Chapter commentary
Esther Chapter 2
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Two things are recorded in this chapter, which were working towards the deliverance of the Jews from Haman's conspiracy:—I. The advancement of Esther to be queen instead of Vashti. Many others were candidates for the honour (Es 2:1-4); but Esther, an orphan, a captive-Jewess (Es 2:5-7), recommended herself to the king's chamberlain first (Es 2:8-11) and then to the king (Es 2:12-17), who made her queen, Es 2:18-20. II. The good service that Mordecai did to the king in discovering a plot against his life, Es 2:21-23.
1-20
Esther's Advancement; Esther Chosen Queen (514 BC)
简体中文
以斯帖的高升；以斯帖被选为王后（公元前514年）
¹ 这事以后，亚哈随鲁王的怒气止息，他就想念瓦实提和她所行的，并怎样降旨办她。 ² 那时王的臣仆对王伺候的说：不如为王寻找美貌的处女。 ³ 王可以派官员在国中的各省里，把一切美貌的处女招聚到书珊城的女院，交到王的太监希该，就是看守妇女的人手下，给她们当用的洁身之物。 ⁴ 王所喜悦的女子可以立为王后，代替瓦实提。王看这事美好，就如此行。 ⁵ 书珊城里有一个犹大人，名叫末底改，是便雅悯人基士的曾孙，示每的孙子，睚珥的儿子。 ⁶ 从前犹大王耶哥尼雅被巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒掳去的时候，末底改也在被掳的人中；他也是被带走的。 ⁷ 末底改抚养他叔叔的女儿哈大沙（她又名以斯帖），因为她没有父母；这女子容貌俊美，又得人的喜悦；她父母死了，末底改就收她为自己的女儿。 ⁸ 王的命令和谕旨传开，许多处女被招聚到书珊城，交在希该手下的时候，以斯帖也被带到王宫，交在希该手下。 ⁹ 希该喜悦这女子，就恩待她，急忙给她洁身之物，又给她所当得的分，并从王宫里挑七个合格的宫女服事她，使她和她的宫女得住女院中最好的地方。 ¹⁰ 以斯帖未曾将籍贯宗族告诉人，因为末底改嘱咐她不可叫人知道。 ¹¹ 末底改天天在女院前边行走，要知道以斯帖平安不平安，并事情如何。 ¹² 众女子照例先洁净身体十二个月：六个月用没药油，六个月用香料和洁身的物，满了日子，然后挨次进去见亚哈随鲁王。 ¹³ 女子进去见王是这样：从女院到王宫的时候，凡她所要的都必给她带去。 ¹⁴ 晚上进去，次日回到女院第二院，交在王的太监沙甲手下，他看守妃嫔；女子进去见王若不再蒙召，就不再进去见王。 ¹⁵ 末底改叔叔亚比孩的女儿，就是末底改收为自己女儿的以斯帖，按次序当进去见王的时候，除了王的太监希该所派的，她别无所求；凡看见以斯帖的都喜悦她。 ¹⁶ 亚哈随鲁王第七年十月，就是提别月，以斯帖被引入宫中见亚哈随鲁王。 ¹⁷ 王爱以斯帖过于众女子，她在王眼前蒙恩惠，比众处女更得王的宠爱；王就把后冠戴在她头上，立她为王后，代替瓦实提。 ¹⁸ 王因立以斯帖为王后的缘故，就给众首领和臣仆大摆筵席，又豁免各省的租税，并照王的厚意大颁赏赐。 ¹⁹ 第二次招聚处女的时候，末底改坐在朝门。 ²⁰ 以斯帖照着末底改所嘱咐的还没有将籍贯宗族告诉人；因为以斯帖遵行末底改所吩咐的，如同抚养她的时候一样。
前一章我们读到 神如何使一位位高权重者从她的座位上被废黜，现在我们要被告知，祂如何高举了一位卑微的人，正如童贞女马利亚在她颂歌中所观察到的（路 1:52），也是她之前的哈拿所言，撒上 2:4-8。瓦实提因其高傲而被降卑，以斯帖则因其谦卑而被高升。请观察：
