Esther 6

1 That [same, particular] night [period of darkness, adversity] sleep [rest, slumber] escaped [fled, wandered away] the king [royal person, monarch]; so he ordered [commanded, instructed] the Book [scroll, written document] of Records [memorials, chronicles], the Chronicles [historical accounts, events of the days], to be brought [to come, to be presented] in and read [to be called out, recited] to him [before his presence, in his face]. word study 2 And there it was found [discovered, came upon] recorded [written, inscribed] that Mordecai [a brave Israelite] had exposed [told, declared] Bigthana [a eunuch] and Teresh [a co-conspirator], two [a pair, dual] of the eunuchs [high-ranking officials] who guarded [kept, protected] the king’s [belonging to the ruler] entrance [threshold, door], when they had conspired [sought, plotted] to assassinate [lay hands on, kill] King Xerxes [Ahasuerus, the Persian ruler]. word study 3 The king [ruler, sovereign] inquired, “What [in what way, to what extent] honor [dignity, prestige] or dignity [preciousness, greatness] has been bestowed [given, granted] on Mordecai [a brave Israelite] for this act [deed, exploit]?” “Nothing [no reward, not anything] has been done [made, accomplished] for him,” replied the king’s attendants [servants, ministers]. word study 4 “Who [which person, anyone present] is in the [outer, external] court?” the king [royal ruler, sovereign] asked. Now Haman [a powerful Persian official] had just entered the outer [external] court of the palace [king’s house, royal residence] to ask the king [to request, petition] to hang [to execute, put to death] Mordecai [a brave Israelite] on the gallows [tree, wooden plank] he had prepared [set up, established] for him. word study 5 So the king’s [royal, sovereign] attendants answered him, “Haman [a powerful Persian official] is there, standing [in a position of readiness, waiting] in the court [the palace courtyard, a place of royal presence].” “Bring him in [let him come before me, into my presence],” ordered the king [the ruler, the one in authority]. word study 6 Haman entered [came in, approached], and the king asked him, “What [in what way, how] should be done for the man [individual, person] whom the king [ruler, monarch] is delighted to honor [take pleasure in, show favor to]?” Now Haman thought to himself [reflected in his heart, considered], “Whom [who, which person] would the king [ruler, monarch] be delighted to honor [show favor to, esteem] more than me [above myself, beyond my own worth]?” word study 7 And Haman [the powerful Persian official] told the king, “For the man [a male person, an individual] whom the king [the royal person, a ruler] is delighted to honor [takes pleasure in, has delight in his preciousness], word study 8 have them bring a royal [kingly, sovereign] robe [clothing, apparel] that the king [monarch, ruler] himself has worn [put on, clothed himself with] and a horse [steed, mount] on which the king [monarch, ruler] himself has ridden [mounted, sat upon]—one with a royal [regal, majestic] crest [crown, diadem] placed [set, positioned] on its head [top, highest part]. word study 9 Let the robe [royal apparel, garments of honor] and the horse be entrusted to one of the king’s [ruler, sovereign] most noble [exalted, esteemed] princes [leaders, chiefs]. Let them array [clothe, adorn] the man [individual, person] the king [monarch, ruler] wants to honor [show favor, delight in] and parade him on the horse [ride, mount] through the city square [public place, marketplace], proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done [customary practice, tradition] for the man [person, individual] whom the king [sovereign, ruler] is delighted to honor [take pleasure in, show favor]!’” word study 10 “Hurry [make haste, be quick],” said the king [the ruler, monarch] to Haman, “and do just as you proposed [suggested, recommended]. Take the robe [clothing, apparel] and the horse [swallow, chariot horse] to Mordecai [a brave Israelite, of the tribe of Judah] the Jew [of Judah, a descendant of Judah], who is sitting [dwelling, remaining] at the king’s gate [entrance, doorway]. Do not neglect anything that you have suggested.” word study 11 So Haman took [got, received] the robe [clothing, apparel] and the horse [swallow, chariot horse], arrayed [dressed, clothed] Mordecai, and paraded [led, rode] him through the city square [street, plaza], crying out [proclaiming, calling] before him, “This is what is done [thus, in this way] for the man [individual, person] whom the king [ruler, monarch] is delighted [pleased, happy] to honor [show respect, give dignity]!” word study 12 Then Mordecai [the brave Israelite] returned to the king’s [royal, sovereign] gate. But Haman [the powerful Persian official] rushed [hastened, sped] home, with his head [the topmost part of the body] covered [veiled, concealed] in grief [mourning, sorrow]. word study 13 Haman told his wife Zeresh [his closest companion, his partner] and all his friends [his advisors, his confidants] everything that had happened [all the events, the entire situation]. His advisers [his wise men, his counselors] and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai [a Jewish man, a descendant of Judah], before whom your downfall [your failure, your defeat] has begun [has started, has commenced], is Jewish [of the seed of the Jews, a Hebrew], you will not prevail [you will not succeed, you will not overcome] against him—for surely [certainly, without a doubt] you will fall [you will be defeated, you will be overthrown] before him [in his presence, before his face].” word study 14 While they were still [yet, continuing to] speaking with Haman [the powerful Persian official], the king’s [royal, sovereign] eunuchs [high-ranking officials, attendants] arrived and rushed [hastened, hurried] him to the banquet [feast, celebration] that Esther [the brave Jewish queen] had prepared [made, arranged]. word study