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1 On that night could not the King sleepe, and hee commaunded to bring the booke of Records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.

2 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana, and Teresh, two of the kings chamberleus, the keepers of the doore, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

3 And the king said, What honour and dignitie hath bene done to Mordecai for this? Then said the kings seruants that ministred vnto him, There is nothing done for him.

4 ¶ And the king said, Who is in the court? (now Haman was come into the outward court of the kings house, to speake vnto the king, to hang Mordecai on the gallons that hee had prepared for him.)

5 And the kings seruants said vnto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the King saide, Let him come in.

6 So Haman came in, and the king said vnto him, What shall be done vnto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? (now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to doe honour, more then to my selfe?)

7 And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,

8 Let the royall apparell bee brought, which the King vseth to weare, and the horse that the King rideth vpon, and the crowne royal which is set vpon his head:

9 And let this apparell and horse bee deliuered to the hand of one of the kings most noble Princes, that they may aray the man withall, whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horsebacke through the streete of the city, and proclaime before him, Thus shal it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

10 Then the king saide to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparell, and the horse, as thou hast said, and doe euen so to Mordecai the Iew, that sitteth at the Kings gate: let nothing faile of all that thou hast spoken.

11 Then tooke Haman the apparell, and the horse, & arayed Mordecai, and brought him on hors-backe through the streete of the city, and proclaimed before him: Thus shall it bee done vnto the man whom the King delighteth to honour.

12 ¶ And Mordecai came againe to the kings gate: but Haman hasted to his house, mourning, and hauing his head couered.

13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife, and all his friends, euery thing that had befallen him. Then saide his wise men, and Zeresh his wife vnto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Iewes, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not preuaile against him, but shalt surely fall before him.

14 And while they were yet talking with him, came the kings chamberlens, and hasted to bring Haman vnto the banquet that Esther had prepared.

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Commentary for Esther 6

Providence recommends Mordecai to the king's favour. (1-3) Haman's counsel honours Mordecai. (4-11) Haman's friends tell him of his danger. (12-14)

1-3 The providence of God rules over the smallest concerns of men. Not a sparrow falls to the ground without him. Trace the steps which Providence took towards the advancement of Mordecai. The king could not sleep when Providence had a design to serve, in keeping him awake. We read of no illness that broke his sleep, but God, whose gift sleep is, withheld it from him. He who commanded a hundred and twenty-seven provinces, could not command one hour's sleep.

4-11 See how men's pride deceives them. The deceitfulness of our own hearts appears in nothing more than in the conceit we have of ourselves and our own performances: against which we should constantly watch and pray. Haman thought the king loved and valued no one but himself, but he was deceived. We should suspect that the esteem which others profess for us, is not so great as it seems to be, that we may not think too well of ourselves, nor trust too much in others. How Haman is struck, when the king bids him do honour to Mordecai the Jew, the very man whom he hated above all men, whose ruin he was now designing!

12-14 Mordecai was not puffed up with his honours, he returned to his place and the duty of it. Honour is well bestowed on those that do not think themselves above their business. But Haman could not bear it. What harm had it done him? But that will break a proud man's heart, which will not break a humble man's sleep. His doom was, out of this event, read to him by his wife and his friends. They plainly confessed that the Jews, though scattered through the nations, were special objects of Divine care. Miserable comforters are they all; they did not advise Haman to repent, but foretold his fate as unavoidable. The wisdom of God is seen, in timing the means of his church's deliverance, so as to manifest his own glory.

Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.

Discussion for Esther 6

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