *mordŏkay*: proper noun - Mordecai
• *dibber*: piel perfect 3rd masculine singular - spoke
• *ṭôḇ*: adjective, masculine singular - good
• *ʿōmēd*: qal participle masculine singular - standing
• *bêt*: noun, masculine singular construct - house of
• *gāḇōha*: adjective, masculine singular - high/tall
• *ʾammâ*: noun, feminine singular - cubit
• *tᵊluhû*: qal imperative masculine plural + 3rd masculine singular suffix - hang him

Word Meanings

• *sārîsîm*: eunuchs/court officials/officers
• *ʿēṣ*: tree/gallows/wooden structure
• *dibber*-*ṭôḇ*: spoke good/reported favorably/gave good information
• *ʿōmēd*: standing/positioned/located
• *gāḇōha*: high/tall/lofty

Referenced Verses

• Ps 7:15-16 : 15 he digs a pit and then falls into the hole he has made. 16 He becomes the victim of his own destructive plans and the violence he intended for others falls on his own head.
• Prov 11:5-6 : 5 The righteousness of the blameless will make their way smooth, but the wicked will fall through their own wickedness. 6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the treacherous will be ensnared by their own desires.
• Esth 5:14 : 14 Haman’s wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him,“Have a gallows seventy-five feet high built, and in the morning tell the king that Mordecai should be hanged on it. Then go with the king to the banquet contented.” It seemed like a good idea to Haman, so he had the gallows built.
• Esth 1:10 : 10 Queen Vashti is Removed from Her Royal Position On the seventh day, as King Ahasuerus was feeling the effects of the wine, he ordered Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who attended him,
• Ps 35:8 : 8 Let destruction take them by surprise! Let the net they hid catch them! Let them fall into destruction!
• Ps 141:10 : 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I escape.
• Dan 6:7 : 7 To all the supervisors of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, counselors, and governors it seemed like a good idea for a royal edict to be issued and an interdict to be enforced. For the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human other than you, O king, should be thrown into a den of lions.
• Dan 6:24 : 24 The king gave another order, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the lions’ den– they, their children, and their wives. They did not even reach the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
• Ps 37:35-36 : 35 I have seen ruthless evil men growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil. 36 But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared! I looked for them, but they could not be found.
• Ps 73:19 : 19 How desolate they become in a mere moment! Terrifying judgments make their demise complete!
• Ps 9:15-16 : 15 The nations fell into the pit they had made; their feet were caught in the net they had hidden. 16 The LORD revealed himself; he accomplished justice; the wicked were ensnared by their own actions.(Higgaion. Selah)
• Esth 2:21-23 : 21 In those days while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who protected the entrance, became angry and plotted to assassinate King Ahasuerus. 22 When Mordecai learned of the conspiracy, he informed Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in Mordecai’s name. 23 The king then had the matter investigated and, finding it to be so, had the two conspirators hanged on a gallows. It was then recorded in the daily chronicles in the king’s presence.
• 1 Sam 17:51 : 51 David ran and stood over the Philistine. He grabbed Goliath’s sword, drew it from its sheath, killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they ran away.
• 2 Kgs 9:32 : 32 He looked up at the window and said,“Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked down at him.
• Esth 6:2 : 2 it was found written that Mordecai had disclosed that Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, had plotted to assassinate King Ahasuerus.
• Esth 6:14 : 14 While they were still speaking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived. They quickly brought Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
• Esth 9:25 : 25 But when the matter came to the king’s attention, the king gave written orders that Haman’s evil intentions that he had devised against the Jews should fall on his own head. He and his sons were hanged on the gallows.
• Job 27:20-23 : 20 Terrors overwhelm him like a flood; at night a whirlwind carries him off. 21 The east wind carries him away, and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place. 22 It hurls itself against him without pity as he flees headlong from its power. 23 It claps its hands at him in derision and hisses him away from his place.