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Esther 6
New Catholic Bible
Esther 6
New Catholic Bible
Vindication of the Jews
Chapter 6
Mordecai Is Honored. 1 That night the king found it difficult to sleep, so he ordered the book of the chronicles of his reign to be brought in and read to him. 2 During the reading, the passage came up about Mordecai uncovering the plot to assassinate King Ahasuerus on the part of Bagathan and Teresh, two of the royal eunuchs who guarded the doorway.
3 The king asked, “How has Mordecai been honored and rewarded for this?”
The attendants said, “He has received neither honor nor reward.”
4 The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just come into the outer court of the king’s palace to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gibbet that he had built for him.
5 His attendants replied, “Haman is waiting in the court.”
“Let him come in,” the king said.
6 When Haman came in, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man whom the king wants to reward?”
Now Haman thought to himself, “What man would the king rather reward than me?” 7 So he replied to the king, “For the man whom the king wants to reward, 8 [a]let there be brought in the purple robe that the king wore and the horse that he rode when the royal crown was placed on his head. 9 Then let the robe and the horse be entrusted to one of the noblest of the king’s officials. Let them robe the man the king wants to reward and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king wants to reward.’ ”
10 Then the king said to Haman, “Go, right away. Get the robe and the horse and do for Mordecai the Jew—who sits at the king’s gate—what you have suggested. Do not leave out anything you have proposed.” 11 So Haman procured the robe and the horse. He put the robe on Mordecai and had him ride through the city streets, proclaiming, “This is what is done for the man the king wants to reward.”
12 Afterward, Mordecai went back to the king’s gate. Haman, however, hurried home, with his head covered[b] in grief 13 and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends what had befallen him.
His friends and his wife, Zeresh, told him, “If Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of the Jewish race, you will not be able to overcome him but will surely suffer defeat, because the living God is with him.”
14 Haman Is Put to Death. While they were still speaking, the king’s eunuchs arrived and took Haman to the banquet Esther had prepared.
Footnotes
- Esther 6:8 The honors are rendered according to the customs of the Persians and Assyrians. It was thought that clothes were imbued with the personality of those who wore them (the same as for Elijah in 2 Ki 2:8-13) and hence, to wear the king’s clothes signified to share in the royal dignity. Ancient images show us the royal crown placed on the head of a horse.
- Esther 6:12 Head covered: a sign of mourning (see 2 Sam 15:30; Jer 14:4).
Esther 6
New International Version
Esther 6
New International Version
Mordecai Honored
6 That night the king could not sleep;(A) so he ordered the book of the chronicles,(B) the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. 2 It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.(C)
3 “What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked.
“Nothing has been done for him,”(D) his attendants answered.
4 The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.
5 His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.”
“Bring him in,” the king ordered.
6 When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?”
Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” 7 So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, 8 have them bring a royal robe(E) the king has worn and a horse(F) the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. 9 Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!(G)’”
10 “Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”
11 So Haman got(H) the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!”
12 Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered(I) in grief, 13 and told Zeresh(J) his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him.
His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall(K) has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!”(L) 14 While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet(M) Esther had prepared.
New International Version (NIV) 
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