Esther 6

The King Honors Mordecai

1 On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring ¹the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king.

2 And it was found written how ²Mordecai had told about ³Bigthana and ⁴Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.

3 And the king said, "What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?" The king's young men who attended him said, "Nothing has been done for him."

4 And the king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered ⁵the outer court of the king's palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on ⁶the gallows^[a] that he had prepared for him.

5 And the king's young men told him, "Haman is there, standing in the court." And the king said, "Let him come in."

6 So Haman came in, and the king said to him, "What should be done to the man ⁷whom the king delights to honor?" And Haman said to himself, "Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?"

7 And Haman said to the king, "For the man whom the king delights to honor,

8 let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, ⁸and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head ⁹a royal crown^[b] is set.

9 And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, ¹⁰proclaiming before him: 'Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.'"

10 Then the king said to Haman, "Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits ¹¹at the king's gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned."

11 So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, "Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor."

12 Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning ¹²and with his head covered.

13 And Haman told ¹³his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, "If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him."

Esther Reveals Haman's Plot

14 While they were yet talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring Haman ¹⁴to the feast that Esther had prepared.

Esther 6 Commentary

Chapter 6

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.

Cross References

• 1. Esther 2:23; Esther 10:2
• 2. Esther 2:22
• 3. [Esther 1:10; Esther 2:21]
• 4. Esther 2:21
• 5. [Esther 4:11; Esther 5:1]
• 6. Esther 5:14
• 7. ver. 7, 9, 11
• 8. [1 Kings 1:33]
• 9. Esther 1:11; Esther 2:17
• 10. [Genesis 41:43]
• 11. See Esther 2:19
• 12. See 2 Samuel 15:30
• 13. Esther 5:10, 14
• 14. Esther 5:8

Footnotes

• [a]. Or suspended on a stake
• [b]. Or headdress

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ESTHER 6

Ahasuerus, not being able to sleep in the night, ordered the book of records to be brought and read to him, where a fact of Mordecai's was registered, and, upon inquiry, it appeared that nothing had been done to him for it, Es 6:1-3 and Haman being in the outward court, was ordered in, with whom the king consulted what should be done to the man the king delighted to honour; to which Haman gave answer, and was bid to do as he said, Es 6:4-10, which he did, but went home after it confounded and sorrowful, and told his mournful case to his wife and friends, who plainly foresaw his downfall, Es 6:11-14.