The King Honors Mordecai
Esther 6 NLT
6:1 That night the king had trouble sleeping, so he ordered an attendant to bring the book of the history of his reign so it could be read to him. 2 In those records he discovered an account of how Mordecai had exposed the plot of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who guarded the door to the king’s private quarters. They had plotted to assassinate King Xerxes.
3 “What reward or recognition did we ever give Mordecai for this?” the king asked.
His attendants replied, “Nothing has been done for him.”
4 “Who is that in the outer court?” the king inquired. As it happened, Haman had just arrived in the outer court of the palace to ask the king to impale Mordecai on the pole he had prepared.
5 So the attendants replied to the king, “Haman is out in the court.”
“Bring him in,” the king ordered. 6 So Haman came in, and the king said, “What should I do to honor a man who truly pleases me?”
Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king wish to honor more than me?” 7 So he replied, “If the king wishes to honor someone, 8 he should bring out one of the king’s own royal robes, as well as a horse that the king himself has ridden—one with a royal emblem on its head. 9 Let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble officials. And let him see that the man whom the king wishes to honor is dressed in the king’s robes and led through the city square on the king’s horse. Have the official shout as they go, ‘This is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor!’”
10 “Excellent!” the king said to Haman. “Quick! Take the robes and my horse, and do just as you have said for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the gate of the palace. Leave out nothing you have suggested!”
11 So Haman took the robes and put them on Mordecai, placed him on the king’s own horse, and led him through the city square, shouting, “This is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor!” 12 Afterward Mordecai returned to the palace gate, but Haman hurried home dejected and completely humiliated.
13 When Haman told his wife, Zeresh, and all his friends what had happened, his wise advisers and his wife said, “Since Mordecai—this man who has humiliated you—is of Jewish birth, you will never succeed in your plans against him. It will be fatal to continue opposing him.”14 While they were still talking, the king’s eunuchs arrived and quickly took Haman to the banquet Esther had prepared.
Examine the Scriptures
Esther 6 NLT
The King Honors Mordecai
6:1 That night
The night between the first and second banquet.
the king had trouble sleeping,
- The night between the first and second banquet hosted by Esther, the king had trouble sleeping.
Coincidence? I don’t think so!
Again, God’s sovereignty is at work.
so he ordered an attendant to bring the book of the history of his reign so it could be read to him.
Ancient kings kept recorded history of their reigns.
Reading can help put a person to sleep.
2 In those records
At this point in time there would have been 12 years of recorded history for the reign of King Xerxes.
he discovered an account of how Mordecai had exposed the plot of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who guarded the door to the king’s private quarters. They had plotted to assassinate King Xerxes.
- Listening to 12 years of recorded history being read to him, the king discovered the account of how Mordecai exposed a plot to have him (King Xerxes) assassinated.
Esther 2:21-23 NLT
21 One day as Mordecai was on duty at the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthana and Teresh—who were guards at the door of the king’s private quarters—became angry at King Xerxes and plotted to assassinate him. 22 But Mordecai heard about the plot and gave the information to Queen Esther. She then told the king about it and gave Mordecai credit for the report. 23 When an investigation was made and Mordecai’s story was found to be true, the two men were impaled on a sharpened pole. This was all recorded in The Book of the History of King Xerxes’ Reign.
This event took place 5 years prior to this part of the story.
What are the odds that this particular event would be read to the king?
3 “What reward or recognition did we ever give Mordecai for this?” the king asked.
His attendants replied, “Nothing has been done for him.”
Persian kings were known for their generosity to their supporters. (Some things don’t change.)
King Xerxes was about to make this right and would recognize Mordecai for saving his life.
If the king had already recognized Mordecai, the following events would not have taken place.
- King Xerxes is reminded of the fact that nothing has been done for Mordecai for saving the king’s life.
The story now shifts to Haman.
The tables are about to be turned.
4 “Who is that in the outer court?” the king inquired.
As it happened,
“As it happened”
Haman had just arrived in the outer court of the palace to ask the king to impale Mordecai on the pole he had prepared.
