Drinks<n id="1" /> were served in golden containers, all of which differed from one another. Royal wine was available in abundance at the king&#8217;s expense.

While at the banquet of wine, the king said to Esther, &#8220;What is your request? It shall be given to you. What is your petition? Ask for as much as half the kingdom,<n id="1" /> and it shall be done!&#8221;p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">On the seventh day, as King Ahasuerus was feeling the effects of the wine,<n id="1" /> he ordered Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who attended him,<n id="2" />

On the second day of the banquet of wine the king asked Esther, &#8220;What is your request, Queen Esther? It shall be granted to you. And what is your petition? Ask up to half the kingdom, and it shall be done!&#8221;p>

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,<n id="1" /> for he realized that the king had now determined a catastrophic end for him.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="bodytext">When the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet of wine, Haman was throwing himself down<n id="1" /> on the couch where Esther was lying.<n id="2" /> The king exclaimed, &#8220;Will he also attempt to rape the queen while I am still in the building!&#8221;p> <p class="bodytext">As these words left the king&#8217;s mouth, they covered Haman&#8217;s face.