Esther 6

The king being not able to sleep, causeth the book of the Chronicles to be brought, v.1. wherein is found written the wicked attempt of Bigthana and Theres, discovered by Mordechai, 2. The king asketh what honour was done unto Mordechai for this; His servants answer, none, 3. Haman being in the Court, 4. Is called in, 5. And the king asketh him, what honour should be done to that man, whom the king intended to honour, 6. Hamans answer hereunto, 7. The king commandeth Haman to do all that honour unto Mordechai, which himself had mentioned, 10. The which he doth, 11. After that he returneth home sorrowful ad grieved, 12. And reporteth all that had befallen him unto his wife and friends, who foretell him his further fall, 13. He is hastened away unto Esthers banquet, 14.

1. In That night sleep was departed from the King: [Hebr. the king sleep was away; that is, the king could not sleep. This came so to pass by the disposing and over ruling providence of Almighty God] and he said, that they should bring the book of remembrances, [that is, wherein the remarkeable passages of the kings of Persia and Media were written, and entered upon record: Oth. the memory-book] the Chronicles, [Hebr. the words days] and thy were read in the kings presence. [Hebr. before the kings face. This King would not squander and triffle away his time unprofitably, but even in the night-season, when he could not sleep, he caused something that was useful and profitable to be read before him.]

2. And it was found written, that Mordechai had told of Bigthana. [Called Bigthan, above chap.2.21.] and Theres, two chamberlains of the king, of the keepers of the threshold, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasueros. [see above chap.2. v.21.]

3. Then said the king, what honour and promotion [Heb. greatness] hath been done to Mordechai for this? [to wit, for discovering the murderers] and the kings youths, his servants, said, nothing [Hebr. no word, or, nothing] hath been done unto him. [that is, he hath received no reward nor recompense at all for discovering and revealing of this murderous plot and design against the king.]

4. Then said the king, who is in the Court? [Understand here the outward court, where the kings servants were waiting and attending upon his service] (now Haman was come into the outward Court of the kings house, to tell the king, [that is, to speak unto the king] that Mordechai might be hanged on the gallowes that he had caused to be prepared for him.0

5. And the kings youth said unto him, behold, Haman standeth in the court: then said the king, let him come in.

6. When Haman was come in, then said the king unto him, what shall be done unto that man, whose honour the king is delighted with? Then said Haman in; his heart, [That is, within himself] to whom hath the king a delight to do (him) honour, more then to my self? [this sits which he had already received and enjoyed from the king.]

7. Therefore Haman said unto the king; For the man, whose honour the king is delighted with:

8. The royal apparel [Hebr. the apparel of the kingdom] shall be brought, which the king useth to put on: And the horse that the king useth to ride on: and let the royal crown [Hebr. the crown of the kingdom] be set upon his head.

9. And that apparel and that horse shall be delivered into the hand of one of the kings Princes of the greatest Lords, and that man shall be arrayed therewith: whose honour the king delighteth with: And they shall cause him to ride upon that horse through the streets of the city, [This hath been aforetime one of the greatest honours and dignities that Kings have done to their best-respected and most-honoured friends. See the like examples, Gen.41.43. and 1 Kings 1:33.] and they shall proclaim before him, thus shall it be done to the man whose honour the king delighteth with.

10. The king said unto Haman, make haste, take that apparel, and that horse, according as thou hast spoken, and do so to Mordechai the Jew, that sitteth at the kings gate: And let not a word fall (to the ground) of all that thou hast spoken.

11. And Haman took that apparel and that horse, and put the apparel upon Mordechai, and caused him to ride through the streets of the city, and he proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done to the man, whose honour the king delighteth with.

12. Then Mordechai returned to the kings gate; but Haman was driven on [Or, drave himself on, or, forward, to wit, through vexation and trouble of mind: Compare 2 Chron.26.20.] to his house, sorrowful, and with (the) head covered. [Hebr. covered of head. A token of sorrow or grief. See 2 Sam.15.30. Jerem.14.4.]

13. And Haman related unto Zeres his wife, and to all his friends, all that had befallen him: Then said his wise men, [That is, his Counsellors, whose counsel he was wont to use in great and weighty affairs. But others do understand here the wizards and prognosticators with whom Haman advised in this business] and Zeres his wife, If [oth. for as much as, or, seeing, or; because] Mordechai before whose face thou hast begun to fall, be of the seed of the Jews, then thou shalt not prevail against him, but thou shalt surely fall before his face. [Hebr. falling thou shalt fall before his face.]

14. While they yet spake with him, the kings Chamberlains came neer, and they hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet, that Esther had prepared.