Charles Ellicott Commentary Esther 6
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Esther 6
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Esther 6
"On that night could not the king sleep; and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles, and they were read before the king." — Esther 6:1 (ASV)
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 is absent.” The king’s sleepless night falls after the day when Haman had resolved to ask on the following day for Mordecai’s execution, a foretaste of the richer vengeance he hoped to wreak on the whole nation of the Jews. It is by a mere chance, one would say, looking at the matter simply from its human aspect, that the king should call for the book of the royal chronicles, and not for music.
It was by a mere chance too, it might seem, that the reader should happen to find the record of Mordecai’s services; and yet when all these apparent accidents combine to form the coincidence they make, how completely is providence visible, the power that will use people as the instruments of its work, whether they know it or do not know it, whether they are willing or unwilling, whether the glory of God is to be manifested in and by and through them, or manifested on them only.
They were read before the king. —Canon Rawlinson remarks that there is reason to think that the Persian kings were in most cases unable to read.
"And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king`s chamberlains, of those that kept the threshold, who had sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus." — Esther 6:2 (ASV)
It was found written. —See Esther 2:21-23.
"And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been bestowed on Mordecai for this? Then said the king`s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him." — Esther 6:3 (ASV)
What honour and dignity hath been done. —The names of those who were thought worthy of being accounted “royal benefactors” were enrolled on a special list, and they were supposed to be suitably rewarded, though not necessarily at the time. The reward however was, in theory at any rate, a thing to which the “benefactor” had a distinct claim, and an almost legal right.
"And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king`s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him." — Esther 6:4 (ASV)
Haman had come. —When morning finally came, Haman had come to the palace in due course, and was waiting in the outer court until the king should call for him. The king in the inner court ponders what recompense to bestow upon Mordecai, Haman in the outer court stands ready primed with a request that Mordecai may be hanged.
"So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor? Now Haman said in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?" — Esther 6:6 (ASV)
Whom the king delighteth ... —Literally, in whose honour the king delighteth.
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