Context at a Glance
Author:Traditional Attribution
Topic:esther Chapter 6 Study
This chapter provides a foundational look at the theological themes of esther, analyzed across multiple historic translations for maximum scholarly depth.
Esther 6
New Revised Standard Version
1On that night the king could not sleep, and he gave orders to bring the book of records, the annals, and they were read to the king.
2It was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had conspired to assassinate King Ahasuerus.
3Then the king said, "What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?" The king's servants who attended him said, "Nothing has been done for him."
4The king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
5So the king's servants told him, "Haman is there, standing in the court." The king said, "Let him come in."
6So Haman came in, and the king said to him, "What shall be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor?" Haman said to himself, "Whom would the king wish to honor more than me?"
7So Haman said to the king, "For the man whom the king wishes to honor,
8let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and a horse that the king has ridden, with a royal crown on its head.
9Let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials; let him robe the man whom the king wishes to honor, and let him conduct the man on horseback through the open square of the city, proclaiming before him: 'Thus shall it be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor.'"
10Then the king said to Haman, "Quickly, take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to the Jew Mordecai who sits at the king's gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned."
11So Haman took the robes and the horse and robed Mordecai and led him riding through the open square of the city, proclaiming, "Thus shall it be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor."
12Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate, but Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered.
13When Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him, his advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, "If Mordecai, before whom your downfall has begun, is of the Jewish people, you will not prevail against him, but will surely fall before him."
14While they were still talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman off to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
1So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther.
2On the second day, as they were drinking wine, the king again said to And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled."
3Then Queen Esther answered, "If I have won your favor, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me — that is my petition — and the lives of my people — that is my request.
4For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have held my peace; but no enemy can compensate for this damage to the king."
5Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, "Who is he, and where is he, who has presumed to do this?"
6Esther said, "A foe and enemy, this wicked Haman!" Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.
7The king rose from the feast in wrath and went into the palace garden, but Haman stayed to beg his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that the king had determined to destroy him.
8When the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman had thrown himself on the couch where Esther was reclining; and the king said, "Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?" As the words left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman's face.
9Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, "Look, the very gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, stands at Haman's house, fifty cubits high." And the king said, "Hang him on that."
10So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the anger of the king abated.
1That night the Lord took sleep from the king, so he gave orders to his secretary to bring the book of daily records, and to read to him.
2He found the words written about Mordecai, how he had told the king about the two royal eunuchs who were on guard and sought to lay hands on King Artaxerxes.
3The king said, "What honor or dignity did we bestow on Mordecai?" The king's servants said, "You have not done anything for him."
4While the king was inquiring about the goodwill shown by Mordecai, Haman was in the courtyard. The king asked, "Who is in the courtyard?" Now Haman had come to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared.
5The servants of the king answered, "Haman is standing in the courtyard." And the king said, "Summon him."
6Then the king said to Haman, "What shall I do for the person whom I wish to honor?" And Haman said to himself, "Whom would the king wish to honor more than me?"
7So he said to the king, "For a person whom the king wishes to honor,
8let the king's servants bring out the fine linen robe that the king has worn, and the horse on which the king rides,
9and let both be given to one of the king's honored Friends, and let him robe the person whom the king loves and mount him on the horse, and let it be proclaimed through the open square of the city, saying, 'Thus shall it be done to everyone whom the king honors.'"
10Then the king said to Haman, "You have made an excellent suggestion! Do just as you have said for Mordecai the Jew, who is on duty in the courtyard. And let nothing be omitted from what you have proposed."
11So Haman got the robe and the horse; he put the robe on Mordecai and made him ride through the open square of the city, proclaiming, "Thus shall it be done to everyone whom the king wishes to honor."
12Then Mordecai returned to the courtyard, and Haman hurried back to his house, mourning and with his head covered.
13Haman told his wife Zosara and his friends what had befallen him. His friends and his wife said to him, "If Mordecai is of the Jewish people, and you have begun to be humiliated before him, you will surely fall. You will not be able to defend yourself, because the living God is with him."
14While they were still talking, the eunuchs arrived and hurriedly brought Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
1So the king and Haman went in to drink with the queen.
2And the second day, as they were drinking wine, the king said, "What is it, Queen Esther? What is your petition and what is your request? It shall be granted to you, even to half of my kingdom."
3She answered and said, "If I have found favor with the king, let my life be granted me at my petition, and my people at my request.
4For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, plundered, and made slaves — we and our children — male and female slaves. This has come to my knowledge. Our antagonist brings shame on the king's court."
5Then the king said, "Who is the person that would dare to do this thing?"
6terrified in the presence of the king and queen.
7The king rose from the banquet and went into the garden, and Haman began to beg for his life from the queen, for he saw that he was in serious trouble.
8When the king returned from the garden, Haman had thrown himself on the couch, pleading with the queen. The king said, "Will he dare even assault my wife in my own house?" Haman, when he heard, turned away his face.
9Then Bugathan, one of the eunuchs, said to the king, "Look, Haman has even prepared a gallows for Mordecai, who gave information of concern to the king; it is standing at Haman's house, a gallows fifty cubits high." So the king said, "Let Haman be hanged on that."
10So Haman was hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. With that the anger of the king abated.