Esther 6:12

12 And after this Mordecai turned again to the gate of the palace, and Haman hasted to go into his house, mourning, and with his head covered. (And after this Mordecai returned to the royal court, and Haman hastened to go to his house, mourning, and with his head covered.)

Esther 6:12 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 6:12

And Mordecai came again to the king's gate
To attend his post and office at court; which confirms what has been already hinted, that he was in some office in the court, which this phrase is expressive of, and not a porter at the gate; for it is not probable he should return to such a station, after so much honour had been done him; and much less that he returned to his sackcloth and fasting, as Jarchi and the former Targum; since he might reasonably conclude things were taking a turn in his favour, and that of his people; though as yet he knew not what success Esther had had, to wait for which he returned to court:

but Haman hasted to his house;
pushed forward as fast as he could:

mourning;
at his sad disappointment:

and having his head covered;
through grief and sorrow, confusion and shame; so Demosthenes, being hissed, went home with his head covered {c}, as confounded and ashamed to be seen ^F4.

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 Plutarch in Demosthene.
F4 See more instances in Lively's Chronology of the Persian monarchy, p. 18, 19.

Esther 6:12 In-Context

10 And then the king said to Haman, Haste thou thee, and when the king's clothing, and his horse, is taken to thee, do thou, as thou hast spoken, to Mordecai, the Jew, that sitteth before the gates of the palace; and be thou ware, that thou leave not out, (or) undone, any thing of these (things), which thou hast now spoken. (And then the king said to Haman, Now hasten thou thee, and when the king's robes, and his horse, be brought to thee, do thou, just as thou hast spoken, for Mordecai, the Jew, who is in attendance at the royal court; and be thou ware, lest thou leave anything undone, of all these things, of which thou hast now spoken.)

11 And then Haman took the king's cloak and his palfrey, and he went forth, and cried before Mordecai, (who was) clothed in the king's clothing, (leading him) in the chief street of the city, and set upon his palfrey, (saying,) He is worthy (of) this honour, whomever the king will honour. (And then Haman took the king's robes and his horse, and he clothed Mordecai in the king's clothing, and put him on the king's horse; and then leading him through the city square, he cried as he went before him, He is worthy of this honour, whom the king desireth to honour.)

12 And after this Mordecai turned again to the gate of the palace, and Haman hasted to go into his house, mourning, and with his head covered. (And after this Mordecai returned to the royal court, and Haman hastened to go to his house, mourning, and with his head covered.)

13 And he told to Zeresh, his wife, and to his friends all things that had befallen to him. To whom the wise men, which he had in counsel, and his wife, answered, If Mordecai, before whom thou hast begun to fall, is of the seed of Jews, thou shalt not be able to against-stand him, but thou shalt fall in his sight. (And he told his wife Zeresh, and his friends, all the things that had befallen him. And the wise men, whom he had in counsel, and his wife, answered, If Mordecai, before whom thou hast begun to fall, is a descendant of the Jews, then thou shalt not be able to stand against him, but thou shalt utterly fall before him.)

14 Yet while they spake these things, the honest servants and chaste of the king came after Haman (the honest and chaste servants of the king came for Haman), and they compelled him to go anon to the feast, which the queen had made ready. (And yet while they spoke these things, the king's eunuchs came for Haman, and they compelled him to come at once to the feast, which the queen had prepared.)