Esther 7

Half the kingdom - again we see this being said by the king. It isn't a literal meaning of I will actually give you half the kingdom but it was a "stock phrase used by ancient monarchs to express favor." There's that word again... everywhere around Esther is favor. It's a promise to grant anything that is asked. My footnotes say that "Xerxes knew Esther would not dare approach him unless she had a very important reason. Esther had succeeded in arousing both his admiration and curiosity."

Grant me life and that of my people - Esther's requests were already half granted. Xerxes granted Esther her life when she came before him unannounced and he extended to her the scepter. As for her people, he didn't even know who they were. Slavery didn't have the same "negative connotation" as it does today. So for slavery she wouldn't have risked everything.

Haman nails his own coffin - The word says that pride comes before a fall. Not all people's pride leads to hanging but in this case, Haman's did. Not only did he threaten the queen and her people but then he appears to throw himself at her leading to more of the kings wrath. For a king like Xerxes, an explanation just wouldn't do. He had sealed his coffin before he could even begin to explain. To add insult to very serious injury... he was hung on the gallows that he intended to humiliate the very person who received all the honor he expected. Ouch!