I. 为使王在瓦实提之外另得一位妻子以悦其心，所采取的极其奢华的方式。约瑟夫说，当王的怒气消退之后，他极为懊悔这事被推行到如此地步，本欲与瓦实提和好；只因按政府的宪制，那判决是不可更改的——因此，为要使他忘掉她，他们设法先用大批的妃嫔来款待他，然后从其中选定一位最合他心意的立为正室，以代替瓦实提。君王的婚姻通常是按政治与利益而缔结的，为要扩展版图、巩固联盟；但这一桩却部分要根据那女子是否合王的心意而定，不论她是贫是富、是贵是贱。为迎合王而费了多大的功夫啊！仿佛他的权柄和财富赐给他，没有别的目的，只为他可以把一切感官之乐推到欢愉的极致，并加以精雕细琢；然而在最美好的情形下，这些比起属灵的、神圣的喜乐，仍不过是渣滓与糟粕。1. 王国各省都要搜寻美貌的处女，并派官员进行挑选，斯 2:3。2. 又专为她们预备了一处居所（后宫），并指定专人负责看管她们，确保她们得着妥当的供应。3. 给她们足足十二个月的时间洁净身体，至少其中从乡间带来的那些人，使她们极其清洁、且馨香扑鼻，斯 2:12。即使是天工之物，也还要靠人工的这一切帮助，才能在虚浮肉欲的心眼中显得可悦。4. 王一旦将她们召到榻上，此后她们就成了被禁锢的人，除非王何时特意召见（斯 2:14）；她们被视为次等的妻室，由王按此赡养，且不得婚嫁。我们可以从这一例看出，那些缺乏神圣启示的人沦落到何等荒谬的行为中；他们因拜偶像作为刑罚，被交于可羞耻的情欲。他们既违背了那源于 神造人的创造之律，又违背了另一条建立于祂只造一男一女之事实上的律法。可见基督的福音何等必需，为要洁净人脱离肉体的情欲，并把他们恢复到起初的设立。那些已经学了基督的人，必以为这些事甚至提说也是可耻的；这些事不仅是在隐密中行，更是公然行出来的，弗 5:12。
II. 神掌管一切的护理，借此将以斯帖引至王后之位。倘若有人把以斯帖推荐给亚哈随鲁为妻，他必嗤之以鼻地拒绝这提议；然而当她在轮次中、在好几位之后进来，被发现：虽然她们当中许多人都聪明谨慎、优雅可人，但以斯帖胜过她们众人，于是通向王宠及其后随之尊荣的路，甚至由她的对手们为她铺平。诚如帕特里克主教所言，那些以为她为了得此尊位而犯了重罪的人，并没有考虑到那时那地的风俗。王所召到榻上的每一位女子，都算作与他结了婚，是次等身份的妻子，正如夏甲之于亚伯拉罕；因此，纵使以斯帖未被立为后，雅各的儿子们也不必说他待他们的妹子如同待妓女。关于以斯帖，我们必须注意：
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她的出身与品格。(1.) 她是被掳之民中的一位，是犹大女子，与她的百姓同受奴役之苦。但以理和他的同伴在被掳之地得升高举；因为他们正是耶和华打发到那里为要赐福的那一类人，耶 24:5。(2.) 她是孤儿，父母双亡（斯 2:7）；然而当父母离弃她的时候，主就收留她，诗 27:10。当那些不幸在幼年就失去父母的人，后来竟显著地敬虔且兴盛之时，我们当为 神的荣耀——为祂的恩典与护理——而留意这事；因为 神已把作孤儿之父列在祂尊荣的称号之中。(3.) 她是美人，体态俊美，容貌佳丽；旁注如此说，斯 2:7。她的智慧和德行是她最大的美，然而一颗钻石被镶嵌得好，也是它的优势。(4.) 她的表兄末底改是她的监护人，抚养她长大，并收她为自己的女儿。七十士译本说他有意娶她为妻；若果真如此，他不阻拦她更好的前程，便值得称赞。当 神为孤儿寡母兴起朋友之时，当承认 神；愿这敬虔的善举大得鼓励，因为许多曾经留心教养孤儿的人，都活到看见自己关怀劳苦所结的好果子，足以使他们大得安慰。赖特博士认为，这位末底改就是拉 2:2 所提到的那一位，他曾与首批归回者一同上耶路撒冷，帮助百姓安顿，直到建殿之工受阻，他才回到波斯朝廷，看能在那里为他们作什么服事。末底改既是以斯帖的监护人或代父母，此处告诉我们：[1.] 他是何等顾惜她，如同亲生女儿一般（斯 2:11）：他每日在她门前走动，要知道她境况如何，有怎样的前景。愿那些因 神的护理而把亲属如此托付于自己的人，也这样以亲情相待、为他们挂心。[2.] 她是何等敬重他。虽然论亲属关系她是与他平辈，但论年纪和依靠关系她既是晚辈，就尊他为父——遵行他的命令，斯 2:20。这是给孤儿的榜样；他们若落在那些爱他们、照顾他们的人手中，就当以相应本分和亲情回报。他们的监护人在本分上越不欠他们养育之责，他们在感恩上就越有责任尊敬并顺服监护人。这里有一个以斯帖顺服末底改的实例：她没有把自己的宗族籍贯告诉人，因为末底改嘱咐她不可叫人知道，斯 2:10。他并不是叫她否认本国，也不是叫她说谎来隐瞒自己的出身；如果他这样吩咐她，她决不可行。他不过叫她不要宣扬本国而已。并非一切真理都当在一切时候说出来，虽然谎言在任何时候都不可说。她既生在书珊，父母又已去世，众人都以为她是波斯血统，她也并非必须去纠正他们的误解。
