So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?
What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? In bestowing tokens of their favour, the kings of Persia do not at once, and as it were by their own will, determine the kind of honour that shall be awarded; but they turn to the courtier standing next in rank to themselves, and ask him what shall be done to the individual who has rendered the service specified; and according to the answer received, the royal mandate is issued.