Ester 6:12

12 Poi Mardocheo tornò alla porta del re, ma Haman s’affrettò d’andare a casa sua, tutto addolorato, e col capo coperto.

Ester 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.

Ester 6:12 In-Context

10 Allora il re disse a Haman: "Fa’ presto, e prendi la veste e il cavallo, come hai detto, e fa’ a quel modo a Mardocheo, a quel Giudeo che siede alla porta del re; e non tralasciar nulla di quello che hai detto".

11 E Haman prese la veste e il cavallo, rivestì della veste Mardocheo lo fece percorrere a cavallo le vie della città e gridava davanti a lui: "Così si fa all’uomo che il re vuole onorare!".

12 Poi Mardocheo tornò alla porta del re, ma Haman s’affrettò d’andare a casa sua, tutto addolorato, e col capo coperto.

13 E Haman raccontò a Zeresh sua moglie e a tutti i suoi amici tutto quello che gli era accaduto. E i suoi savi e Zeresh sua moglie gli dissero: "Se Mardocheo davanti al quale tu hai cominciato a cadere è della stirpe de’ Giudei, tu non potrai nulla contro di lui e cadrai completamente davanti ad esso".

14 Mentr’essi parlavano ancora con lui, giunsero gli eunuchi del re, i quali s’affrettarono a condurre Haman al convito che Ester aveva preparato.