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她的被升高举。谁能想到，一位犹大女子、被掳之人、孤儿，竟生来要作王后、作皇后呢！然而事情果然如此。护理有时使贫穷人从灰尘中抬举起来，使他们与王子同坐，撒上 2:8。(1.) 王的太监希该尊重她（斯 2:9），乐意服事她。智慧和德行必赢得尊重。那些确实得蒙 神恩宠的人，也必在人前蒙恩，只要这于他们有益。凡看见以斯帖的都羡慕她（斯 2:15），断言她必是那位夺魁的女子，她也果然得胜。(2.) 王自己也爱上了她。她不像其余的处女那样急切地以人工的妆饰来美化自己；她除了所派定给她的以外，一无所求（斯 2:15），却最为得蒙悦纳。天然的美越纯粹就越动人。王爱以斯帖过于众女子，斯 2:17。此时他不需要再作任何进一步的尝试，也不必花时间斟酌；他很快就决定把后冠戴在她头上，立她为王后，斯 2:17。这事成于他作王第七年（斯 2:16），而瓦实提被休在他作王第三年（斯 1:3）；如此他整整四年没有王后。此处特别记下：[1.] 王赐给以斯帖的尊荣。他以一场御筵使她加冕的典礼更加隆重（斯 2:18），在那筵席上，以斯帖或许为顺从王而公开露面——这正是瓦实提所拒绝作的；这样她就在同一件事上得了顺服的称赞，而瓦实提却在同一件事上招了不顺服的羞辱。他又豁免各省的租税，或为豁免积欠的赋税，或为罪犯颁布恩赦；正如彼拉多在节期释放一个囚犯。这是为增添喜乐。[2.] 以斯帖继续给予她从前的监护人应有的敬意。她仍遵行末底改所吩咐的，如同抚养她的时候一样，斯 2:20。末底改坐在朝门；那就是他被高举的顶峰：他是朝廷中一名守门人。这职位是先前已有的，还是以斯帖为他求得的，并未告诉我们；然而他在那里安然坐着，并不奢求更高；而升到宝座上的以斯帖却仍敬重他。这证明了她性情谦卑而知恩——她感念他先前的恩情和持续而来的智慧。被升高举的人记念他们的恩人，铭刻他们良好教养的印象，对自己不自恃、乐意接受劝告并为此感恩，这对他们是极大的装饰，也是当受称赞的。
English original
Esther's Advancement; Esther Chosen Queen (514 BC)
¹ After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.
² Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
³ And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:
⁴ And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
⁵ Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;
⁶ Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
⁷ And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
⁸ So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
⁹ And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.
¹⁰ Esther had not showed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not show it.
¹¹ And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.
¹² Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)
¹³ Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.
¹⁴ In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.
¹⁵ Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
¹⁶ So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
¹⁷ And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
¹⁸ Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.
¹⁹ And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.
