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.
Parallel translations
- WEB 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.
- BSB That night sleep escaped the king; so he ordered the Book of Records, the Chronicles, to be brought in and read to him.
- NKJV That night the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.
- NASB During that night the king could not sleep, so he gave an order to bring the book of records, the chronicles, and they were read before the king.
- NLT That 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
That same night the sleepless king has the royal chronicles read to him. A small, providential detail begins the great reversal.
Overview
The king's insomnia and choice to hear the records read are ordinary events, yet they fall precisely when Haman plots Mordecai's death. Though God is unnamed, His unseen hand is unmistakable in this timing. The verse beautifully illustrates how divine providence governs even a restless night to accomplish the deliverance of His people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Dan 2:1And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
- Dan 6:18Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
- Esth 2:23And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
- Isa 41:17When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
- Rom 11:33O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
- Esth 5:8If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.
- Esth 10:2And 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?
- 1 Sam 23:26–27And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.
- Mal 3:16Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
- Gen 22:14And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
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Christ at the center
Though God is never named, his hidden hand preserves the people from whom the Messiah will come — a deliverance 'for such a time as this' that anticipates the open deliverance of Christ.
How Esther 6:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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