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Esther 7 · a question people ask

Did Esther ask for Haman's death?

In the text

Not in this chapter. What she asked for was "let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request" (7:3). When the king asked who had done it, she named him: "An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman!" (7:6). The chapter gives no more words of hers after that. It is Harbonah who speaks of the gallows (7:9), and the king who says, "Hang him on it!" (7:9). Esther's later requests to the king come in chapters 8 and 9 (Esther 8:3-6, 9:13), and those chapters speak for themselves.

The verses

“Then Esther the queen answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request.”
Esther 7:3 · World English Bible
“Esther said, “An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman!” Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.”
Esther 7:6 · World English Bible
“Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs who were with the king, said, “Behold, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman has made for Mordecai, who spoke good for the king, is standing at Haman’s house.” The king said, “Hang him on it!””
Esther 7:9 · World English Bible
“Then Esther said, “If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Susa to do tomorrow also according to today’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged on the gallows.””
Esther 9:13 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Esther 7

Esther 7: An adversary and an enemy

In 7:1, banquet is the verb drink, as when "The king and Haman sat down to drink" (Esther 3:15). Esther's "to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish" (7:4) are the three verbs of Haman's letters, and her "I would have held my peace" (7:4) is the verb of Mordecai's "if you remain silent now" (Esther 4:14).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions