Esther 6

That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. Esther 6:1

This chapter opens with a case of royal sleeplessness. We immediately see in this sleeplessness the great providence of God at work. The king asked for a book containing the records of his reign. Perhaps he felt this would certainly put him to sleep. Jamieson says: “In Eastern courts, there are scribes or officers whose duty it is to keep a journal of every occurrence worthy of notice…It has been a custom with Eastern kings, in all ages, frequently to cause the annals of the kingdom to be read to them.” [1]

Wiersbe sees at least five evidences of divine providence in this account. First there is the royal insomnia; Second, the king’s choice of entertainment; Third, the servant’s choice of books; Fourth, the king’s delay in rewarding Mordecai; Fifth, the timely arrival of Haman. [2]

Books can often change a person’s life. Wiersbe says: “Late in February, 1916, a British student bought a book at a used-book stall…It was Phantastes by George MacDonald, and the reading of that book eventually led to that young man’s conversion. Who was he: C. S. Lewis, perhaps the greatest and most popular apologist for the Christian faith in the middle-twentieth century.” [3]

“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. ‘What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?’ the king asked. ‘Nothing has been done for him,’ his attendants answered” (6:2-3). So, in his sleepless night, the king suddenly became wider awake by what was read. A man by the name of Mordecai had saved his life from two assassins and somehow, he had given this good man no recognition. Barnes comments: “It was a settled principle of the Persian government that ‘Royal Benefactors’ were to receive an adequate reward. The names of such persons were placed on a special roll, and care was taken that they should be properly recompensed…” [4]

Breneman says that this is the pivotal verse in the whole story. [5] This pivotal verse is brought about solely by the great providence of God. The verse tells us a lot about God’s delays that happened to Mordecai and that frequently happen to us. We must remember that the hand of God is often in the glove of human circumstances [6] and even in human delays.

“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” (6:4). It appears that the king had stayed awake all night. Also, Haman may have been up all night as well setting up the mechanism that would supposedly bring about Mordecai’s humiliation and death. Jamieson reminds us of an eastern practice: “It is the invariable custom for kings in Eastern countries to transact business before the sun is hot, often in the open air, and so Haman was in all probability come officially to attend on his master.” [7]

“In this passage the themes of apparent coincidence and underlying purposefulness come together with tremendous comic irony…Each of the characters on stage is ignorant of the motives and plans of the other.” [8] The king is ready to honor Mordecai while Haman is there to ask for his death. In this occasion of biblical irony, “That which is expected to happen does not, and that which is unexpected does.” [9] Two verses from Proverbs seem appropriate here. “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom” (Prov. 11:2). “Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor” (Prov. 18:12). What a strange moment it is for Haman’s request. All this reminds us of another verse in Proverbs: “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD” (Prov. 21:30).

Haman Has A Really Bad Day

His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.” “Bring him in,” the king ordered. 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?” Esther 6:5-6

Coffman comments: “There is hardly anything in the literature of mankind that presents a more dramatic contrast of the highest status and the lowest ever attained by a man on one single day than that which is here revealed in the person of Haman the great Prime Minister of the Persian Empire under Xerxes.” [10] It is amazing that Haman did not even get to open his mouth about his plans for Mordecai. Instead, the king began with what his own plans were for Mordecai.

We can see in this passage why fools have so many problems. Their thoughts are always on themselves and not on others. Scripture says, “Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool” (Prov. 26:1). Because he was a fool, he quickly misinterpreted the king’s question and assumed that the king was ready to honor him.

“So he answered the king, ‘For the man the king delights to honor, have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. 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!”’” (6:7-9). The ancients felt that things belonging to a king, like a robe or a horse conveyed great power to their possessor. [11] Indeed, Haman craved that power. “Most of us are unconsciously addicted to the power of lies that keeps our pride alive – our love of the great illusion of life that says we ourselves can be our own gods.” [12]

The psychologist and author Dr. Keith Ablow says: “False pride can never be sustained. The bubble of narcissism is always at risk of bursting. That’s why young people are higher on drugs than ever, drunker than ever, smoking more, tattooed more, pierced more and having more and more and more sex, earlier and earlier and earlier, raising babies before they can do it well, because it makes them feel special, for a while. They’re doing anything to distract themselves from the fact that they feel empty inside and unworthy.” [13]

Haman even wanted a crown upon his horse. We know from Assyrian reliefs that there was a practice of setting crown-like headdresses upon horses. [14] Since Haman possessed the king’s seal he apparently wanted to go all the way and receive honor that should be devoted only to the king.

