Esther 6:6-11 | The Way of Scripture

Esther 6:6-11

How does Haman design the honor he must give Mordecai?

Berean Standard Bible

6 Haman entered, and the king asked him, “What should be done for the man whom the king is delighted to honor?” Now Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king be delighted to honor more than me?” 7 And Haman told the king, “For the man whom the king is delighted to honor, 8 have them bring a royal robe that the king himself has worn and a horse on which the king himself has ridden—one with a royal crest placed on its head. 9 Let the robe and the horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them array the man the king wants to honor and parade him on the horse through the city square, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man whom the king is delighted to honor!’” 10 “Hurry,” said the king to Haman, “and do just as you proposed. Take the robe and the horse to Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything that you have suggested.” 11 So Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai, and paraded him through the city square, crying out before him, “This is what is done for the man whom the king is delighted to honor!”

What is the context?

The king asks how to honor a man without naming him. Haman assumes that he is the intended recipient and proposes royal clothing, a royal horse, and a public announcement by a noble official.

The king orders him to do exactly this for Mordecai. Haman becomes the herald of the man whose death he came to request.

The reversal exposes his self-importance through his own answer. The generous honor he imagined for himself measures the humiliation of carrying it out for the person he hates.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley stresses the contrast between Haman’s expectation and the command he receives. The BSB describes a crest on the horse’s head, rather than requiring the honored man to wear the king’s crown. The significance lies in publicly granted royal honor and Haman’s forced participation.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

Where can I study this further?

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