Esther 6

1. On that night could not the king sleep. See note on v. 8. In the wonderful providence of God the sleepless night of a king proves the means of the people’s deliverance.

the book of records. The Persians took remarkable pains to preserve the remembrance of their exploits by written documents. Many thousands of clay tablets, with cuneiform inscriptions, were found at Nippur between 1893 and 1896, and many more in 1900 and since. Several of these date from the times of Xerxes and Darius.

7. For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, etc. Haman, thinking that he is devising honours for himself, while he cannot be accused of doing so, does it on a grand scale.

12. Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. Returning calmly, after these extraordinary honours, to his former duties.