Esther 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.2 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, of those that kept the threshold, who had sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.3 And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been bestowed on 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.5 And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor? Now Haman said in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?7 And Haman said unto the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honor,8 let royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and on the head of which a crown royal is set:9 and let the apparel and the horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man therewith whom the king delighteth to honor, and cause him to ride 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 honor.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.11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and caused him to ride through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor.12 And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house, mourning and having his head covered.13 And Haman recounted unto Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai, before whom thou hast begun to fall, be of the seed of the Jews, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.14 While they were yet talking with him, came the king’s chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.

Esther 6

The Turning Point: The King Honors Mordecai

1 Throughout that night the king was unable to sleep,t so he asked for the book containing the historical recordst to be brought. As the recordst were being read in the king’s presence,

2 it was found written that Mordecai had disclosed that Bigthanat and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, had plotted to assassinatet King Ahasuerus.

3 The king asked, “What great honort was bestowed on Mordecai because of this?” The king’s attendants who served him responded, “Not a thing was done for him.”
4 Then the king said, “Who is that in the courtyard?” Now Haman had come to the outer courtyard of the palace to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had constructed for him.

5 The king’s attendants said to him, “It is Haman who is standing in the courtyard.” The king said, “Let him enter.”
6 So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor?” Haman thought to himself,t “Who is it that the king would want to honor more than me?”7 So Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king wishes to honor,8 let them bring royal attire which the king himself has worn and a horse on which the king himself has ridden – one bearing the royal insignia!st

9 Then let this clothing and this horse be given to one of the king’s noble officials. Let hims then clothe the man whom the king wishes to honor, and let him lead him about through the plaza of the city on the horse, callingt before him, ‘So shall it be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor!’”

10 The king then said to Haman, “Go quickly! Take the clothing and the horse, just as you have described, and do as you just indicated to Mordecai the Jew who sits at the king’s gate. Don’t neglectt a single thing of all that you have said.”

11 So Haman took the clothing and the horse, and he clothed Mordecai. He led him about on the horse throughout the plaza of the city, calling before him, “So shall it be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor!”
12 Then Mordecai again sat at the king’s gate, while Haman hurried away to his home, mournful and with a veil over his head.

13 Haman then related to his wife Zeresh and to all his friends everything that had happened to him. These wise men,s along with his wife Zeresh, said to him, “If indeed this Mordecai before whom you have begun to fall is Jewish,t you will not prevail against him. No, you will surely fall before him!”

14 While they were still speaking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived. They quickly brought Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.