Esther 6

1 Cette nuit-là, le roi ne put pas dormir, et il se fit apporter le livre des annales, les Chroniques. On les lut devant le roi,

2 et l'on trouva écrit ce que Mardochée avait révélé au sujet de Bigthan et de Théresch, les deux eunuques du roi, gardes du seuil, qui avaient voulu porter la main sur le roi Assuérus.

3 Le roi dit: Quelle marque de distinction et d'honneur Mardochée a-t-il reçue pour cela? Il n'a rien reçu, répondirent ceux qui servaient le roi.

4 Alors le roi dit: Qui est dans la cour? -Haman était venu dans la cour extérieure de la maison du roi, pour demander au roi de faire pendre Mardochée au bois qu'il avait préparé pour lui. -

5 Les serviteurs du roi lui répondirent: C'est Haman qui se tient dans la cour. Et le roi dit: Qu'il entre.

6 Haman entra, et le roi lui dit: Que faut-il faire pour un homme que le roi veut honorer? Haman se dit en lui-même: Quel autre que moi le roi voudrait-il honorer?

7 Et Haman répondit au roi: Pour un homme que le roi veut honorer,

8 il faut prendre le vêtement royal dont le roi se couvre et le cheval que le roi monte et sur la tête duquel se pose une couronne royale,

9 remettre le vêtement et le cheval à l'un des principaux chefs du roi, puis revêtir l'homme que le roi veut honorer, le promener à cheval à travers la place de la ville, et crier devant lui: C'est ainsi que l'on fait à l'homme que le roi veut honorer!

10 Le roi dit à Haman: Prends tout de suite le vêtement et le cheval, comme tu l'as dit, et fais ainsi pour Mardochée, le Juif, qui est assis à la porte du roi; ne néglige rien de tout ce que tu as mentionné.

11 Et Haman prit le vêtement et le cheval, il revêtit Mardochée, il le promena à cheval à travers la place de la ville, et il cria devant lui: C'est ainsi que l'on fait à l'homme que le roi veut honorer!

12 Mardochée retourna à la porte du roi, et Haman se rendit en hâte chez lui, désolé et la tête voilée.

13 Haman raconta à Zéresch, sa femme, et à tous ses amis, tout ce qui lui était arrivé. Et ses sages, et Zéresch, sa femme, lui dirent: Si Mardochée, devant lequel tu as commencé de tomber, est de la race des Juifs, tu ne pourras rien contre lui, mais tu tomberas devant lui.

14 Comme ils lui parlaient encore, les eunuques du roi arrivèrent et conduisirent aussitôt Haman au festin qu'Esther avait préparé.

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.

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.