Esther 7:7-8

7:7 In rage the king arose from the banquet of wine and withdrew to the palace garden. Meanwhile, Haman stood to beg Queen Esther for his life, 1  for he realized that the king had now determined a catastrophic end for him. 2 

7:8 When the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet of wine, Haman was throwing himself down 3  on the couch where Esther was lying. 4  The king exclaimed, “Will he also attempt to rape the queen while I am still in the building!”

As these words left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.

1 sn There is great irony here in that the man who set out to destroy all the Jews now finds himself begging for his own life from a Jew.

2 tn Heb “for he saw that calamity was determined for him from the king”; NAB “the king had decided on his doom”; NRSV “the king had determined to destroy him.”

3 tn Heb “falling”; NAB, NRSV “had (+ just TEV) thrown himself (+ down TEV).”

4 tn Heb “where Esther was” (so KJV, NASB). The term “lying” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons; cf. NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT “was reclining.”