Bible/Esther/6

Esther 6:1

On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. could: Heb. the king's sleep fled away

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On that night, the king couldn’t sleep. He commanded the book of records of the chronicles to be brought, and they were read to the king.

On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.

On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.

6:2 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. Bigthana: or, Bigthan door: Heb. threshold

What does Esther 6:1 mean?

Esther 6:1 is a verse in the book of Esther, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include לַיִל (layil), נָדַד (nâdad), מֶלֶךְ (melek). It connects to 20 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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On
that
nightלַיִלlayil/lah'-yil/H3915properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity
could
notנָדַדnâdad/naw-dad'/H5074properly, to wave to and fro (rarely to flap up and down); figuratively, to rove, flee, or (causatively) to drive away
the
kingמֶלֶךְmelek/meh'-lek/H4428a king
sleep,שֵׁנָהshênâh/shay-naw'/H8142sleep
and
he
commandedאָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)
to
bringבּוֹאbôwʼ/bo/H935to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
the
bookסֵפֶרçêpher/say'-fer/H5612properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book
of
recordsזִכְרוֹןzikrôwn/zik-rone'/H2146a memento (or memorable thing, day or writing)
of
the
chronicles;דָּבָרdâbâr/daw-baw'/H1697a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
and
they
were
readקָרָאqârâʼ/kaw-raw'/H7121to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
beforeפָּנִיםpânîym/paw-neem'/H6440the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
the
king.מֶלֶךְmelek/meh'-lek/H4428a king
could:
Heb.
the
king's
sleep
fled
away

Commentary on Esther 6:1

HENRY_FULL · Esther 6:1
x-s3">The Distribution of the People. ( b. c. 444.) 20 And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance. 21 But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims. 22 The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the house of God. 23 For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day. 24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people. 25 And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjath-arba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof, 26 And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Beth-phelet, 27 And at Hazar-shual, and at Beer-sheba, and in the villages thereof, 28 And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof, 29 And at En-rimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof, at Azekah, and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beer-sheba unto the valley of Hinnom. 31 The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel, and in their villages, 32 And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. 36 And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin. Having given an account of the principal persons that dwelt in Jerusalem (a larger account of whom he had before, 1 Chron. ix. 2 , &c.), Nehemiah, in these verses, gives us some account of the other cities, in which dwelt the residue of Israel, v. 20 . It was requisite that Jerusalem should be replenished, yet not so as to drain the country. The king himself is served of the field, which will do little service if there be not hands to manage it. Let there therefore be no strife, no envy, no contempt, no ill will, between the inhabitants of the cities and those of the villages; both are needful, both useful, and neither can be spared. 1. The Nethinims, the posterity of the Gibeonites, dwelt in Ophel, which was upon the wall of Jerusalem ( ch. iii. 26 ), because they were to do the servile work of the temple, which therefore they must be posted near to, that they might be ready to attend, v. 21 . 2. Though the Levites were dispersed through the cities of Judah, yet they had an overseer who resided in Jerusalem, superior of their order and their provincial, to whom they applied for direction, who took care of their affairs and took cognizance of their conduct, whether they did their duty, v. 22 . 3. Some of the singers were appointed to look after the necessary repairs of the temple, being ingenious men, and having leisure between their hours of service; they were over the business of the house of God, v. 22 . And, it seems, the king of Persia had such a kindness for their office that he allotted a particular maintenance for them, besides what belonged to them as Levites, v. 23 . 4. Here is one that was the king's commissioner at Jerusalem. He was of the posterity of Zerah ( v. 24 ); for of that family of Judah there were some new settled in Jerusalem, and not all of Pharez, as appears by that other catalogue, 1 Chron. ix. 6 . He is said to be at the king's hand, or on the king's part, in all matters concerning the people, to determine controversies that arose between the king's officers and his subjects, to see that what was due to the king from the people was duly paid in and what was allowed by the king for the temple service was duly paid out, and happy it was for the Jews that one of themselves was in this post. 5. Here is an account of the villages, or country towns, which were inhabited by the residue of Israel—the towns in which the children of Judah dwelt ( v. 25-30 ), those that were inhabited by the children of Benjamin ( v. 31-35 ), and divisions for the Levites among both, v. 36 . We will now suppose them safe and easy, though few and poor, but by the blessing of God they were likely to increase in wealth and power, and they would have been more likely if there had not been that general profaneness among them, and lukewarmness in religion, with which they were charged in God's name by the prophet Malachi, who, it is supposed, prophesied about this time, and in whom prophecy ceased for some ages, till it revived in the great prophet and his forerunner.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

1 Chronicles 3:17

And the sons of Jeconiah; Assir, Salathiel his son, Salathiel: Heb. Shealtiel

Ezra 2:1

Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city;

Ezra 2:2

Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: Seraiah: also called, Azariah, nehe.7.7.

Ezra 3:8

Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.

Ezra 4:2

Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.

Ezra 5:2

Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.

Esther 6:10

Then 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. let: Heb. suffer not a whit to fall

Esther 6:12

And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.

Esther 7:7

And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.

Esther 10:2

And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? advanced: Heb. made him great

Haggai 1:1

In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying, by: Heb. by the hand of governor: or, captain

Haggai 1:12

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD.

Haggai 1:14

And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,

Haggai 2:2

Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying,

Haggai 2:21

Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;

Zechariah 3:1

And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. Satan: that is, an adversary to: Heb. to be his adversary

Zechariah 4:6

Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. might: or, army

Zechariah 6:11

Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;

Matthew 1:12

And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;

Matthew 1:13

And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;

Topics

Civil ServiceMordecai

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Esther 6:1.

Genesis 31:40

Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.

Exodus 17:14

And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

Genesis 1:14

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: the day: Heb. between the day and between the night

Genesis 14:5

And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim, Shaveh: or, The plain of Kiriathaim

Genesis 40:5

And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.

Genesis 6:13

And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. with the earth: or, from the earth

Genesis 7:1

And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

Frequently asked questions

What does Esther 6:1 say?

Esther 6:1 (King James Version) reads: "On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. could: Heb. the king's sleep fled away"

Is Esther 6:1 in the Old or New Testament?

Esther 6:1 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Esther.

Reflect

As you read Esther 6:1, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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