Esther6
New International Version
1That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him.
2It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
3“What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked. “Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.
4The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.
5His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.” “Bring him in,” the king ordered.
6When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?” Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?”
7So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor,
8have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head.
9Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’”
10“Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”
11So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!”
12Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief,
13and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!”
14While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet 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