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Biblical History Atlas

Historical event dossier · Political, Legal

The second banquet; Haman hanged (Esth 7)

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Biblical references

Text: World English Bible (public domain). The ESV and NKJV are the preferred study translations and are referenced, not reproduced.

Esther 7:1–10Narration
1 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. 2 The king said again to Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition, queen Esther? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.” 3 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. 4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for male and female slaves, I would have held my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king’s loss.” 5 Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen, “Who is he, and where is he who dared presume in his heart to do so?” 6 Esther said, “An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman!” Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. 7 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 Esther the queen, for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. 8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman had fallen on the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, “Will he even assault the queen in front of me in the house?” As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 9 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!” 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath was pacified.

Biblical account

Layer: Biblical text

At the second banquet the king again offered Esther up to half the kingdom; she asked for her life and her people's, who had been sold to be destroyed; when he asked who had done this, she named Haman. The king went into the garden in wrath; Haman stayed to beg Esther and was found fallen on her couch; Harbonah told of the gallows fifty cubits high made for Mordecai, and the king ordered Haman hanged on it.

Historical overview

Layer: Historical reconstruction · Period: Spring 474 BC

The day after the first banquet.[1]

Kingdoms: Achaemenid Persian Empire

Date and chronology derivation

Ranges are computed by the project's deterministic chronology engine from the biblical statements and each model's reign anchors. They are reconstructions, not independent dates.

474 BC

Model-independent (applies under every chronology model) · precision: month

How this range was derived

Earliest bound

  1. “In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus … on the thirteenth day of the first month” — Haman casts pur and the decree against the Jews (Esth 3; Nisan 474 BC) in regnal year reign of Xerxes I (year 12) [reckoned accession, nisan new year] (Esther 3:7–12)[2]Assumption: Nisan of Xerxes's year 12 began 5 April 474 (Parker & Dubberstein), so 13 Nisan was about 17 April 474. Year 12 had an intercalary second Adar (from 24 March 473); the first Adar's start is printed "2/28" in the OCR, which cannot follow a Shebat beginning 25 January and is probably 2/23. The target day, 13 Adar, therefore fell in March or early April 473.
  2. “Now when Mordecai found out all that was done” — Mordecai mourns; Esther resolves to go to the king (Esth 4) days later Haman casts pur and the decree against the Jews (Esth 3; Nisan 474 BC) (Esther 4:1)Assumption: Soon after the decree was published in Susa (3:15); the interval is not stated.
  3. “Now on the third day” — Esther before the king; the first banquet; Haman's gallows (Esth 5) days later Mordecai mourns; Esther resolves to go to the king (Esth 4) (Esther 5:1)
  4. “On that night, the king couldn't sleep” — The sleepless king; Mordecai honoured by Haman (Esth 6) days later Esther before the king; the first banquet; Haman's gallows (Esth 5) (Esther 6:1)
  5. “they hurried to bring Haman to the banquet” — The second banquet; Haman hanged (Esth 7) days later The sleepless king; Mordecai honoured by Haman (Esth 6) (Esther 6:14–7:1)

Latest bound

  1. “in the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the month” — The Jews defend themselves on 13–14 Adar (Esth 9:1–19; 473 BC) in regnal year reign of Xerxes I (year 12) [reckoned accession, nisan new year] (Esther 9:1)[2]Assumption: Adar closing Xerxes's year 12 fell in early 473; year 12 had a second Adar (from 24 March 473) and the text does not say which is meant.
  2. “Sivan … Adar” — The Jews defend themselves on 13–14 Adar (Esth 9:1–19; 473 BC) months later Mordecai's counter-decree of 23 Sivan (Esth 8; June 474 BC) (Esther 9:1)
  3. “13 Nisan (3:12) … 23 Sivan (8:9)” — Mordecai's counter-decree of 23 Sivan (Esth 8; June 474 BC) months later Haman casts pur and the decree against the Jews (Esth 3; Nisan 474 BC) (Esther 8:9)
  4. “Now when Mordecai found out all that was done” — Mordecai mourns; Esther resolves to go to the king (Esth 4) days later Haman casts pur and the decree against the Jews (Esth 3; Nisan 474 BC) (Esther 4:1)Assumption: Soon after the decree was published in Susa (3:15); the interval is not stated.
  5. “Now on the third day” — Esther before the king; the first banquet; Haman's gallows (Esth 5) days later Mordecai mourns; Esther resolves to go to the king (Esth 4) (Esther 5:1)
  6. “On that night, the king couldn't sleep” — The sleepless king; Mordecai honoured by Haman (Esth 6) days later Esther before the king; the first banquet; Haman's gallows (Esth 5) (Esther 6:1)
  7. “they hurried to bring Haman to the banquet” — The second banquet; Haman hanged (Esth 7) days later The sleepless king; Mordecai honoured by Haman (Esth 6) (Esther 6:14–7:1)

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What else was happening? (model-independent)

