MORDECAI'S HONOR, HAMAN'S DOWNTURN
Key verse: 10
NIV
Mordecai Honored
6 That night the king could not sleep;(A) so he ordered the book of the chronicles,(B) the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. 2 It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.(C)
3 “What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked.
“Nothing has been done for him,”(D) his attendants answered.
4 The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.
5 His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.”
“Bring him in,” the king ordered.
6 When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?”
Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” 7 So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, 8 have them bring a royal robe(E) the king has worn and a horse(F) the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. 9 Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!(G)’”
10 “Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”
11 So Haman got(H) the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!”
12 Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered(I) in grief, 13 and told Zeresh(J) his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him.
His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall(K) has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!”(L) 14 While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet(M) Esther had prepared.
Cross references
- Esther 6:1 : Da 2:1; 6:18
- Esther 6:1 : S Est 2:23
- Esther 6:2 : Est 2:21-23
- Esther 6:3 : Ecc 9:13-16
- Esther 6:8 : S Ge 41:42; S Isa 52:1
- Esther 6:8 : 1Ki 1:33
- Esther 6:9 : Ge 41:43
- Esther 6:11 : S Ge 41:42
- Esther 6:12 : 2Sa 15:30; Est 7:8; Jer 14:3, 4; Mic 3:7
- Esther 6:13 : Est 5:10
- Esther 6:13 : Ps 57:6; Pr 26:27; 28:18
- Esther 6:13 : Est 7:7
- Esther 6:14 : S 1Ki 3:15
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
The King Honors Mordecai
6 On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring (A)the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written how (B)Mordecai had told about (C)Bigthana[a] and (D)Teresh, 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 (E)the outer court of the king's palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on (F)the gallows[b] 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 (G)whom 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, (H)and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head (I)a royal crown[c] 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, (J)proclaiming 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 (K)at 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 (L)and with his head covered. 13 And Haman told (M)his 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 (N)to the feast that Esther had prepared.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Esther 6:2 Bigthana is an alternate spelling of Bigthan (see 2:21)
- Esther 6:4 Or wooden beam (see note on 2:23)
- Esther 6:8 Or headdress
Cross references
- Esther 6:1 : ch. 2:23; 10:2
- Esther 6:2 : ch. 2:22
- Esther 6:2 : [ch. 1:10; 2:21]
- Esther 6:2 : ch. 2:21
- Esther 6:4 : [ch. 4:11; 5:1]
- Esther 6:4 : ch. 5:14
- Esther 6:6 : ver. 7, 9, 11
- Esther 6:8 : [1 Kgs. 1:33]
- Esther 6:8 : ch. 1:11; 2:17
- Esther 6:9 : [Gen. 41:43]
- Esther 6:10 : See ch. 2:19
- Esther 6:12 : See 2 Sam. 15:30
- Esther 6:13 : ch. 5:10, 14
- Esther 6:14 : ch. 5:8
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
While Haman was planning to hang Mordecai, the king could not fall asleep and had the book of record brought in and read to him. Then he realized Mordecai had exposed a plot to assassinate the king but did not receive any reward. This dramatic and timely revelation was the Lord's intervention. The Lord is the giver of sleep (Ps 127:2). God carefully worked out his plan to deliver his people. Even King Xerxes was an instrument in God's good plan (Prov 16:9).
When Haman entered the court, the king asked what Haman would do to honor a man highly. Haman mistakenly believed the king wanted to reward him, so Haman suggested royal treatment for the man. Haman's proud ambition to have the king's honor became his trap (Prov 26:27).
Not only did Haman have to carry out the king’s command to honor Mordecai whom he hated, but he also faced losing the king’s favor. The fact that the king specifically says “Mordecai the Jew” reveals the king's suspicion of Haman's motive to destroy all Jews. Haman trembled in fear at this sudden turn of luck but had to go to the queen's banquet without having the chance to regroup himself.
Prayer: Father, thank you for reminding us that you are in control. Help me not to seek honor from people but be right before you with complete trust.
One Word: God honors those who honor him.
