Esther Chapter 6
1 On that night, the king couldn't sleep. He commanded the book of records of the chronicles to be brought, and they were read to the king.
2 It was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who were doorkeepers, who had tried to lay hands on the King Ahasuerus.
3 The king said, "What honour and dignity has been given to Mordecai for this?" Then the king's servants who attended him said, "Nothing has been done for him."
4 The king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had come into the outer court of the king's house, to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
5 The king's servants said to him, "Behold, Haman stands in the court." The king said, "Let him come in."
6 So Haman came in. The king said to him, "What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honour?" Now Haman said in his heart, "Who would the king delight to honour more than myself?"
7 Haman said to the king, "For the man whom the king delights to honour,
8 let royal clothing be brought which the king uses to wear, and the horse that the king rides on, and on the head of which a royal crown is set.
9 Let the clothing and the horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man whom the king delights to honour with them, and have him ride on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him, 'Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honour!' "
10 Then the king said to Haman, "Hurry and take the clothing and the horse, as you have said, and do this for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Let nothing fail of all that you have spoken."
11 Then Haman took the clothing and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and had him ride through the city square, and proclaimed before him, "Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honour!"
12 Mordecai came back to the king's gate, but Haman hurried to his house, mourning and having his head covered.
13 Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and all his friends 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 descent, you will not prevail against him, but you will surely fall before him."
14 While they were yet talking with him, the king's eunuchs came, and hurried to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
Footnotes
- Verse 5 (Behold)
- "Behold" means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
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Esther Chapter 6 Guide
In the economy of God vast issues follow apparently trivial things. A sleepless night is in itself transient and almost trivial. Yet it has often been a time of revelation and surprise, affecting the after years. In the case of Ahasuerus it was another of the forces by which God moved to preserve His people. To while away its hours, the records were read to the king, and a deed of Mordecai which had passed from his memory led to hasty and strange happenings, which must have filled the heart of Haman with new anger and terror. His enemy was suddenly lifted from obscurity to the most conspicuous position in the kingdom - he had become a man whom the king delighted to honour. In the words of Zeresh, wife of Haman, there was manifest that strange fear of God's ancient people which had wrought so much in their history.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Esther Chapter 6 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- 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)
Verses 1-3
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.
Verses 4-11
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!
Verses 12-14
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.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.