²⁰ Esther had not yet showed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
How God put down one that was high and mighty from her seat we read in the chapter before, and are now to be told how he exalted one of low degree, as the virgin Mary observes in her song (Lu 1:52) and Hannah before her, 1Sa 2:4-8. Vashti being humbled for her height, Esther is advanced for her humility. Observe,
I. The extravagant course that was taken to please the king with another wife instead of Vashti. Josephus says that when his anger was over he was exceedingly grieved that the matter was carried so far, and would have been reconciled to Vashti but that, by the constitution of the government, the judgment was irrevocable—that therefore, to make him forget her, they contrived how to entertain him first with a great variety of concubines, and then to fix him to the most agreeable of them all for a wife instead of Vashti. The marriages of princes are commonly made by policy and interest, for the enlarging of their dominions and the strengthening of their alliances; but this must be made partly by the agreeableness of the person to the king's fancy, whether she was rich or poor, noble or ignoble. What pains were taken to humour the king! As if his power and wealth were given him for no other end than that he might have all the delights of the sense wound up to the height of pleasurableness, and exquisitely refined, though at the best they are but dross and dregs in comparison with divine and spiritual pleasures. 1. All the provinces of his kingdom must be searched for fair young virgins, and officers appointed to choose them, Es 2:3. 2. A house (a seraglio) was prepared on purpose for them, and a person appointed to have the charge of them, to see that they were well provided for. 3. No less than twelve months was allowed them for their purification, some of them at least who were brought out of the country, that they might be very clean, and perfumed, Es 2:12. Even those who were the masterpieces of nature must yet have all this help from art to recommend them to a vain and carnal mind. 4. After the king had once taken them to his bed, they were made recluses ever after, except the king pleased at any time to send for them (Es 2:14); they were looked upon as secondary wives, were maintained by the king accordingly, and might not marry. We may see, by this instance, to what absurd practices those came who were destitute of divine revelation, and who, as a punishment for their idolatry, were given up to vile affections. Having broken through that law of creation which resulted from God's making man, they broke through another law, which was founded upon his making one man and one woman. See what need there was of the gospel of Christ to purify men from the lusts of the flesh and to reduce them to the original institution. Those that have learned Christ will think it a shame even to speak of such things as these which were done of them, not only in secret, but avowedly, Eph 5:12.
II. The overruling providence of God thus bringing Esther to be queen. Had she been recommended to Ahasuerus for a wife, he would have rejected the motion with disdain; but when she came in her turn, after several others, and it was found that though many of them were ingenious and discreet, graceful and agreeable, yet Esther excelled them all, way was made for her, even by her rivals, into the king's affections and the honours consequent thereupon. It is certain, as bishop Patrick says, that those who suggest that she committed a great sin to come at this dignity do not consider the custom of those times and countries. Every one that the king took to his bed was married to him, and was his wife of a lower rank, as Hagar was Abraham's; so that, if Esther had not been made queen, the sons of Jacob need not say that he dealt with their sister as with a harlot. Concerning Esther we must observe,
1. Her original and character. (1.) She was one of the children of the captivity, a Jewess and a sharer with her people in their bondage. Daniel and his fellows were advanced in the land where they were captives; for they were of those whom God sent thither for their good, Jer 24:5. (2.) She was an orphan; her father and mother were both dead (Es 2:7), but, when they had forsaken her, then the Lord took her up, Ps 27:10. When those whose unhappiness it is to be thus deprived of their parents in their childhood yet afterwards come to be eminently pious and prosperous, we ought to take notice of it to the glory of that God, and his grace and providence, who has taken it among the titles of his honour to be a Father of the fatherless. (3.) She was a beauty, fair of form, good of countenance; so it is in the margin, Es 2:7. Her wisdom and virtue were her greatest beauty, but it is an advantage to be a diamond to be well set. (4.) Mordecai, her cousin-german, was her guardian, brought her up, and took her for his own daughter. The LXX. says that he designed to make her his wife; if that were so, he was to be praised that he opposed not her better preferment. Let God be acknowledged in raising up friends for the fatherless and motherless; let it be an encouragement to that pious instance of charity that many who have taken care of the education of orphans have lived to see the good fruit of their care and pains, abundantly to their comfort. Dr. Lightfoot thinks that this Mordecai is the same with that mentioned in Ezr 2:2, who went up to Jerusalem with the first, and helped forward the settlement of his people until the building of the temple was stopped, and then went back to the Persian court, to see what service he could do them there. Mordecai being Esther's guardian or pro-parent, we are told, [1.] How tender he was of her, as if she had been his own child (Es 2:11): he walked before her door every day, to know how she did, and what interest she had. Let those whose relations are thus cast upon them by divine Providence be thus kindly affectioned to them and solicitous for them. [2.] How respectful she was to him. Though in relation she was his equal, yet, being in age and dependence his inferior, she honoured him as her father—did his commandment, Es 2:20. This is an example to orphans; if they fall into the hands of those who love them and take care of them, let them make suitable returns of duty and affection. The less obliged their guardians were in duty to provide for them the more obliged they are in gratitude to honour and obey their guardians. Here is an instance of Esther's obsequiousness to Mordecai, that she did not show her people of her kindred, because Mordecai had charged her that she should not, Es 2:10. He did not bid her deny her country, nor tell a lie to conceal her parentage; if he had told her to do so, she must not have done it. But he only told her not to proclaim her country. All truths are not to be spoken at all times, though an untruth is not to be spoken at any time. She being born in Shushan, and her parents being dead, all took her to be of Persian extraction, and she was not bound to undeceive them.
