A sleepless night
That night the king couldn't sleep, so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. And it was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's officers who guarded the doorway, who'd plotted to kill King Xerxes. “What honour and recognition has Mordecai had for this?” the king asked. “Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.
That night the king couldn't sleep, so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him.
And it was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's officers who guarded the doorway, who'd plotted to kill King Xerxes.
“What honour and recognition has Mordecai had for this?” the king asked. “Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.
Who's in the court
And the king said, “Who's in the court?” Now Haman had just come into the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the pole he'd set up for him. “Haman is standing in the court,” his attendants answered. “Bring him in,” the king ordered. When Haman came in, the king said to him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honour?” And Haman said to himself, “Who is there the king would rather honour than me?” So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honour, have them bring a royal robe the king has worn, and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. Then let the robe and horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. Let him robe the man the king delights to honour, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, calling out in front of him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honour.’”
And the king said, “Who's in the court?” Now Haman had just come into the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the pole he'd set up for him.
“Haman is standing in the court,” his attendants answered. “Bring him in,” the king ordered.
When Haman came in, the king said to him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honour?” And Haman said to himself, “Who is there the king would rather honour than me?”
So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honour,
have them bring a royal robe the king has worn, and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head.
Then let the robe and horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. Let him robe the man the king delights to honour, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, calling out in front of him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honour.’”
Do it for Mordecai
“Go at once,” the king said to Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you've suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Don't leave out anything you've recommended.” So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai and led him on horseback through the city streets, calling out in front of him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honour.”
“Go at once,” the king said to Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you've suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Don't leave out anything you've recommended.”
So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai and led him on horseback through the city streets, calling out in front of him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honour.”
Home with his head covered
Then Mordecai went back to the king's gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief, and told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. And his advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you can't stand against him. You'll surely come to ruin.” While they were still talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared.
Then Mordecai went back to the king's gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief,
and told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. And his advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you can't stand against him. You'll surely come to ruin.”
While they were still talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared.