以斯帖記7:1-10

 

7:1 王帶著哈曼來赴王后以斯帖的筵席。
7:2 這第二次在酒席筵前，王又問以斯帖說：「王后以斯帖啊，你要甚麼，我必賜給你；你求甚麼，就是國的一半也必為你成就。」
7:3 王后以斯帖回答說：「我若在王眼前蒙恩，王若以為美，我所願的，是願王將我的性命賜給我；我所求的，是求王將我的本族賜給我。
7:4 因我和我的本族被賣了，要剪除殺戮滅絕我們。我們若被賣為奴為婢，我也閉口不言；但王的損失，敵人萬不能補足。」
7:5 亞哈隨魯王問王后以斯帖說：「擅敢起意如此行的是誰？這人在哪裡呢？」
7:6 以斯帖說：「仇人敵人就是這惡人哈曼！」哈曼在王和王后面前就甚驚惶。
7:7 王便大怒，起來離開酒席往御園去了。哈曼見王定意要加罪與他，就起來，求王后以斯帖救命。
7:8 王從御園回到酒席之處，見哈曼伏在以斯帖所靠的榻上；王說：「他竟敢在宮內、在我面前凌辱王后嗎？」這話一出王口，人就蒙了哈曼的臉。
7:9 伺候王的一個太監名叫哈波拿，說：「哈曼為那救王有功的末底改做了五丈高的木架，現今立在哈曼家裡。」王說：「把哈曼掛在其上。」
7:10 於是人將哈曼掛在他為末底改所預備的木架上。王的忿怒這才止息。

 

So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet, ² and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”

³ Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. ⁴ For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.^[a]”

⁵ King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is he—the man who has dared to do such a thing?”

⁶ Esther said, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!”

Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. ⁷ The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.

⁸ Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining.

The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?”

As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. ⁹ Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits^[b] stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.”

The king said, “Impale him on it!” ¹⁰ So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided.

 

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    王在以斯帖的宴席中吃喝得很快樂，以至於又說了「很奇怪」的話：「王后以斯帖啊，你要甚麼，我必賜給你；你求甚麼，就是國的一半也必為你成就。」

    以斯帖就趁機說出：「我若在王眼前蒙恩，王若以為美，我所願的，是願王將我的性命賜給我；我所求的，是求王將我的本族賜給我。因我和我的本族被賣了，要剪除殺戮滅絕我們。我們若被賣為奴為婢，我也閉口不言；但王的損失，敵人萬不能補足。」

    亞哈隨魯王問王后以斯帖說：「擅敢起意如此行的是誰？這人在哪裡呢？」

    以斯帖說：「仇人敵人就是這惡人哈曼！」

    王聽了大大生氣，這可將哈曼嚇壞了，因為他一人的私慾，竟然惹了國王和王后生氣，這下子他完了！就哀求王后，又被國王誤解，這樣他就失去了機會，最後死在自己所預備的架子！

    人許多時候，常常被私慾所害，自掘墳墓都不知！就如哈曼想除到與自己利益相衝突的人，又不擇手段，以為自己一定會享受自己「努力」的成果，殊不知一切都無法達成還落到身敗名裂的慘狀！

    這也讓我們看見不敬畏上帝的下場，我們在世為人可要引以為戒！

以斯帖記6:1-14

 

6:1 那夜王睡不著覺，就吩咐人取歷史來，念給他聽。
6:2 正遇見書上寫著說：王的太監中有兩個守門的，辟探和提列，想要下手害亞哈隨魯王，末底改將這事告訴王后。
6:3 王說：「末底改行了這事，賜他甚麼尊榮爵位沒有？」伺候王的臣僕回答說：「沒有賜他甚麼。」
6:4 王說：「誰在院子裡？」（那時哈曼正進王宮的外院，要求王將末底改掛在他所預備的木架上。）
6:5 臣僕說：「哈曼站在院內。」王說：「叫他進來。」
6:6 哈曼就進去。王問他說：「王所喜悅尊榮的人，當如何待他呢？」哈曼心裡說：「王所喜悅尊榮的，不是我是誰呢？」
6:7 哈曼就回答說：「王所喜悅尊榮的，
6:8 當將王常穿的朝服和戴冠的御馬，
6:9 都交給王極尊貴的一個大臣，命他將衣服給王所喜悅尊榮的人穿上，使他騎上馬，走遍城裡的街市，在他面前宣告說：王所喜悅尊榮的人，就如此待他。」
6:10 王對哈曼說：「你速速將這衣服和馬，照你所說的，向坐在朝門的猶大人末底改去行。凡你所說的，一樣不可缺。」
6:11 於是哈曼將朝服給末底改穿上，使他騎上馬，走遍城裡的街市，在他面前宣告說：「王所喜悅尊榮的人，就如此待他。」
6:12 末底改仍回到朝門，哈曼卻憂憂悶悶地蒙著頭，急忙回家去了，
6:13 將所遇的一切事詳細說給他的妻細利斯和他的眾朋友聽。他的智慧人和他的妻細利斯對他說：「你在末底改面前始而敗落，他如果是猶大人，你必不能勝他，終必在他面前敗落。」
6:14 他們還與哈曼說話的時候，王的太監來催哈曼快去赴以斯帖所預備的筵席。

 

  That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. ² It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.

