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Appreciation
TO SPEAK WITH UNDERSTANDING
But he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?”
The men of Ephraim, their pride hurt, scolded Gideon for having gone to war without asking for their help. Gideon was a capable military strategist, who understood the psychology of leadership. So genuine was his appreciation of their former accomplishments that the anger of the men of Ephraim was abated.
DELAYED COMMENDATION
Then Haman went out that day glad and pleased of heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, and that he did not stand up or tremble before him, Haman was filled with anger against Mordecai.
Haman controlled himself, however, went to his house, and sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh.
Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, and the number of his sons, and every instance where the king had magnified him, and how he had promoted him above the princes and the servants of the king.
Haman also said, “Even Esther the queen let no one but me come with the king to the banquet which she had prepared; and tomorrow also I am invited by her with the king.
“Yet all of this does not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Have a gallows fifty cubits high made and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it, then go joyfully with the king to the banquet.” And the advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.
During that night the king could not sleep so he gave an order to bring the book of records, the chronicles, and they were read before the king.
And it was found written what Mordecai had reported concerning Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who were doorkeepers, that they had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.
And the king said, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” Then the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”
So the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace in order to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows which he had prepared for him.
And the king’s servants said to him, “Behold, Haman is standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.”
So Haman came in and the king said to him, “What is to be done for the man whom the king desires to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king desire to honor more than me?”
Then Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king desires to honor, let them bring a royal robe which the king has worn, and the horse on which the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown has been placed; and let the robe and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble princes and let them array the man whom the king desires to honor and lead him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him, “Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.”
Then the king said to Haman, “Take quickly the robes and the horse as you have said, and so so for Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting at the king’s gate; do not fall short in anything of all that you have said.”
So Haman took the robe and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor.” -- Esther 5:9-6:11
When Haman was snubbed by Mordecai, he built a gallows upon which to hang his enemy. But this plan was not to gain the approval of the king. During the night, the record of the chronicles was read to the king, revealing that Mordecai had never received an appropriate reward for having saved the king’s life at a previous time. So instead, the man whom Haman would kill was honored by the king, and Haman was later hanged on the gallows he had built for Mordecai.
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