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This week's question:

Mordecai is a Jewish son of Jair, a Benjamite, exiled by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. While living in Susa, he adopted an orphan cousin named Esther who is described as "beautiful of form and face" and brought her up as his own child (Esther 2:5-7). And so it came about that one day king Ahasuerus was merry with wine and asked his Queen, Vashti, to wear her crown and show her beauty before the people and the princes, but she refused to do so, which made the king so angry that he took counsel and determined to replace her with one more worthy of the crown (Esther 1:13-21). So the search began and many beautiful virgins were brought, including Esther, and the crown was placed on the head of Esther as she pleased both the king and the people, and so she replaced Queen Vashti (Esther 2:1-17).

That brings us to our question, "Whose plan to hang Mordecai 'twists'?". Although Esther is crowned queen, at the council of Mordecai, she does not tell anyone that she is a Jewess (Esther 2:20). In those days, Mordecai sat at the king's gate and two of the king's officials became angry with the king and plotted to lay their hands upon the king. But this plot becomes known to Mordecai who tells Esther and she informs the king in Mordicai's name, giving him the recognition, and after an investigation into the two men, they were hung for their plot (Esther 2:21-22). The king then promotes the son of Hammedatha the Agagite over all the princes who were with him and all who were at the king's gate bowed down before him and paid homage, except Mordecai. Upon some servants seeing this, questioned why Mordecai would not do the same and he told them that he was a Jew. When he would not listen to them they told the Agagites' son that he was Jewish who would not bow nor paid homage and see if that was reason enough in his eyes. But when he saw that Mordecai would not bow nor paid homage, he was filled with rage, but would not lay hands on him alone, but plotted to have all the people of Mordecai destroyed. He enticed the king to destroy the Jews by saying they did not observe the king's laws and would be in his interest to do so, and besides he would pay the king ten thousand talents of silver into the king's treasury for the hands of those who carry out the kings' business. The king gave his signet ring and a letter was sent out to all the princes that on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (Adar) to kill each Jewish man, woman and child, and plunder their possessions (Esther 3:all).

When Mordecai had learned of the decree, he tore his clothes in anguish and put on sackcloth and ashes, as did many of the Jews throughout the land as they heard. Mordecai came to the king's gate, but did not enter dressed as such. When Esther learned he was at the gate she sent Hathach, the king's eunuch, and Mordecai told him what had transpired and gave him a copy of the edict that was sent out (Esther 4:1-15). When Esther was told, she relayed the message that one must be summoned by the king to talk to him or else they would die, including her, but Maordecai warns her that she, being a Jew would not escape this sentence of death-so she asked for him to tell as many Jews to fast for her and said, "And thus I will go into the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish" (Esther 4:16). So the Queen gathered her courage and went before the king and requested a banquet with her and the son of the Agagite, which was granted, and when the son of the Agagite heard, he was thrilled until he saw Mordecai at the gate, who paid no homage to him. So he went home and his friends suggested that he build a gallows fifty cubits high and hang him upon it, and so he had the gallows built (Esther 5:all). During that night the king could not sleep so he had his servants read from the records and they read of the plot to do him harm and how Mordicai helped foil the plot. So the king asked what was done for that man, and they said, "Nothing", and just as the Agagite's son had entered the court the king asked him how to honor someone. He told the king, thinking it had to be him, that he should have a royal robe and ride a horse ridden by the king, and be led through the city square. And so the king proclaimed that he must do just that. He lead Mordecai through the city, and when he got home and told them, they said he would fall before this man of Jewish origin (Esther 6:all). 

Then he is brought to the banquet. For the answer to our question we turn and read as the queen petition's the king to speak and tells him of a wicked man who wants to destroy her and her people and the king says, "'Who is he, and where is he, who would presume to do thus?' And Esther said, 'A foe and an enemy, is this wicked Haman!' Then Haman became terrified before the king and queen. And the king arose in anger from drinking wine and went into the palace garden; but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm had been determined against him by the king. Now when the king returned from the palace garden into the place where they were drinking wine, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, 'Will he even assault the queen with me in house?' As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs who were before the king said, 'Behold, indeed, the gallows standing at Haman's house fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai who spoke good on behalf of the king!' And the king said, 'Hang him on it.' So they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai, and the king's anger subsided.'" (Esther 7:5-10). So there we have our answer as Haman, who desired for Mordecai to hang was hung himself on the very gallows built to hang Mordecai! 

May we remember as the Proverb writer tells us, "He who is steadfast in righteousness will attain to life, and he who pursues evil will bring about his own death" (Proverbs 11:19). May we too stand for right as Mordecai and Esther!