Esther Chapter 6 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Esther 6:1
That night, the king couldn't sleep; so he ordered the records of the daily journal brought, and they were read to the king.
God stepped in and caused the king to be restless and to request that the record of his reign be read to him. If you have children, you may have read to them to get them to go to sleep and that is the same thing that is happening here. This may seem like an unimportant point but, as we shall see, this supernatural act has major effects.
Esther 6:2
It was found written that Mordekhai had told about Bigtana and Teresh, two of the king's officers from the group in charge of the private entryways, who had conspired to assassinate King Achashverosh.
In the reading of this record, the king was reminded of how Mordecai had saved his life (see chapter two).
Esther 6:3
The king asked, "What honor or distinction was conferred on Mordekhai for this?" The king's servants answered, "Nothing was done for him."
Now that God has reminded the king, the king wonders if Mordecai was properly rewarded but the attendants tell the king that he was not. This is a picture of our lives sometimes with Christ in this world. It may seem that we serve without much recognition or reward but, just like with Mordecai, we will be rewarded for our faithful service to our King at the proper time.
Esther 6:4 & 5
The king then asked, "Who's that in the courtyard?" For Haman had come into the outer courtyard of the king's palace to speak to the king about hanging Mordekhai on the gallows he had prepared for him. The king's servants told him, "It's Haman standing there in the courtyard." The king said, "Have him come in."
Now, we have an interesting situation where the will of man comes up against the will of God. You just know this that this is not gonna go well for Haman. If you are a child of God, the same God who is there to protect Mordecai is there for you.
Esther 6:6
So Haman came in. The king said to him, "What should be done for a man that the king wants to honor?" Haman thought to himself, "Whom would the king want to honor more than me?"
So the king asked Haman for advice on how to reward Mordecai. Haman, in his prideful heart assumed that the king was talking about rewarding himself.
Esther 6:7-9
So Haman answered the king, "For a man the king wants to honor, have royal robes brought which the king himself wears and the horse the king himself rides, with a royal crown on its head. The robes and the horse should be handed over to one of the king's most respected officials, and they should put the robes on the man the king wants to honor and lead him on horseback through the streets of the city, proclaiming ahead of him, 'This is what is done for a man whom the king wants to honor.'"
Haman is thinking of the great parade and honor that is ahead for him as he answers the king's question. He suggests a royal parade through the streets of the city to let everyone know that this is the king's top man.
Esther 6:10
The king said to Haman, "Hurry, and take the robes and the horse, as you said, and do this for Mordekhai the Jew, who sits at the King's Gate. Don't leave out anything you mentioned."
Imagine how Haman's jaw must have dropped when the honor that he suggested for himself is to be given to the one that he hates the most. Mordeaci was a Jew (one of God's chose people) and God takes care of His own. God must have a sense of humor as only He could come up with something like this. God is the same today as He was at this time and so, if you are His people and others are messing with you, humble yourself and wait on the Lord because he will honor you (like Mordecai).
Esther 6:11
So Haman took the robes and the horse, dressed Mordekhai and led him riding through the streets of the city, as he proclaimed ahead of him, "This is what is done for a man whom the king wants to honor."
The proud man is reduced to leading the horse of the man he hates the most through the streets of the city.
Esther 6:12 & 13
Then Mordekhai returned to the King's Gate; but Haman rushed home with his head covered in mourning. After Haman had told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him, his advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, "If Mordekhai, before whom you have begun to fall, is a Jew, you will not get the better of him; on the contrary, your downfall before him is certain."
Haman went home upset about this turn of events. He called his wife and friends together and told them what had happened. This is the same group of people that had told him to have the gallows built to hang Mordecai. Now, they tell him that, because Mordecai is a Jew, he is doomed and cannot stand against him. It is awesome to see what God can and will do as he has used these events to get Haman's friends and family to see that He takes care of his own people.
Esther 6:14
While they were still talking with him, the king's officials came, hurrying to bring Haman to the banquet Ester had prepared.
Even though he didn't feel like going, he still had to go to the banquet. God has taken care of his own people and now He is going to deal with the man that opposes His people. If you are a child of God, then you do not have to worry about dealing with your enemies because God will handle it just as He did here with Mordecai.