  • Daniel's refusal of the king's food and the ten-day test (Dan 1:8–16): 606 BC – ?
  • Nebuchadnezzar's golden image on the plain of Dura (Dan 3:1–7): 603 BC – ?
  • Nebuchadnezzar's decree honouring the God of the three Judeans (Dan 3:28–30): 603 BC – ?
  • The refusal of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the fiery furnace (Dan 3:8–27): 603 BC – ?
  • The thirty-day decree and Daniel in the lions' den (Dan 6:4–23): 539 BC – ?
  • Darius appoints 120 satraps and three chief officials (Dan 6:1–3, 28): 539 BC – ?
  • The accusers punished; Darius's decree honouring the God of Daniel (Dan 6:24–27): 539 BC – ?
  • Gedaliah governs from Mizpah and is assassinated (2 Kgs 25:22–26): 589 BC – ?
  • Accusations to Ahasuerus and the Rehum–Shimshai letter to Artaxerxes; the city's rebuilding stopped (Ezra 4:6–23): 537 BC – ?
  • The first "burden" of Zechariah 9–11 (undated oracle collection): 518 BC – ?
  • The second "burden" of Zechariah 12–14 (undated oracle collection): 518 BC – ?
  • Mordecai uncovers the plot of Bigthan and Teresh (Esth 2:19–23): 479 BC – 464 BC
  • Xerxes I (reign): 486 BC – 464 BC
  • Mordecai mourns; Esther resolves to go to the king (Esth 4): 474 BC
  • Haman casts pur and the decree against the Jews (Esth 3; Nisan 474 BC): 474 BC
  • Esther before the king; the first banquet; Haman's gallows (Esth 5): 474 BC
  • The sleepless king; Mordecai honoured by Haman (Esth 6): 474 BC
  • The institution of Purim; Mordecai second to the king (Esth 9:20–10:3): 474 BC – ?
  • The Jews defend themselves on 13–14 Adar (Esth 9:1–19; 473 BC): 474 BC – 473 BC
  • Mordecai's counter-decree of 23 Sivan (Esth 8; June 474 BC): 474 BC

Ancient and modern geography

Location confidence assumes the event as described. Whether it occurred is assessed in the claims below.

PlaceConnection to this eventLocation identification
Susa (Shushan)ShushSusaLocation confidence: certainSusa (Pleiades 912936): certain[3]

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Claims, evidence and classifications

Each claim is classified on its own. A classification describes the evidence for that specific claim, not for the event as a whole.

Haman was executed after Esther exposed his plot.

No independent corroboration foundMachine-proposedExternal evidence

Known only from Esther and its retellings (Josephus follows the biblical story); no Persian or Greek source read mentions it.

Context

  • Haman was executed after Esther exposed his plot.[4]Strength: indirect·Esth.7.6-Esth.7.10·Claim checked

Research date 2026-10-13

Evidence by type

The same evidence regrouped by kind of source. Each item names the claims it bears on.

Archaeological evidence

None recorded for this event.

Scientific findings

None recorded for this event.

Ancient documents

None recorded for this event.

Modern news and announcements

None recorded for this event.

Reference works and summaries

None recorded for this event.

Related passages and events

FromRelationshipToBasis
this eventThematic parallelhigh · Biblical textEsther before the king; the first banquet; Haman's gallows (Esth 5)The gallows prepared in 5:14.
this eventFollowed byhigh · Biblical textMordecai's counter-decree of 23 Sivan (Esth 8; June 474 BC)Haman's house and office given away.

Prophetic relationships

No prophecy or proposed-fulfillment relationships have been recorded for this event.

Commentary references

Layer: Interpretation. This is commentary, not historical evidence.

Guzik notes the irony that the king had himself authorised the plot he now condemns.[4]

Unanswered questions and research gaps

    Research process

    1 logged searches
    DateQueryWhereUseful
    2026-10-13Enduring Word Esther 7web fetch1

    Sources

    1. 1.
      Keil, C. F., Taylor, Sophia (trans.). Biblical Commentary on the Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther (Clark's Foreign Theological Library). T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh, 1873. archive.orgClaim checkedScholarly commentaryRead through the Internet Archive OCR text.Verification log
    2. 2.
      Parker, Richard A., Dubberstein, Waldo H.. Babylonian Chronology 626 B.C.–A.D. 45 (SAOC 24). University of Chicago Press (Oriental Institute). archive.orgClaim checkedAcademic monographRead through the Internet Archive OCR text of the Oriental Institute PDF; OCR has digit errors (e.g. "589" for 539) checked against context. The 1956 revised edition was not consulted.Verification log
    3. 3.
      Pleiades contributors. Susa/Seleucia ad Eulaeum — Pleiades place 912936. Pleiades (pleiades.stoa.org). pleiades.stoa.orgClaim checkedInstitutional databaseRepresentative point read from the Pleiades JSON record: lon 48.253537054323495, lat 32.189934471571.Verification log
    4. 4.
      Guzik, David. Esther 7 — Enduring Word Bible Commentary. Enduring Word. enduringword.comClaim checkedTheological commentaryInterpretive resource — not historical corroboration.Verification log