Esther 6:11-14

Haman’s humiliation 6:11-14

Haman covered his head (Esther 6:12; cf. Esther 4:1-2) as a sign of his grief (cf. 2 Samuel 15:30; 2 Samuel 19:4; Jeremiah 14:3-4; Ezekiel 24:17). His friends evidently realized that unseen forces were maintaining the blessing that they had observed following the Jews (cf. Numbers 23:9; Numbers 23:21; Numbers 23:23; Numbers 24:9; Numbers 24:17; Numbers 24:19; Joshua 2:9-13). They saw in Haman’s humiliation before Mordecai, the powerful honored Jew, an omen of even worse defeat to come. The tide had turned.

Esther 6:14 means that Haman hastened to go to the banquet. He did not want to be late. It does not mean that he was reluctant to go and that the eunuchs needed to hurry him along. He evidently looked forward to the banquet as an opportunity to lift his spirits, little realizing that it would be the scene of his exposure and condemnation.