John Gill Commentary Esther 6

On that night could not the king sleep
The night after he had been at Esther's banquet, which it might be thought would rather have caused sleep; and therefore Jarchi calls it a miracle; and no doubt it was owing to the overruling providence of God.

It was not due to anxious thoughts about his neglect of Esther so long, nor what should be her request to him, nor jealousy of any amorous intrigue with Haman, nor of any conspiracy of theirs against his life.

and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles ;
the diaries or journal, in which memorable facts were recorded; this he did to divert himself, and pass away time.

Though here also the providence of God was specially concerned; for otherwise he might have sent for any of his wives and concubines, or singing men and women, to have diverted him.

and they were read before the king ;
until the morning, until it was time to rise, as appears by what follows.

And it was found written
Upon reading, in which Providence also had a peculiar hand, directing the reading to the part where Mordecai's affair was registered.

If what the latter Targum says is true, it was the more remarkable. When Shimshai the scribe, who was ordered to bring the book and read (and who, according to the former Targum, was Haman's son), saw what was recorded of Mordecai, he turned over the leaves of the book, being unwilling to read it. But the leaves rolled back again, and he was obliged to read it.

that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's
chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on
the King Ahasuerus ;
see (Esther 2:21) , and it was usual in such diaries to record the names of persons, who, by any actions, had deserved well of the king, that they might be rewarded as there was an opportunity for it; and such, in the Persian language, were called Orosangae, as Herodotus relates ^F15 .

FOOTNOTES:

• F15: Urania, sive, l. 8. c. 85.

And the king said, what honour and dignity has been done to
Mordecai for this ?
&c.] He judged it an action worthy of regard, and what ought to be rewarded, as it was the saving of his life; but had forgotten whether any royal favour had been shown to the person for it:

then said the king's servants that ministered to him ;
the lords of his bedchamber then in waiting:

there is nothing done for him ;
not on that account, nothing more than what he had; he had an office at court before, but was not advanced to anything higher on this account.

And the king said, who is in the court ?
&c.] Being in haste to confer some honour on Mordecai for what he had done:

now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house ;
though it was early in the morning, being eager to get to the speech of the king before he was engaged in any business, to obtain a grant from him:

to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him ;
of which he made no doubt of having, and therefore had prepared for it.

And the king's servants said to him, behold, Haman stands
in the court
In the outward court; for into the inward court none might enter without being called, for which he was waiting:

and the king said, let him come in ;
into his bedchamber; and it was of God, no doubt, that Haman should be on the spot at this very time, when the king was in the humour to do honour to Mordecai, and by him.