6That night the king had trouble sleeping, so he ordered an attendant to bring the book of the history of his reign so it could be read to him.H3915H5074H4428H8142H559H935H5612H2146H1697H3117H7121H6440H44282In those records he discovered an account of how Mordecai had exposed the plot of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who guarded the door to the king's private quarters. They had plotted to assassinate King Xerxes.H4672H3789H4782H5046H904H8657H8147H4428H5631H8104H5592H1245H7971H3027H4428H3253"What reward or recognition did we ever give Mordecai for this?" the king asked. His attendants replied, "Nothing has been done for him."H4428H559H3366H1420H6213H4782H559H4428H5288H8334H1697H62134"Who is that in the outer court?" the king inquired. As it happened, Haman had just arrived in the outer court of the palace to ask the king to impale Mordecai on the pole he had prepared.H4428H559H2691H2001H935H2435H2691H4428H1004H559H4428H8518H4782H6086H35595So the attendants replied to the king, "Haman is out in the court." "Bring him in," the king ordered.H4428H5288H559H2001H5975H2691H4428H559H9356So Haman came in, and the king said, "What should I do to honor a man who truly pleases me?" Haman thought to himself, "Whom would the king wish to honor more than me?"H2001H935H4428H559H6213H376H4428H2654H3366H2001H559H3820H4428H2654H6213H3366H31487So he replied, "If the king wishes to honor someone,H2001H559H4428H376H4428H2654H33668he should bring out one of the king's own royal robes, as well as a horse that the king himself has ridden—one with a royal emblem on its head.H4438H3830H935H4428H3847H5483H4428H7392H3804H4438H5414H72189Let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. And let him see that the man whom the king wishes to honor is dressed in the king's robes and led through the city square on the king's horse. Have the official shout as they go, 'This is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor!'"H3830H5483H5414H3027H376H4428H6579H8269H3847H376H4428H2654H3366H7392H5483H7339H5892H7121H6440H6213H376H4428H2654H336610"Excellent!" the king said to Haman. "Quick! Take the robes and my horse, and do just as you have said for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the gate of the palace. Leave out nothing you have suggested!"H4428H559H2001H4116H3947H3830H5483H1696H6213H4782H3064H3427H4428H8179H1697H5307H169611So Haman took the robes and put them on Mordecai, placed him on the king's own horse, and led him through the city square, shouting, "This is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor!"H3947H2001H3830H5483H3847H4782H7392H7339H5892H7121H6440H6213H376H4428H2654H336612Afterward Mordecai returned to the palace gate, but Haman hurried home dejected and completely humiliated.H4782H7725H4428H8179H2001H1765H1004H57H7218H264513When Haman told his wife, Zeresh, and all his friends what had happened, his wise advisers and his wife said, "Since Mordecai—this man who has humiliated you—is of Jewish birth, you will never succeed in your plans against him. It will be fatal to continue opposing him."H2001H5608H2238H802H157H7136H559H2450H2238H802H4782H2233H3064H6440H2490H5307H3201H5307H5307H644014While they were still talking, the king's eunuchs arrived and quickly took Haman to the banquet Esther had prepared.H1696H5060H4428H5631H926H935H2001H4960H635H6213
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