Esther6
New American Standard
1During 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.
2And it was found written what Mordecai had reported about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who were doorkeepers, that they had sought to attack King Ahasuerus.
3Then the king said, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” And the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”
4So the king said, “Who is in the courtyard?” Now Haman had just entered the outer courtyard of the king’s palace in order to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the wooden gallows which he had prepared for him.
5So the king’s servants said to him, “Behold, Haman is standing in the courtyard.” And the king said, “Have him come in.”
6Haman then 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?”
7Therefore Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king desires to honor,
8have 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 turban has been placed;
9then order them to hand the robe and the horse over to one of the king’s noble officials, and have them dress the man whom the king desires to honor, and lead him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him, ‘So it shall be done for the man whom the king desires to honor.’”
10Then the king said to Haman, “Quickly, take the robe and the horse just as you have said, and do so for Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting at the king’s gate; do not fail to do anything of all that you have said.”
11So Haman took the robe and the horse, and dressed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “So it shall be done for the man whom the king desires to honor.”
12Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate, while Haman hurried home, mourning, with his head covered.
13And Haman informed Zeresh his wife and all his friends of everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish origin, you will not prevail over him, but will certainly fall before him.”
14While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and quickly brought Haman to the banquet which Esther had prepared.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Esther 6.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Providence recommends Mordecai to the king's favour. (1–3). Haman's counsel honours Mordecai. (4–11). Haman's friends tell him of his danger. (12–14).
vv1-3
The providence of God rules over the smallest concerns of men. Not a sparrow falls to the ground without him. Trace the steps which Providence took towards the advancement of Mordecai. The king could not sleep when Providence had a design to serve, in keeping him awake. We read of no illness that broke his sleep, but God, whose gift sleep is, withheld it from him. He who commanded a hundred and twenty-seven provinces, could not command one hour's sleep.
vv4-11
See how men's pride deceives them. The deceitfulness of our own hearts appears in nothing more than in the conceit we have of ourselves and our own performances: against which we should constantly watch and pray. Haman thought the king loved and valued no one but himself, but he was deceived. We should suspect that the esteem which others profess for us, is not so great as it seems to be, that we may not think too well of ourselves, nor trust too much in others. How Haman is struck, when the king bids him do honour to Mordecai the Jew, the very man whom he hated above all men, whose ruin he was now designing!
vv12-14
Mordecai was not puffed up with his honours, he returned to his place and the duty of it. Honour is well bestowed on those that do not think themselves above their business. But Haman could not bear it. What harm had it done him? But that will break a proud man's heart, which will not break a humble man's sleep. His doom was, out of this event, read to him by his wife and his friends. They plainly confessed that the Jews, though scattered through the nations, were special objects of Divine care. Miserable comforters are they all; they did not advise Haman to repent, but foretold his fate as unavoidable. The wisdom of God is seen, in timing the means of his church's deliverance, so as to manifest his own glory.
Key Words
לַיִל: properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity
מֶלֶךְ: a king
נָדַד: properly, to wave to and fro (rarely to flap up and down); figuratively, to rove, flee, or (causatively) to drive away
שֵׁנָה: sleep
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
סֵפֶר: properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book
זִכְרוֹן: a memento (or memorable thing, day or writing)
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
Cross References
Esther 6Haman arrives early to request hanging Mordecai on the very gallows he recently constructed.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Parallels Pharaoh's royal public proclamation and honor bestowed on Joseph through the streets of Egypt.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The recorded account of Bigthan and Teresh's plot which Mordecai previously exposed.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Haman's extreme self-conceit directly illustrates pride going before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Solomon riding the king's own mule illustrates the high Persian honor of riding the king's horse.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Like Joseph forgotten by the chief butler, Mordecai was initially unrewarded despite saving the king's life.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God takes the wise in their own craftiness, trapping Haman in his own sudden advice.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Haman covering his head in mourning parallels David's posture of grief during his flight from Absalom.
The chamberlains hasten Haman, leading directly to the banquet where his plot is fully exposed.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Mordecai immediately returns to the king's gate, demonstrating his humility after receiving supreme royal honor.
Supported by Matthew Poole