Esther 6:9, commentary and pictures

Esther 6:9 belongs to the Medo-Persian period under Ahasuerus, when Haman plotted to destroy all God's people in the Persian Empire, and its setting shows God frustrating that purpose and preserving His people from destruction. The verse illustrates a human book of remembrance: after the king was unable to sleep that very night, he had the chronicles of the kingdom read before him and learned of Mordecai's faithfulness in saving his life, and that record led to honor being bestowed on the one the king wished to honor. Haman, supposing that the king meant to honor him, proposed for himself the greatest distinction he could imagine.

The chosen honor was to be carried out publicly: one of the king's most noble princes would array the man in royal apparel, bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him that this is how the king honors the man whom he delights to honor. Riding the king's animal with a royal escort was the highest royal honor known, a public but temporary display of royal favor, and it makes clear how great the honor was for Solomon to ride upon the king's mule with escort as he did. The king ordered Haman himself to perform for Mordecai the very actions Haman had proposed, so that Haman became the means of promoting Mordecai and his plan was turned into his own humiliation.

Mordecai's exaltation helped bring about the deliverance of the Jews, and together with the counter decree for the Jews to destroy their enemies and the hanging of Haman on the gallows he had erected for Mordecai, it shows God working for His people, answering the faith of the believing ones, exercising retributive justice against Haman, and exercising providence through events in human affairs. The episode teaches that God does not forget His people and that His love, care, and providence for His faithful people remain constant.