Ester 6
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Ester 6:1-9
6:1 "the king could not sleep" This not only shows the unseen hand of God (the LXX is specific), but also the results of eating too much the night before at the banquet! This same divine action occurs in Dan. 2:1; 6:1; and even in Gen. 31:40. There is certainly similarity between the lives of Joseph, Daniel, and Mordecai. ▣ "the book of records, the chronicles" These would be official court records (cf. Esth. 2:23 and 10:2). 6:2-3 The role reversal is beginning. The king has become aware of Mordecai's service and lack of reward from several years previous. It is amazing that the king was having read to him such old events! 6:3 The Anchor Bible, vol. 7B, p. 64, mentions that Mordecai's lack of reward would have reflected badly on the king (cf. Herodotus, Hist. 3.138,140; 5.11; 8.85; 9.207; Thucydides, Peloponnesian Wars 1.138). 6:4 "Who is in the court" Haman had apparently come early in the morning to request the impaling of Mordecai. What irony! ▣ "hanging" See Special Topic: Hang. 6:5 Haman's early arrival shows his intense and continuing hatred of Mordecai. He is there to get permission to kill him and hang him high! 6:6 "'What is to be done for the man whom the king desires to honor'" The king is referring to Mordecai, but Haman thinks it is himself! ▣ And Haman said to himself" Pride is an evil master! 6:8-9 There seems to be a series of three things: a royal robe which had been worn by the king a royal horse which had been ridden by the king and on whose head was the symbol of the Persian crown a royal procession, led by the most notable princes, through the streets on this horse with its bedecked rider and a great proclamation 6:9 The purpose of honoring Mordecai was to encourage loyalty and service to the king!
Ester 6:10-11
6:10 "'Take quickly'" This represents two IMPERATIVES (BDB 554 I, KB 553 and BDB 542, KB 534). This has the connotation of urgency. This honor had been long overdue. ▣ "the horse" The king's special horse is mentioned in Esth. 8:10. ▣ "and do so for Mordecai the Jew who is sitting at the king's gate" This is the third IMPERATIVE (BDB 793, KB 889, Qal IMPERATIVE). How Ahasuerus knew that Mordecai was a Jew is uncertain unless it was recorded in the chronicles which were read to him the night before. It also acknowledges his apparent official position at the king's gate. It is uncertain if the king remembered Haman's edict and realized its consequences toward Mordecai. 6:11 Is there anything that would have upset Haman more than this? Note Esth. 6:12.
Ester 6:12-13
6:12 "with his head covered" This was an Oriental symbol of dejection, humiliation, and mourning (BDB 341, KB 339, Qal PASSIVE PARTICIPLE, cf. 2 Sam. 15:30; Ps. 44:15; Jer. 14:3-4). 6:13 "his wise men" These are the ones who cast the lots before Haman in Esth. 3:7. The Hebrew word (BDB 314) often is used for a class of diviners (cf. Gen. 41:8; Exod. 7:11; Isa. 19:11; 44:25; Jer. 50:35; 51:57). ▣ "Zeresh his wife said to him" This is an unusual statement. It is somewhat similar to Pilate's wife speaking to him during the trial of Jesus (cf. Matt. 27:19) . We simply do not know why she spoke in this prophetic fashion. It is also similar to Balaam's prophecies in Numbers (cf. Num. 22-24). The unseen hand of God is clearly manifesting itself (role reversal). One wonders why these counselors did not tell him this before, as he was planning the destruction of the Jews and, later, Mordecai. In all probability this is a literary device which reflects the author's theology proclaimed by the mouth of Haman's wife. Biblical dialogue often carries the theological load!
Ester 6:14
6:14 This set the stage for Haman's ultimate demotion and death.