Esther 6

King James Version

Full text for Esther Chapter 6

1¶ On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.

2And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

3And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto 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 king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.

5And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.

6So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?

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

8Let the royal apparel be brought which the king [useth] to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:

9And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man [withal] whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

10Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, [and] take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.

11Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

12¶ And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.

13And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every [thing] that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai [be] of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.

14And while they [were] yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

King Ahasuerus's sleepless night leads to the discovery that Mordecai saved his life but was never rewarded. Coincidentally, Haman arrives to request Mordecai's execution. The king, unaware of Haman's intent, asks him how to honour a man, leading Haman to unwittingly propose the very honours Mordecai receives, forcing Haman to publicly exalt his adversary.

Medium Summary

Unable to sleep, King Ahasuerus commands the royal chronicles to be read, revealing Mordecai's past service in thwarting a plot against the king, for which he received no honour. At this precise moment, Haman enters the court, intending to seek permission to hang Mordecai. The king, seeking counsel on how to honour a man, poses the question to Haman, who, presuming the honour is for himself, suggests a grand public procession with royal regalia. To Haman's dismay, the king commands him to bestow these very honours upon Mordecai the Jew. Haman reluctantly complies, leading Mordecai through the city in triumph, before returning home in despair.

Long Summary

King Ahasuerus experienced a sleepless night and commanded the book of records, the chronicles of the kingdom, to be read before him. During the reading, it was discovered that Mordecai had previously revealed a plot by two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthana and Teresh, who sought to harm the king. Upon learning this, the king inquired what honour or dignity had been bestowed upon Mordecai for this loyal act, to which his servants replied that nothing had been done for him. At this opportune moment, Haman arrived in the outer court, intending to speak with the king to obtain permission to hang Mordecai on the gallows he had prepared. The king's servants informed him of Haman's presence, and Haman was called in. The king then asked Haman, "What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour?" Haman, assuming the king wished to honour him above all others, proposed an elaborate display: the man should be arrayed in royal apparel, ride the king's own horse with a royal crown, and be led through the city by one of the king's most noble princes, with a proclamation of honour. The king immediately commanded Haman to execute these very honours for Mordecai the Jew, ensuring nothing was omitted from Haman's own suggestion. Haman, though filled with bitterness, took the apparel and the horse, arrayed Mordecai, and led him triumphantly through the city streets, proclaiming the king's favour. After this public display, Mordecai returned to his place at the king's gate, while Haman hastened home in deep mourning, covering his head in shame. He recounted the events to his wife Zeresh and his friends, who ominously advised him that if Mordecai was of the Jewish lineage, Haman would surely fall before him. While they were still speaking, the king's chamberlains arrived to escort Haman to the banquet prepared by Queen Esther.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Providence/IronyThe king's insomnia and the subsequent reading of the chronicles providentially reveal Mordecai's unrewarded loyalty at the precise moment Haman seeks his destruction. This sets the stage for a dramatic reversal where Haman is forced to honour his adversary.
  • Unrewarded LoyaltyMordecai's past act of saving the king's life, though recorded, had gone unacknowledged and unrewarded for a significant period. The chapter highlights how this oversight is suddenly rectified through an unexpected turn of events.
  • Haman's HubrisHaman's immense pride and self-importance are evident when he assumes the king's question about honouring a man could only refer to himself. This hubris leads him to propose the very honours that are then bestowed upon his enemy.
  • Reversal of FortuneThe chapter vividly portrays a complete reversal of circumstances, as Haman, who came to request Mordecai's execution, is instead compelled to publicly exalt him. This dramatic shift underscores the transient nature of power and favour.
  • Public HumiliationHaman experiences profound public humiliation as he is forced to lead Mordecai through the city, proclaiming the very honour he had envisioned for himself. His subsequent return home in mourning signifies his deep shame and despair.
  • Ominous CounselHaman's wife and wise men offer a foreboding prophecy, warning him that if Mordecai is of Jewish descent, Haman will surely fall before him. This counsel foreshadows Haman's ultimate downfall, linking it directly to Mordecai's identity.