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Haman's Fatuous Security
v. 9. Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart, puffed up because of the supposed distinction shown him by the queen; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, where he had again taken up his position, that he stood not up nor moved for him, still refusing to give him the deference which he expected from all lower officers, Est_3:2, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.
v. 10. Nevertheless, Haman refrained himself, he could not afford to fly into a rage at this time; and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh, his wife, inviting them to hear of his good fortune and to give him sympathetic advice.
v. 11. And Haman, puffed up with boastful pride, told them of the glory of his riches, one factor which made for his happiness, and the multitude of his children, a great number of sons being considered a great blessing, also among the heathen Persians, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king, this recent advancement being very flattering to his ambitious vanity.
v. 12. Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther, the queen, did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself, this being the very highest point of distinction; and tomorrow am I invited unto her also with the king.
v. 13. Yet all this availeth me nothing, it could not satisfy him, he could not enjoy it with the proper degree of calm satisfaction, so long as I see Mordecai, the Jew, sitting at the king's gate, the fact that this member of a despised nation, of a race of slaves, could defy him by refusing to give him the honor he desired, galled him and spoiled the enjoyment of all his blessings.
v. 14. Then said Zeresh, his wife, and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubit high, the great height serving to emphasize the execution and its disgrace, and tomorrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon, there being no doubt in their mind that this request would readily be granted. Then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet, his enjoyment undisturbed by a single thought of the hateful Jew. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made, erected before his very house, all ready for the execution which he hoped to bring about on the next day. Thus the supposed luck of the godless makes them secure and prepares them for the destruction which the Lord has appointed for them.