2. Her preferment. Who would have thought that a Jewess, a captive, and orphan, was born to be a queen, an empress! Yet so it proved. Providence sometimes raiseth up the poor out of the dust, to set them among princes, 1Sa 2:8. (1.) The king's chamberlain honoured her (Es 2:9), and was ready to serve her. Wisdom and virtue will gain respect. Those that make sure of God's favour shall find favour with man too as far as it is good for them. All that looked upon Esther admired her (Es 2:15) and concluded that she was the lady that would win the prize, and she did win it. (2.) The king himself fell in love with her. She was not solicitous, as the rest of the maidens were, to set herself off with artificial beauty; she required nothing but just what was appointed for her (Es 2:15) and yet she was most acceptable. The more natural beauty is the more agreeable. The king loved Esther above all the women, Es 2:17. Now he needed not to make any further trials, or take time to deliberate; he is soon determined to set the royal crown upon her head, and make her queen, Es 2:17. This was done in his seventh year (Es 2:16) and Vashti was divorced in his third year (Es 1:3); so that he was four years without a queen. Notice is taken, [1.] Of the honours the king put upon Esther. He graced the solemnity of her coronation with a royal feast (Es 2:18), at which perhaps Esther, in compliance with the king, made a public appearance, which Vashti had refused to do, that she might have the praise of obedience in the same instance in which the other incurred the blot of disobedience. He also granted a release to the provinces, either a remittance of the taxes in arrear or an act of grace for criminals; as Pilate, at the feast, released a prisoner. This was to add to the joy. [2.] Of the deference Esther continued to pay to her former guardian. She still did the commandment of Mordecai, as when she was brought up with him, Es 2:20. Mordecai sat in the king's gate; that was the height of his preferment: he was one of the porters or door-keepers of the court. Whether he had this place before, or whether Esther obtained it for him, we are not told; but there he sat contentedly, and aimed no higher; and yet Esther who was advanced to the throne was observant of him. This was an evidence of a humble and grateful disposition, that she had a sense of his former kindnesses and his continued wisdom. It is a great ornament to those that are advanced, and much to their praise, to remember their benefactors, to retain the impressions of their good education, to be diffident of themselves, willing to take advice, and thankful for it.