Haman just arrived to ask King Xerxes to allow him to kill the man who was responsible for saving the King’s life. This is the man the king was about to reward.
Wrong time with a wrong reason.
5 So the attendants replied to the king, “Haman is out in the court.”
“Bring him in,” the king ordered.
- Haman arrives in the outer court of the palace to ask the king to impale Mordecai on the pole he had prepared.
6 So Haman came in, and the king said, “What should I do to honor a man who truly pleases me?”
Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king wish to honor more than me?”
The egotistical Haman assumed that King Xerxes wanted to honor him.
Once again Haman would have been filled with joy and enthusiasm.
7 So he replied, “If the king wishes to honor someone, 8 he should bring out one of the king’s own royal robes, as well as a horse that the king himself has ridden—one with a royal emblem on its head. 9 Let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble officials. And let him see that the man whom the king wishes to honor is dressed in the king’s robes and led through the city square on the king’s horse. Have the official shout as they go, ‘This is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor!’”
This was a description of a very unique honor.
Haman thought that he was describing the honor he was about to receive.
More than anything, Haman wanted respect from the people of the city. He delighted in public acclaim and recognition.
Haman already had great wealth. (Esther 3:9)
Haman already had power. (Esther 3:1)
Be careful what you ask for.
- When Haman responded to the king’s question, “What should I do to honor a man who truly pleases me?” he thought that he was describing an honor he was about to receive.
10 “Excellent!” the king said to Haman.
The king liked Haman’s suggestions.
“Quick! Take the robes and my horse, and do just as you have said for Mordecai the Jew,
Haman must have been in utter shock.
Haman’s heart most likely “skipped a beat”.
Haman would have been completely dejected.
Haman had no choice, but to obey the king.
Haman had to show respect to Mordecai. This is the exact opposite of what he wanted.
Remember the words of Joseph.
Genesis 50:19-20 NLT
19 But Joseph replied … 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.
- Haman must have been completely shocked when he realized that he had to publicly show respect to Mordecai, a man he hated.
This is the first of 5 times Mordecai is called “the Jew”.
who sits at the gate of the palace. Leave out nothing you have suggested!”
A Jew was about to be honored in the Persian Empire.
This is the exact opposite of Haman’s wish:
Esther 3:8-10 NLT
8 Then Haman approached King Xerxes and said, “There is a certain race of people scattered through all the provinces of your empire who keep themselves separate from everyone else. Their laws are different from those of any other people, and they refuse to obey the laws of the king. So it is not in the king’s interest to let them live. 9 If it please the king, issue a decree that they be destroyed, and I will give 10,000 large sacks of silver to the government administrators to be deposited in the royal treasury.”
10 The king agreed, confirming his decision by removing his signet ring from his finger and giving it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.
11 So Haman took the robes and put them on Mordecai, placed him on the king’s own horse, and led him through the city square,
shouting, “This is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor!”
Mordecai was being treated like a king.
God is looking out for his people.
- Haman has no choice, but to obey the king.
12 Afterward Mordecai returned to the palace gate, but Haman hurried home dejected and completely humiliated.
The tables are turned.
- Mordecai reverts back to his normal routine while Haman hurries home dejected and completely humiliated.
13 When Haman told his wife, Zeresh, and all his friends what had happened,
his wise advisers and his wife said, “Since Mordecai—this man who has humiliated you—is of Jewish birth, you will never succeed in your plans against him. It will be fatal to continue opposing him.”
The text does not explain why Zeresh and all his friends said what they said.
But we do know why this would be true.
The Old Testament is full of stories of God protecting and preserving His chosen people.
Jeremiah 29:10-14 NLT
10 This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”
- The Old Testament is full of stories of God protecting and preserving His chosen people. Somehow, Zeresh and Haman’s friends must have known this was happening again at this point in time.
14 While they were still talking, the king’s eunuchs arrived and quickly took Haman to the banquet Esther had prepared.
An event Haman had once desired he now dreaded, but he most likely had no idea of just how bad things would turn out.
