The King's Sleepless Night
Study note
On the very night before Haman planned to ask for Mordecai's death, the king could not sleep. He ordered his servants to read from the royal records. This seemingly small event set in motion a dramatic reversal of Haman's plans.
1 That very night, the king could not fall asleep. He ordered his servants to fetch the book of official royal records and read it to him. 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.
2 In the records, they found the story of how Mordecai had uncovered a plot to kill the king. Two officers who guarded the king's doorway, Bigthana and Teresh, had planned to murder King Xerxes. Mordecai had reported it. And 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.
3 The king asked, "Was Mordecai ever rewarded or honored for this?" His attendants replied, "Nothing was ever done for him." And 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.
Haman's Plan Backfires
Study note
Haman arrived at the palace early in the morning to ask permission to hang Mordecai. But before he could speak, the king asked him how to honor someone. Haman assumed the king meant him, so he described the most lavish honor possible -- only to be told to do all of it for Mordecai.
4 Then, the king asked, "Is anyone in the outer court?" As it happened, Haman had just arrived at the palace. He had come early to ask the king for permission to hang Mordecai on the gallows he had built. 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.
5 The servants told the king, "Haman is standing out in the court." The king said, "Bring him in." And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.
6 Haman entered, and the king immediately asked him, "What should be done for a man the king truly wants to honor?" Haman thought to himself, "Who could the king possibly want to honor more than me?" So 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?
7 So Haman eagerly answered, "For the man the king wishes to honor, here is my suggestion:" And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,
8 "Bring one of the king's own robes. Pick one the king has worn. Bring a horse the king has ridden. Put a royal crest on the horse's head." Let 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:
9 "Hand the robe and the horse over to one of the king's most distinguished officials. Have him dress the honored man in the royal robe and lead him through the city streets on the king's horse. Have the official announce to everyone, 'This is what happens when the king wants to honor someone!'" And 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.
10 The king said to Haman, "Go immediately! Get the robe and the horse, exactly as you described, and do all of this for Mordecai the Jew who sits at the king's gate. Do not skip a single detail of what you suggested." Then 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.
11 So Haman had no choice. He got the robe and the horse, dressed Mordecai in the royal garment, and led him on horseback through the city streets, announcing, "This is what happens when the king wants to honor someone!" Then 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.
Haman's Humiliation
Study note
Haman went home in shame. His wife and advisors warned him that since Mordecai was Jewish, Haman would surely fall before him. Before they could finish talking, the king's servants arrived to rush Haman to Esther's second banquet.
12 Afterward, Mordecai calmly returned to his post at the king's gate. But Haman rushed home, his head hanging in shame and humiliation. And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.
13 Haman poured out the whole humiliating story to his wife Zeresh and his friends. His advisors and Zeresh told him, "If Mordecai is Jewish -- and you have already started to lose ground to him -- you will never defeat him. Your downfall is certain." And 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.
14 They were still talking when the king's servants arrived and rushed Haman off to the feast Esther had set up. And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.