Esther 6:4-10

Haman’s recommendation 6:4-10

"Here the early bird is gotten by the worm." [Note: Moore, Esther, p. 64.]

Haman’s pride preceded his fall (Esther 6:6; cf. Proverbs 16:18). He wanted, as much as possible, to appear like the king himself, in the honors he recommended for the person he thought would be himself (Esther 6:8; cf. Genesis 41:39-45; 1 Samuel 18:4; 1 Kings 1:33). The crown was on the head of the horse, not its rider (Esther 6:8; cf. Esther 6:9).

It was evidently "a special arrangement of the horse’s hair to form a topknot between the ears." [Note: Baldwin, p. 90. ]

Baldwin based this opinion on sculptured reliefs that archaeologists have discovered on a stairway at Persepolis. The king knew by now that Mordecai was a Jew (Esther 6:10). However, the writer did not say Ahasuerus understood that Haman had aimed his pogrom against the Jews-until Esther revealed that fact (Esther 7:4). Of course he may have known it already. It seems incredible that Ahasuerus would issue such a decree without finding out whom it would eliminate. Perhaps he planned to make Mordecai an exception and spare his life.