Bible Commentaries
Esther 6

Verses 1-14

Esther 6. Haman is Compelled to Do Public Honour to Mordeeai.— Now comes a dramatic scene. Providence is at work, and the clouds are opening. In the night between Esther’ s two drinking-feasts, the king cannot get sleep ( Esther 6:1). Evidently the story-writer means to point thus to the care of the ever-watchful Yahweh, and His management of all things. The court annalist is brought with his records, to read the royal soul to slumber. Why did this reader choose the record about the regicides? Did he sympathise with the Jews, for some hidden reason? The king listens: he is startled and cries, “ What reward did we give to Mordecai?” Naught,” is the reply. “ Then do it now! What officer is near?” says the king. With that, lo! in the dim hour of dawn the hungry hyena Haman, is prowling at the gates, awaiting admissior to get his death-warrant for Mordecai. Entering, he is commanded to perform the highest possible honour to a man whom the king delights to honour; and, to his consternation, this is not Haman himself, as for a while Haman expects, but of all men it is the Mordecai whom he hates ( Esther 6:6). Through all the city he conducts his enemy, robed and mounted like a king, while ever and anon he cries out before him the royal decree of praise for the hated one. The tide is turning fast!