Esther 6 WBT
Summary: Unable to sleep, the king orders the book of chronicles read to him and learns that Mordecai was never rewarded for exposing the assassination plot. Just then Haman arrives to ask permission to hang Mordecai, but before he can speak, the king asks him what should be done for a man the king wishes to honor; assuming it refers to himself, Haman describes an elaborate public honor involving royal robes, a royal horse, and a procession. To his horror, the king commands Haman himself to carry out this honor for Mordecai, leading him through the city square proclaiming his praise, after which a humiliated Haman rushes home, where his wife and advisers warn him that his downfall before this Jew has begun.
1In that night the king could not sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.
2And it was found written, that Mordecai had informed of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
3And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered to him, There is nothing done for him.
4And the king said, Who [is] in the court? Now Haman had come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak to the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
5And the king's servants said to him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.
6So Haman came in. And the king said to him, What shall be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honor? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?
7And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honor,
8Let the royal apparel be brought which the king [useth] to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:
9And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man whom the king delighteth to honor, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honor.
10Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, [and] take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.
11Then Haman took the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honor.
12And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.
13And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every [thing] that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife to him, If Mordecai [is] of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou wilt not prevail against him, but wilt surely fall before him.
14And while they [were] yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
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