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Esther
Chapter 6
{Chapters
6-10: Jews Deliverance and Prosperity}
{Chapter
6: Delayed Honoring of Mordecai by `Achashverowsh -
The Tables Are Turned}
1~~~On
that night could not the king sleep,
and
he commanded to bring
the
book of records, the chronicles;
and
they were read before the king.
{Note:
The Septuagint translators said this first phrase should be
translated "and the Lord removed the sleep from the king."
Though not literal it probably is accurate. This is an example of the
direct control of history by God. It was not a coincidence the king
could not sleep. It was not a coincidence that the reader would turn
right to the incident of Mordecai saving the king's life.}
2~~~And
it was found written,
what
Mordecai had reported
concerning
Bigthana and Teresh,
two
of the king's eunuchs,
the
keepers of the door,
who
sought to lay hand on the king {Xerxes}'/'Achashverowsh.
3a~~~And
the king said,
"What
'high honor'/'honor and dignity'
has
been bestowed on Mordecai for this?"
{Note:
y@qar g@duwlah are literally 'honor and dignity'. But the Hebrew
grammar here indicates this is 'one thought'. So 'high honor' is a
better translation.}
3b~~~Then
said the king's servants that ministered unto him,
"There
is nothing done for him."
4a~~~And
the king said,
"Who
is in the court?"
{Note:
The king is riddled with guilt in not honoring Mordecai's service to
him. So, he wants the situation rectified and right now. So, now
another 'coincidence' - who shows up but Haman!}
{Wrong
Place, Wrong Time for Haman}
4b~~~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.
5a~~~And
the king's servants said unto him,
"Behold,
Haman stands in the court."
5b~~~And
the king said, "Let him come in."
6a~~~So
Haman came in.
{King
Desires to Honor Mordecai}
6b~~~And
the king said unto him,
"What
shall be done unto the man
whom
the king delights to honor?"
{Haman
Misunderstands}
6c~~~Now
Haman thought in his heart,
"To
whom would the king delight to do honor
more
than to myself?"
{Note:
In his blind arrogance, Haman thinks the king is referring to
himself. And, this gives him the chance to get the people used to
seeing him as king after he deposes the king. Instead, he will be
humiliated by seeing his personal enemy Mordecai honored.}
7-8~~~And
Haman answered the king,
"For
the man whom the king delights to honor, 8~~~
let
the royal robe be brought which the king used to wear,
and
the horse that the king rode upon,
and
the crown royal which is set upon his {the horse's} head."
{Note:
It is a penalty subject to death to wear the royal clothes - this is
a huge honor. And, then to be seen on a horse marked with the royal
crest would let everyone know that this man (Haman) is the king's
favorite (of course the king is referring to Mordecai not Haman!)}
9~~~"And
let this robe 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 delights to honor,
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 delights to honor.' "
{Haman's
Jaw Drops -
First Mention of Mordecai's Name in this Context}
10a~~~Then
the king said to Haman,
"Make
quickly, and take the robes and the horse,
as
you have said,
and
do even so to Mordecai, the Jew,
who
sits at the king's gate."
10b~~~"Let
nothing fail of all
that
you have spoken."
{Note:
What a shock for Haman! He must be a 'little upset' now! Ouch! Haman
is going to lead the horse with Mordecai on it. And, how oblivious is
the king! He has condemned a race to death and he does not know that
it is the Jewish race that he condemned?? The king is totally self-centered.}
{The
Mighty, Arrogant Haman Takes a Great Fall}
11~~~Then
took Haman the robe and the horse,
and
dressed Mordecai,
and
brought him on horseback
through
the street of the city,
{a big 'show'/parade}
and
proclaimed before him,
"Thus
shall it be done unto the man
whom
the king desires to honor."
{Price
of Arrogance and Reward of Humility}
{Action
of the Humble - Back to Normal}
12a~~~And
Mordecai came again to the king's gate.
{In
contrast - Action of the Arrogant - Mourning His 'Insult'}
12b~~~But
Haman hurried to his house
mourning
and having his head covered.
13a~~~And
Haman recounted to Zeresh, his wife,
and
all his friends every thing that had happened to him.
{Wife
as Loyal as Job's Wife - Preaches Doom}
13b~~~Then
his '{religiously} wise men'
{chakam - here has a special religious connotation -
they were Persian theologians}
and
Zeresh, his wife,
said
unto him,
"If
Mordecai is of Jewish origin
{they all know this is true!}
before
whom you have begun to fall {naphal}
you
will not overcome him,
but
shall surely fall before him."
{Note:
The Jews stood out as a people with which to be reckoned. These
friends must have studied the history of the Jews and their God.}
14~~~And
while they were yet talking with him,
the
king's eunuchs arrived,
and
hastily brought Haman
unto
the banquet that Esther had prepared.
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