Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Esther 6

Clinging to a Counterfeit Cross
Introduction

1  Ahasuerus, reading in the chronicles of the good service done by Mordecai, takes care for his reward.
4  Haman, coming to sue that Mordecai might be hanged, gives counsel that he might do him honour.
12  Complaining of this, his friends tell him of his final destiny.
Verse 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.
that night
5:8, Genesis 22:14, 1 Samuel 23:26,27, Isaiah 41:17, Romans 11:33
could not the king sleep
Heb. the king's sleep fled away.
Daniel 2:1, 6:18
the book of records
As chronicles were composed among the Persians, a more instructive and interesting work could not be brought before the king; because they were all written in verse, and were generally the work of the most eminent poets of the empire.
2:23, Malachi 3:16
Verse 2

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.
Bigthana
2:21
Bigthan
door. Heb. threshold.
Verse 3

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.
What honour
Judges 1:12,13, 1 Samuel 17:25,26, 1 Chronicles 11:6, Daniel 5:7,16,29, Acts 28:8-10
There is nothing
Genesis 40:23, Psalms 118:8,9, Ecclesiastes 9:15
Verse 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.
Who is in the court
Proverbs 3:27,28, Ecclesiastes 9:10
the outward
4:11, 5:1
to speak
3:8-11, 5:14, 7:9, Job 5:13, Psalms 2:4, 33:19
Verse 6

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?
whom the king, etc
Heb. in whose honour the king delighteth.
Psalms 35:27, Isaiah 42:1, 62:4,5, Jeremiah 32:41, Matthew 3:17, John 5:23
To whom
3:2,3, 5:11, Proverbs 1:32, 16:18, 18:12, 30:13, Obadiah 1:3
Verse 7

And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,
whom the king, etc
Heb. in whose honour the king delighteth.
9,11
Verse 8

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:
Let the royal, etc
Heb. Let them bring the royal apparel, wherewith the king clotheth himself.
1 Samuel 18:4, Luke 15:22
the horse
Herodotus relates, that the kings of Persia had horses peculiar to themselves, which were brought from Armenia, and were remarkable for their beauty; and if the same law prevailed in Persia as in Judea, no man, under the penalty of death, might ride on the king's horse, any more than sit on his throne, wear his crown, or hold his sceptre.
1 Kings 1:33
Verse 9

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.
bring him
Heb. cause him to ride. proclaim.
Genesis 41:43, 1 Kings 1:33,34, Zechariah 9:9
Verse 10

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.
Make haste
Daniel 4:37, Luke 14:11, Revelation 18:7
let nothing fail
Heb. suffer not a whit to fall.
2 Kings 10:10
Verse 11

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.
took Hamon
Ezra 6:13, Isaiah 60:14, Luke 1:52, Revelation 3:9
and arrayed
8:15, 9:3
the street
Pitts gives a similar account of the mode of honouring a person who turns a Mohammedan, at Algiers: "The apostate is to get on a stately steed, with a rich saddle and fine trappings: he is also richly habited, and has a turban on his head, but nothing of this is to be called his own; only there are given him about two or three yards of broad cloth, which is laid before him on the saddle. The horse, with him on his back, is led all round the city, which he is several hours in doing. The apostate is attended with drums and other music, and twenty or thirty serjeants. They march in order on each side of the horse, with naked swords in their hands. The crier goes before, with a loud voice giving thanks to God for the proselyte that is made."
Verse 12

And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.
came again
2:19, 1 Samuel 3:15, Psalms 131:1,2
hasted to his house
2 Samuel 17:23, 1 Kings 20:43, 21:4, 2 Chronicles 26:20, Job 20:5
having
7:8, 2 Samuel 15:30, Job 9:24, Jeremiah 14:3,4
Verse 13

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.
Zeresh
5:10-14
said his wise
Genesis 41:8, Daniel 2:12
If Mordecai
Genesis 40:19, 1 Samuel 28:19,20, Job 15:24, Daniel 5:26-28, Zechariah 12:2,3
but shalt surely
Job 16:2, Proverbs 28:18, Hosea 14:9
Verse 14

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.
hasted to bring
5:8,14, Deuteronomy 32:35,36

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