On that night. The time for Divine action had come. See App-23 . could not the king sleep. God uses small things to accomplish His purposes. See note on Judges 3:21 . We know not what He used here. But the time had come for Him to work. commanded. Hebrew. 'amar. they . . . read. The very portion which God ruled for the working out of His plan. read more
HAMAN GETS THE SHOCK OF HIS LIFE;THE HIGHER THEY ARE THE FARTHER THEY FALLThere is hardly anything in the literature of mankind that presents a more dramatic contrast of the highest status and the lowest ever attained by a man on one single day than that which is here revealed in the person of Haman the great Prime Minister of the Persian Empire under Xerxes.On the morning of that crucial day, he was at the very pinnacle of his power and glory, anticipating that within that day he would execute... read more
Esther 6:1. The book of records of the chronicles— In these diaries, which we now call journals, wherein was set down what passed every day, the manner of the Persians was, to record the names of those who had done the king any signal services. Accordingly, Josephus informs us, that, upon the secretary's reading these journals, he took notice of such a person who had great honours and possessions given him as a reward for a glorious and remarkable action, and of such another who made his... read more
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... read more
Ahasuerus’ insomnia 6:1-3The reading of the equivalent of the Congressional Record would have put the king to sleep under normal circumstances, as it probably had done on many previous occasions (cf. Malachi 3:16)."Here is a remarkable instance of the veiled providential control of God over circumstances of human history. Upon the king’s insomnia, humanly speaking, were hinged the survival of the chosen nation, the fulfillment of prophecy, the coming of the Redeemer, and therefore the whole... read more
2. Mordecai’s exaltation ch. 6Mordecai’s exaltation was a secondary event that prepared for the utter destruction of Haman. There are at least five indications of God’s providence in the first five verses of this chapter: the king’s insomnia (Esther 6:1 a), his choice of entertainment (Esther 6:1 b), the servant’s choice of books (Esther 6:1 c), the king’s delay in rewarding Mordecai (Esther 6:2-3), and the timely arrival of Haman (Esther 6:4-5). [Note: Wiersbe, pp. 733-35.] read more
Mordecai is HonouredAn account of how the king being reminded of Mordecai’s services, and wishing to reward him, consulted Haman, and how Haman, thinking himself the object of the king’s interest, counselled him, and was directed to render to Mordecai the honours he had advised.1. The book.. chronicles] in which the chief occurrences of the king’s reign, including any signal services done by his subjects (Esther 2:23), were recorded.8. The royal apparel.. useth to wear] Not apparel similar to... read more
VI.(1) Could not the king sleep.—Literally, the king's sleep fled away. Here, in the most striking way in the whole book, the workings of God’s providence on behalf of His people are shown. “God Himself is here, though His name be absent.” The king’s sleepless night falls after the day when Haman has resolved to ask on the morrow for Mordecai’s execution, a foretaste of the richer vengeance he hopes to wreak on the whole nation of the Jews. It is by a mere chance, one would say, looking at the... read more
An Ever-watchful Providence Esther 6:1 'Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown,' and it is small wonder that the master of one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, stretching from Ethiopia to India, should have often been distracted by the cares of his mighty empire and so have his sleep driven from him. I. But we may read these words in another way, and then the simple statement will convey a pregnant and marvellous truth. Read it in the light of its far-reaching results and it utters the... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Esther 6:1-14
Haman’s humiliation and defeat (5:1-7:10)After three days Esther approached the king and invited him and Haman to dinner (5:1-4). She was so pleased with their friendly response that she decided to invite them again the next day, in the hope that they would be even more favourable to her (5-8). Haman thought that the honour given him by the queen showed that she, as well as the king, was pleased with him and agreed with his anti-Jewish policy. He decided to take the opportunity of this royal... read more