³ “What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked.

“Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.

⁴ The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.

⁵ His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.”

“Bring him in,” the king ordered.

⁶ When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?”

Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” ⁷ So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, ⁸ 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. ⁹ Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’”

¹⁰ “Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”

¹¹ So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!”

¹² Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief, ¹³ and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him.

His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!” ¹⁴ While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared.

 

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    雖然這裡沒有提到「上帝」，卻處處看見上帝的作為，正如我們無法用眼睛看見上帝，卻感受到上帝的作為充滿在我們的生活還經之中！怪不得加爾文說：「最高的苦難就是對上帝護理的無知；最大的幸福在於明白上帝的護理！」

 

    就像末底改和哈曼之差別：末底改雖然為著猶太族遭受滅族的事感到難過，但是他相信上帝的作為；哈曼雖然為自己受到王的尊榮而高興，但是他不知道上帝恨惡心中詭詐的人！

 

    王因為睡不著而得知末底改的救命之恩，完全是出於上帝的作為；而哈漫不知也不會注意這事，只是汲汲營營為自己的尊榮！然而上帝卻讓王的心感受到末底改的好，為此想尊榮末底改！也因為這樣，哈曼自取其辱！

 

    而這一切的敘述，讓基督徒在一次肯定上帝攝理(護理)的奇妙，也讓我們知道上帝對屬於祂的人，雖然允許各樣的苦難臨到，卻讓人透過苦難而更堅強、更感受上帝作為的奇妙！人生雖有許多事不明白，但是上帝允許的，都是對我們有益且能造就我們，越來越有上帝兒女的樣式！

 

 

 

以斯帖記5:1-14

 

5:1 第三日，以斯帖穿上朝服，進王宮的內院，對殿站立。王在殿裡坐在寶座上，對著殿門。
5:2 王見王后以斯帖站在院內，就施恩於她，向她伸出手中的金杖；以斯帖便向前摸杖頭。
5:3 王對她說：「王后以斯帖啊，你要甚麼？你求甚麼，就是國的一半也必賜給你。」
5:4 以斯帖說：「王若以為美，就請王帶著哈曼今日赴我所預備的筵席。」
5:5 王說：「叫哈曼速速照以斯帖的話去行」。於是王帶著哈曼赴以斯帖所預備的筵席。
5:6 在酒席筵前，王又問以斯帖說：「你要甚麼，我必賜給你；你求甚麼，就是國的一半也必為你成就。」
5:7 以斯帖回答說：「我有所要，我有所求。
5:8 我若在王眼前蒙恩，王若願意賜我所要的，准我所求的，就請王帶著哈曼再赴我所要預備的筵席。明日我必照王所問的說明。」
5:9 那日哈曼心中快樂，歡歡喜喜地出來；但見末底改在朝門不站起來，連身也不動，就滿心惱怒末底改。
5:10 哈曼暫且忍耐回家，叫人請他朋友和他妻子細利斯來。
5:11 哈曼將他富厚的榮耀、眾多的兒女，和王抬舉他使他超乎首領臣僕之上，都述說給他們聽。
5:12 哈曼又說：「王后以斯帖預備筵席，除了我之外不許別人隨王赴席。明日王后又請我隨王赴席；
5:13 只是我見猶大人末底改坐在朝門，雖有這一切榮耀，也與我無益。」
5:14 他的妻細利斯和他一切的朋友對他說：「不如立一個五丈高的木架，明早求王將末底改掛在其上，然後你可以歡歡喜喜地隨王赴席。」哈曼以這話為美，就叫人做了木架。

 

On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. ² When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

³ Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”

⁴ “If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.”

⁵ “Bring Haman at once,” the king said, “so that we may do what Esther asks.”

So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. ⁶ As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, “Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”

⁷ Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: ⁸ If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”

⁹ Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. ¹⁰ Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home.

Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, ¹¹ Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. ¹² “And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. ¹³ But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”

¹⁴ His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits,^[a] and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.

 

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    以斯帖雖然美貌，卻仍然有智慧和計謀在她的心中。她一出手，真的是讓人意料之外！就連仇敵哈曼都不知她的用心，還自以為了不得，認為王后也要給他尊榮，甚至回家炫耀！只是偏偏又看見末底改心中不悅！

 

    然而回家將這事訴苦的時候，家中這一群人和他一樣惡劣，竟然說：「不如立一個五丈高的木架，明早求王將末底改掛在其上，然後你可以歡歡喜喜地隨王赴席。」

 

    哈曼聽了這段話，竟然以為美，真是物以類聚啊！

 

    上帝啊！人真是可悲，一直在為自己掘墳墓，走向滅亡之路，還自以為事做對的事情、做有益於自己的事情，真是是非不分了！求者幫助我們，讓我們因為敬畏祢而有智慧的心，能夠出死入生，到祢的榮耀境！