4 And the king H4428 said, H559 Who is in the court? H2691 Now Haman H2001 was come H935 into the outward H2435 court H2691 of the king's H4428 house, H1004 to speak H559 unto the king H4428 to hang H8518 Mordecai H4782 on the gallows H6086 that he had prepared H3559 for him.
Then said H559 Zeresh H2238 his wife H802 and all his friends H157 unto him, Let a gallows H6086 be made H6213 of fifty H2572 cubits H520 high, H1364 and to morrow H1242 speak H559 thou unto the king H4428 that Mordecai H4782 may be hanged H8518 thereon: then go H935 thou in merrily H8056 with the king H4428 unto the banquet. H4960 And the thing H1697 pleased H3190 H6440 Haman; H2001 and he caused H6213 the gallows H6086 to be made. H6213
All the king's H4428 servants, H5650 and the people H5971 of the king's H4428 provinces, H4082 do know, H3045 that whosoever, whether man H376 or woman, H802 shall come H935 unto the king H4428 into the inner H6442 court, H2691 who is not called, H7121 there is one H259 law H1881 of his to put him to death, H4191 except H905 such to whom the king H4428 shall hold out H3447 the golden H2091 sceptre, H8275 that he may live: H2421 but I have not been called H7121 to come in H935 unto the king H4428 these thirty H7970 days. H3117
Now it came to pass on the third H7992 day, H3117 that Esther H635 put on H3847 her royal H4438 apparel, and stood H5975 in the inner H6442 court H2691 of the king's H4428 house, H1004 over against H5227 the king's H4428 house: H1004 and the king H4428 sat H3427 upon his royal H4438 throne H3678 in the royal H4438 house, H1004 over against H5227 the gate H6607 of the house. H1004
He that sitteth H3427 in the heavens H8064 shall laugh: H7832 the Lord H136 shall have them in derision. H3932
And Haman H2001 said H559 unto king H4428 Ahasuerus, H325 There is H3426 a certain H259 people H5971 scattered abroad H6340 and dispersed H6504 among the people H5971 in all the provinces H4082 of thy kingdom; H4438 and their laws H1881 are diverse H8138 from all people; H5971 neither keep H6213 they the king's H4428 laws: H1881 therefore it is not for the king's H4428 profit H7737 to suffer H3240 them. If it please H2895 the king, H4428 let it be written H3789 that they may be destroyed: H6 and I will pay H8254 ten H6235 thousand H505 talents H3603 of silver H3701 to the hands H3027 of those that have the charge H6213 of the business, H4399 to bring H935 it into the king's H4428 treasuries. H1595 And the king H4428 took H5493 his ring H2885 from his hand, H3027 and gave H5414 it unto Haman H2001 the son H1121 of Hammedatha H4099 the Agagite, H91 the Jews' H3064 enemy. H6887 And the king H4428 said H559 unto Haman, H2001 The silver H3701 is given H5414 to thee, the people H5971 also, to do H6213 with them as it seemeth H5869 good H2896 to thee.
And Harbonah, H2726 one H259 of the chamberlains, H5631 said H559 before H6440 the king, H4428 Behold also, the gallows H6086 fifty H2572 cubits H520 high, H1364 which Haman H2001 had made H6213 for Mordecai, H4782 who had spoken H1696 good H2896 for the king, H4428 standeth H5975 in the house H1004 of Haman. H2001 Then the king H4428 said, H559 Hang H8518 him thereon.
He taketh H3920 the wise H2450 in their own craftiness: H6193 and the counsel H6098 of the froward H6617 is carried headlong. H4116
To deliver H5337 their soul H5315 from death, H4194 and to keep them alive H2421 in famine. H7458
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Esther 6
Commentary on Esther 6 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 6
Es 6:1-14. Ahasuerus Rewards Mordecai for Former Service.
1. the king … commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles—In Eastern courts, there are scribes or officers whose duty it is to keep a journal of every occurrence worthy of notice. A book of this kind, abounding with anecdotes, is full of interest. It has been a custom with Eastern kings, in all ages, frequently to cause the annals of the kingdom to be read to them. It is resorted to, not merely as a pastime to while away the tedium of an hour, but as a source of instruction to the monarch, by reviewing the important incidents of his own life, as well as those of his ancestors. There was, therefore, nothing uncommon in this Persian monarch calling for the court journal. But, in his being unable to sleep at that particular juncture, in his ordering the book then to be read to him, and in his attention having been specially directed to the important and as yet unrewarded services of Mordecai, the immediate interposition of Providence is distinctly visible.
4. Now Haman was come into the outward court—This was early in the morning. It is the invariable custom for kings in Eastern countries to transact business before the sun is hot, often in the open air, and so Haman was in all probability come officially to attend on his master.
6. What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour?—In bestowing tokens of their favor, the kings of Persia do not at once, and as it were by their own will, determine the kind of honor that shall be awarded; but they turn to the courtier standing next in rank to themselves, and ask him what shall be done to the individual who has rendered the service specified; and according to the answer received, the royal mandate is issued.
8. the royal apparel … which the king useth to wear—A coat which has been on the back of a king or prince is reckoned a most honorable gift, and is given with great ceremony.
the horse that the king rideth upon—Persia was a country of horses, and the highbred charger that the king rode upon acquired, in the eyes of his venal subjects, a sort of sacredness from that circumstance.
and the crown royal which is set upon his head—either the royal turban, or it may be a tiara, with which, on state processions, the horse's head was adorned.
9. delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes … array the man—On grand and public occasions, the royal steed is led by the highest subject through the principal streets of the city, a ceremony which may occupy several hours.
11. Then Haman took, &c.—This sudden reverse, however painful to Haman as an individual, is particularly characteristic of the Persian manners.
14. came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared—Besides the invitation given to an entertainment, a message is always sent to the guests, immediately at the day and hour appointed, to announce that all things are ready.