“‘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’” (6:10). Guzik says: “It would have been something to see the face of Haman at that moment; to see that the king took his advice completely but gave the honor to his arch enemy – the man that Haman came to ask for his execution.” [15] What a mortifying reverse of Haman’s fortune!

At this point the king knew that Mordecai was a Jew. Perhaps he had heard the servants speak about it or else he had realized it from the reading of the chronicles. Anders says: “Haman had developed a deep ethnic hatred toward the Jews; now he must honor the one Jew whom he most despised…The king still was unaware that the Jews were marked for destruction…” [16] The king did not seem to have an idea of the great irony of the situation in which he was placing his favorite. [17]

“So Haman got 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!’” (6:11). Wiersbe comments: “What irony! For almost a whole day Haman was the servant of Mordecai, commanding the people to bow down and honor him! The thing Mordecai wouldn’t do for Haman – bow down – Haman had to tell others to do for Mordecai!…With the practiced duplicity that got him where he was, Haman bowed to the king’s commandment and obeyed.” [18]

“Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief, and told Zeresh 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 has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him – you will surely come to ruin!” (6:12-13). It is quite interesting to compare the subsequent actions of these two men. Haman was covered with shame, doubts, fears and confusion, while Mordecai calmly went back to his task at the gate. It seems that he was totally unaffected by all the honor bestowed upon him.

Corrie ten Boom wrote a book entitled Each New Day. In it, she relates this story: “When I saw Sadhu Sundar Singh in Europe, he had completed a tour around the world. People asked him, ‘Doesn’t it do harm to you getting so much honor?’ The Sadhu’s answer was: ‘No. The donkey went into Jerusalem, and they put garments on the ground before him. He was not proud. He knew it was not done to honor him, but for Jesus, who was sitting on his back. When people honor me, I know it is not me, but the Lord, who does the job.’”

Wiersbe also says: “Applause doesn’t change truly humble people, for their values are far deeper. God can trust his blessings with the humble because they seek to honor only the Lord. …Such is the difference between reputation and character.” [19]

It seems that poor Haman was surrounded by domestic prophets who suddenly began to predict his doom. Who needs family and friends like that? The day before, they had all predicted his success in doing away with Mordecai. They even encouraged him to build the cruel structure that was to take Mordecai’s life. His wife Zeresh and his advisors suddenly seemed to be aware of the spiritual importance of the Jewish people and that to persecute them was folly.

“While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared” (6:14). It appears that Haman was in a depressed daze when the king’s eunuchs arrived to take him to Esther’s second banquet. Guthrie comments: “Guests were usually fetched and escorted to oriental feasts. This time Haman arrived ‘in haste’ and was altogether at a disadvantage.” [20] As he went along he must have still heard the words of his wife ringing in his ears: “your downfall has started.” [21] Poor Haman went to Queen Esther’s second banquet like a sheep going to the slaughter.

Footnotes

1. Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Commentary on Esther, v. 6:1.

2. Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, OT, pp. 812-813.

3. Ibid., p. 812.

4. Barnes, Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible, Commentary on Esther, v. 6:3.

5. Breneman, Ezra, Nehemiah & Esther, The New American Commentary, p. 343.

6. McGee, History of Israel, Ezra Nehemiah, Esther, p. 224.

7. Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Commentary on Esther, v. 6:4.

8. McConville, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther, p. 179.

9. Breneman, Ezra, Nehemiah & Esther, The New American Commentary, p. 343.

10. Coffman, Coffman’s Commentaries on the Bible, Commentary on Esther, v. 6:1.

11. Anders, g. ed. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Holman Old Testament Commentary, p. 342.

12. David Kupelian, How Evil Works: Understanding and Overcoming the Destructive Forces That Are Transforming America, p. 137.

13. Dr, Keith Ablow: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/01/08/are-raising-generation-deluded-narcissists/#ixzz2Hbq0tOoe

14. Coffman, Coffman’s Commentaries on the Bible, Commentary on Esther, v. 6:7.

15. Guzik, Enduring Word Bible Commentary, Esther, vs. 6:10-11.

16. Anders, g. ed. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Holman Old Testament Commentary, p. 339.

17. Guthrie, et. al., The New Bible Commentary, p. 418.

18. Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, OT, p. 814.

19. Ibid.

20. Guthrie, et. al., The New Bible Commentary, p. 418.

21. Breneman, Ezra, Nehemiah & Esther, The New American Commentary, p. 346.