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Mordecai's Discovery of a Plot (510 BC)
简体中文
末底改发觉阴谋（公元前510年）
²¹ 当那些日子，末底改坐在朝门的时候，王的两个守门的太监辟探和提列恼怒，想要下手害亚哈随鲁王。 ²² 这事给末底改知道了，他就告诉王后以斯帖；以斯帖奉末底改的名报告于王。 ²³ 究察这事，果然是实，就把二人挂在木头上；这事在王面前写在年代记上。
末底改在发觉谋害王命的阴谋一事上为朝廷所作的这桩善功，在此被记录下来，因为日后提及此事时，必将再次成为他的益处。此时哈曼毁灭犹大人的图谋尚未采取任何步骤，但 神为拯救他们所作的安排却已踏出好几步，这一件便是其中之一。 神此时让末底改有机会为王效一件微劳，好使他日后更有机会为犹大人效一件大功。
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有两个王的臣仆设谋害王，他们想要下手拿他，不只是要囚禁他，更是要夺去他的性命，斯 2:21。他们大概是恼恨自以为王加在他们身上的某样羞辱，或是王向他们所作的某样损害。谁愿作大人物，以致成为如此招人嫉妒的对象呢？谁愿作独断专行之人，以致成为如此招人憎恶的对象呢？君王比任何凡人更甚，他们的性命常常在掌握之中，往往被杀归于坑中，尤其是那些曾在活人之地使人惊恐的。
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末底改得知了他们的叛逆，便借着以斯帖向王举报，借此既巩固了她在王面前的恩宠，又使自己得蒙王的恩眷。至于他如何得知此事，此处并未说明。无论是他无意中听见他们的密谈，还是他们试图拉拢他入伙，总之这事被他知道了。这对一切叛逆与煽动之谋都是当有的警戒：尽管人自信机密周全，空中的飞鸟也必传扬那声音。末底改一知道这事，就立即使人告知于王，这对一切愿意被算为良民的人，也当成为训诲与榜样——他们若知道有任何危害君王或公共和平的图谋，就不可隐瞒，因为隐瞒便是与公敌结盟同谋。
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那两个叛逆按他们当受的判罪被挂了起来，但并非在他们受审之前，乃是在他们的叛逆经过究察、证据确凿之后（斯 2:23），并且这一切都记在王的年代记上，特别注明末底改就是发觉这叛逆的人。他没有立即得着赏赐，只是先有一卷纪念册被写下了。论到那些服事基督的人也是这样，虽然他们的报答要迟延到义人复活的时候才得着，然而他们的因信心所作的工夫、因爱心所受的劳苦，却都一一记录在案，* 神是公义的，并不忘记*，来 6:10。
English original
Mordecai's Discovery of a Plot (510 BC)
²¹ In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
²² And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name.
²³ And 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.
This good service which Mordecai did to the government, in discovering a plot against the life of the king, is here recorded, because the mention of it will again occur to his advantage. No step is yet taken towards Haman's design of the Jews' destruction, but several steps are taken towards God's design of their deliverance, and this for one. God now gives Mordecai an opportunity of doing the king a good turn, that he might have the fairer opportunity afterwards of doing the Jews a good turn. 1. A design was laid against the king by two of his own servants, who sought to lay hands on him, not only to make him a prisoner, but to take away his life, Es 2:21. Probably they resented some affront which they thought he had given them, or some injury which he had done them. Who would be great, to be so much the object of envy? Who would be arbitrary, to be so much the object of ill-will? Princes, above any mortals, have their souls continually in their hands, and often go down slain to the pit, especially those who caused terror in the land of the living. 2. Mordecai got notice of their treason, and, by Esther's means, discovered it to the king, hereby confirming her in and recommending himself to the king's favour. How he came to the knowledge of it does not appear. Whether he overheard their discourse, or whether they offered to draw him in with them, so it was that the thing was known to him. This ought to be a warning against all traitorous and seditious practices: though men presume upon secresy, a bird of the air shall carry the voice. Mordecai, as soon as he knew it, caused it to be made known to the king, which ought to be an instruction and example to all that would be found good subjects not to conceal any bad design they know of against the prince or the public peace, for it is making a confederacy with public enemies. 3. The traitors were hanged, as they deserved, but not till their treason was, upon search, fully proved against them (Es 2:23), and the whole matter was recorded in the king's journals, with a particular remark that Mordecai was the man who discovered the treason. He was not rewarded presently, but a book of remembrance was written. Thus with respect to those who serve Christ, though their recompence is adjourned till the resurrection of the just, yet an account is kept of their work of faith and labour of love, which God is not unrighteous to forget, Heb 6:10.
本章记载两件事，正为犹太人脱离哈曼的阴谋而逐步铺就拯救之路：I. 以斯帖被立为王后，取代瓦实提。许多人觊觎此殊荣（斯2:1-4）；然而以斯帖——一个孤儿、被掳的犹太女子（斯2:5-7）——先得王的内臣赏识（斯2:8-11），后又得王喜悦（斯2:12-17），王遂立她为王后，斯2:18-20。II. 末底改向王告发谋害王命的阴谋，为王立下功劳，斯2:21-23。