Mordecai is appointed second in command, Haman is hung on the gallows he constructed for Mordecai, and the Jews enjoy a time of dominance over their enemies

The Triumph of Mordecai by Pieter Lastman, 1624.

Haman Begging the Mercy of Esther, by Rembrandt

Obviously, the story of Esther is popular among artists.

EST 7:9 Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A gallows seventy-five feet high stands by Haman’s house. He had it made for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.” The king said, “Hang him on it!”

Ironic.

to the Jews, and to the satraps, governors and nobles of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush. These orders were written in the script of each province and the language of each people and also to the Jews in their own script and language.

A “Satrap” according to Meriam Webster:

1 : the governor of a province in ancient Persia
2 a : ruler b : a subordinate official : henchman

EST 8:17 In every province and in every city, wherever the edict of the king went, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them.

It is interesting that other nationalities became Jews.

EST 9:13 “If it pleases the king,” Esther answered, “give the Jews in Susa permission to carry out this day’s edict tomorrow also, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged on gallows.”

Were none of them good men?

EST 9:19 That is why rural Jews– those living in villages– observe the fourteenth of the month of Adar as a day of joy and feasting, a day for giving presents to each other.

I wonder if this is where our custom of giving each other presents on Christmas began.  (I realize that Christ’s birth had not yet occured).