Esther 6
The same night that Haman ordered the gallows made, the king in the palace was restless and could not sleep; so he called for his servants to bring the book of the court records and read to him. From this book they read how Mordecai had warned the king of the evil plan of the two guards to take the king’s life. After hearing that, the king asked what honor had been clone for Mordecai because of this faithfulness. The servants said there had been nothing done for him.
The next day Haman came into the palace to ask the king that Mordecai should be hung, as his wife had advised. But before he could ask this, the king said to him,
“What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor?”
Haman felt so much pride that he thought there could not be anyone the king could want to honor only himself, and he said that the king should have his royal robe put on that man, and his crown placed on his head; and to order his own horse brought for the man to ride; then, for one of the nobles to lead the horse through the streets of the city, and call out for the people to hear that the man on the horse was the roan the king most delighted to honor. We can know by this that Haman was so proud, he wanted the honor due to the king.
But when the king had heard Haman’s plan he did not say that this honor should be done to Haman; instead, the king said, “Make haste, and take that apparel and the horse ... and do even so the Mordecai the Jew.”
Haman did not dare to disobey the king, so he placed the royal robe and crown on Mordecai, and he was seated on the king’s horse, while Harman walked before leading the horse, and calling out that this was the man the king delighted to honor.
How do you suppose Haman felt when he heard the king’s order to so greatly honor Mordecai? and while he led the horse along the streets, and the man he hated was so honored? Haman was one of a nation who “feared not God”, (Exo. 17:88Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. (Exodus 17:8)), and that was why he so hated Mordecai, who was of the people of God.
Haman was too disappointed to go back to the palace for the queen’s supper, and went to his own house grieving. But his wife and friends did not comfort him.
Soon, one of the king’s men came to take Haman to the queen’s supper, where we will find he met the greatest disgrace.
Did the king tell Haman he could omit any part of the honor to Mordecai? (Verse 10).
Did Mordecai return to his duty at the king’s gate after the strange ride? (Verse 12)
ML 03/17/1940