The King's Sleepless Night
Esther 6, verse 1. But the Lord made it difficult for the king to sleep that night, and the king commanded his servant to bring in the written records of notable events. Esther 6, verse 2. And he found the written records about Mordecai, how he had told the king about the two eunuchs of the king when they were keeping guard and sought to lay hands on Artaxerxes. Esther 6, verse 3. Then the king said, “Has any honor or favor been granted Mordecai?” And the king's servants said, “Nothing was done for him.” Esther 6, verse 4. And at the same time the king asked about the good will of Mordecai, behold, Haman entered the courtyard. The king said, “Who is in the courtyard?” Haman had come in to talk to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows he had prepared. Esther 6, verse 5. And the king's servants said, “Behold, Haman is standing in the courtyard.” And the king said, “Let him come in.”
The King Honors Mordecai
Esther 6, verse 6. The king said to Haman, “What should I do for a man whom I wish to honor?” And Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king wish to honor but me?” Esther 6, verse 7. So Haman said to the king, Esther 6, verse 8. “As for the man whom the king wishes to honor, have the king's servant bring the royal robe the king wears, along with the horse he rides, Esther 6, verse 9. and let these be given to one of the king's honored friends, and let him clothe the man whom the king loves and then mount him upon the horse. And let it be proclaimed in the city square, saying, ‘Thus it shall be done for every man whom the king honors!’” Esther 6, verse 10. Then the king said to Haman, “You have spoken well; thus you shall do to Mordecai the Jew, the one serving in the courtyard, and let no word you have spoken be overlooked.” Esther 6, verse 11. So Haman took the robe and the horse and arrayed Mordecai with the robe, and mounted him on the horse; and he went throughout the city square, and proclaimed, saying, “Thus shall it be done to every man whom the king honors.” Esther 6, verse 12. Mordecai returned to the courtyard, but Haman returned to his own quarters grieving, with his head down. Esther 6, verse 13. And Haman related these events to his wife Zeresh and his friends. Then his friends and wife said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you are beginning to fall, is of the Jewish race, you will not be able to defend against him, for the living God is with him.” Esther 6, verse 14. While they were still speaking, the king's eunuchs came to hasten Haman to the banquet which Esther had prepared.