Esther 6 -- Old Testament -- Gospel Daily

Esther

Chapter 6

The King Honors Mordecai; Haman's Humiliation

On that night, the king cannot sleep and commands the book of records to be brought and read. It is found written that Mordecai had reported two chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, who sought to lay hands on the king. The king asks what honor or dignity has been done to Mordecai and is told nothing. At that moment, Haman comes into the outward court seeking to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai. The king asks Haman what should be done to a man whom the king delights to honor. Haman, thinking the honor is for himself, suggests the man be clothed in royal apparel and the king's horse, and be led through the city with proclamation. The king commands Haman to take the apparel and horse and do likewise to Mordecai the Jew, letting nothing fail of what he has spoken. Haman is forced to array Mordecai and proclaim his honor through the city. Afterward, Haman hastens home mourning with his head covered and tells his wife and friends of his fall. His wise men and his wife say that if Mordecai is of the seed of the Jews, before whom he has begun to fall, he shall not prevail against him but will surely fall before him. The king's chamberlains then come to bring Haman to Esther's banquet.

Providence and remembranceUnexpected honorReversal of fortuneHumiliation of the proud

¹On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.

²And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

³And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.

⁴And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.

⁵And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.

⁶So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?

⁷And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,

⁸Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:

⁹And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

¹⁰Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.

¹¹Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

¹²And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.

¹³And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.

¹⁴And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.