Esther 6: A sleepless night, and the honor given to Mordecai
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
That night the king cannot sleep and has the book of records read to him, and it tells that Mordecai reported the plot of two of the king's eunuchs. The king's servants say nothing has been done for Mordecai for it. Haman has just come to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai, and the king asks him what should be done for the man the king delights to honor, then tells him to do that for Mordecai. Haman goes home mourning, Zeresh and his wise men speak to him, and the king's eunuchs come to bring him to Esther's banquet.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story, and nothing is in gold. The king speaks in verses 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10, and his servants answer in verses 3 and 5. Haman speaks in his heart in verse 6, to the king in verses 7 to 9, and out loud in verse 11. His wise men and his wife Zeresh speak in verse 13. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1On that night, the king couldn’t sleep. He commanded the book of records of the chronicles to be brought, and they were read to the king.
In plain English: On that night the king's sleep fled (or: the king could not sleep). He said to bring the book of records of the chronicles (the Hebrew says: the book of the reminders, the words of the days), and they were read aloud before the king.
The Hebrew words: The Hebrew says "the sleep of the king fled". The word for "fled" is nadad, which the dictionary gives as "to wave to and fro; figuratively, to rove, flee, or (causatively) to drive away". It is in this verse only in Esther. "Records" is zikron, which the dictionary gives as "a memento (or memorable thing, day or writing)". It is in this verse only in Esther.
How it is translated: The WEB says "couldn't sleep" and "the book of records of the chronicles". The Hebrew reads "the book of the reminders, the words of the days". The text does not say why the king could not sleep. The book of the chronicles is also named in and .
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2It was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who were doorkeepers, who had tried to lay hands on the King Ahasuerus.
In plain English: It was found written that Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs (or: officials), who were guards of the threshold, and who had sought to lay a hand on the king Ahasuerus.
The Hebrew word: "Eunuchs" is saris, which the dictionary gives as "a eunuch; by implication, valet (especially of the female apartments), and thus, a minister of state". It is in 12 verses of Esther, and the WEB says "eunuch" or "eunuchs" in all 12.
Good to know: The plot of these two men is told in to , where the WEB spells the first name Bigthan. Here it is Bigthana. The Hebrew spells it two ways, Bigthan and Bigthana, and the dictionary lists both under one entry.
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3The king said, “What honor and dignity has been given to Mordecai for this?” Then the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”
In plain English: The king said, "What honor and greatness has been done for Mordecai for this?" The king's servants (or: young men) who attended him said, "Nothing has been done for him."
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4The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had come into the outer court of the king’s house, to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
In plain English: The king said, "Who is in the court?" Haman had come into the outer court of the king's house to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows (or: tree) that he had prepared for him.
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5The king’s servants said to him, “Behold, Haman stands in the court.” The king said, “Let him come in.”
In plain English: The king's servants said to him, "Look, Haman is standing in the court." The king said, "Let him come in."
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6So Haman came in. The king said to him, “What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?” Now Haman said in his heart, “Who would the king delight to honor more than myself?”
In plain English: Haman came in, and the king said to him, "What is to be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?" Haman said in his heart, "Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?"
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7Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor,
In plain English: Haman said to the king, "A man whom the king delights to honor," (his words go on in the next verse)
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8let royal clothing be brought which the king uses to wear, and the horse that the king rides on, and on the head of which a royal crown is set.
In plain English: "let them bring royal clothing that the king has worn, and a horse that the king has ridden, and a royal crown that has been put on its head (or: on his head: the Hebrew word can mean the horse's head or the king's head, see the note).
The Hebrew word: "Crown" is keter, which the dictionary gives as "a circlet, i.e. a diadem". It is in 3 verses of Esther, , and this one, and the WEB says "crown" in all 3.
How it is translated: The Hebrew has one word, "on his head" or "on its head". The WEB reads it as the horse's head. The words can also be read as the head of the king, who rides the horse. The text does not say which.
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9Let the clothing and the horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man whom the king delights to honor with them, and have him ride on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him, ‘Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!’”
In plain English: Let them put the clothing and the horse into the hand of one of the king's officials (or: princes), the nobles. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, make him ride on the horse through the open square of the city, and call out before him, 'Thus it will be done for the man whom the king delights to honor!'"
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10Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry and take the clothing and the horse, as you have said, and do this for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Let nothing fail of all that you have spoken.”
In plain English: The king said to Haman, "Hurry. Take the clothing and the horse, as you have said, and do this for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Do not let a word fall from all that you have said."
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11Then Haman took the clothing and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and had him ride through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!”
In plain English: Haman took the clothing and the horse and dressed Mordecai. He made him ride through the open square of the city, and called out before him, "Thus it will be done for the man whom the king delights to honor!"
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12Mordecai came back to the king’s gate, but Haman hurried to his house, mourning and having his head covered.
In plain English: Mordecai went back to the king's gate. Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered.
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13Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him, but you will surely fall before him.”
In plain English: Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. His wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, "If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the seed of the Jews (or: of Jewish descent), you will not prevail against him. You will certainly fall before him."
The Hebrew word: "Descent" is zera, which the dictionary gives as "seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity". It is in 5 verses of Esther. The WEB says "descent" here and "offspring" in 1 of the others.
How it is translated: Word for word the Hebrew is "of the seed of the Jews". The WEB puts it as "of Jewish descent".
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14While they were yet talking with him, the king’s eunuchs came, and hurried to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
In plain English: While they were still speaking with him, the king's eunuchs (or: officials) arrived and hurried to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
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