Esther 6:1

1 But the Lord removed sleep from the king that night: and he told his servant to bring in the books, the registers of daily events, to read to him.

Esther 6:1 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 6:1

On that night could not the king sleep
The night after he had been at Esther's banquet, which it might be thought would rather have caused sleep; and therefore Jarchi calls it a miracle; and no doubt it was owing to the overruling providence of God, and not to anxious thoughts about his neglect of Esther so long, nor what should be her request to him, nor jealousy of any amorous intrigue with Haman, nor of any conspiracy of theirs against his life:

and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles;
the diaries or journal, in which memorable facts were recorded; this he did to divert himself, and pass away time; though here also the providence of God was specially concerned; for otherwise he might have sent for any of his wives and concubines, or singing men and women, to have diverted him:

and they were read before the king;
until the morning, until it was time to rise, as appears by what follows.

Esther 6:1 In-Context

1 But the Lord removed sleep from the king that night: and he told his servant to bring in the books, the registers of daily events, to read to him.

2 And he found the records written concerning Mardochaeus, how he had told the king concerning the two chamberlains of the king, when they were keeping guard, and sought to lay hands on Artaxerxes.

3 And the king said, What honour or favour have we done to Mardochaeus? And the king's servants said, Thou hast not done anything to him.

4 And while the king was enquiring about the kindness of Mardochaeus, behold, Aman in the court. And the king said, Who in the court? Now Aman was come in to speak to the king, that he should hang Mardochaeus on the gallows, which he had prepared.

5 And the king's servants said, Behold, Aman stands in the court. And the king said, Call him.

Footnotes

• [a] letters.