서론
無題
英語原文
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)
エステルが高められる；エステルが王妃に選ばれる（紀元前514年）
¹ これらの事の後、アハシュエロス王の怒が静まると、王はワシュティと彼女がしたこと、および彼女について定められた勅令を思い出した。
² その時、王に仕える家来たちが言った。*「王のために美しい若い処女たちを捜し出させてください。
³ 王は王国のすべての州に役人を任命し、すべての美しい若い処女をシュシャンの宮殿に、女たちを預かる王の宦官ヘガイの管理の下に集めさせてください。そして彼女たちに清めの用品を与えさせてください。
⁴ 王の喜ぶ処女をワシュティの代わりに王妃としてください。」*このことが王を喜ばせたので、王はそのように行った。
⁵ シュシャンの宮殿に一人のユダヤ人がいた。その名はモルデカイ。彼はヤイルの子、シメイの孫、キシの曾孫で、ベニヤミン人であった。
⁶ 彼はバビロンの王ネブカデネザルが連れ去ったユダの王エコニヤと共にエルサレムから連れ去られた捕囚の中にあった。
⁷ 彼は自分の叔父の娘ハダッサ、すなわちエステルを育てた。彼女には父も母もなく、その処女は姿が美しく、麗しかった。彼女の父と母が死んだ時、モルデカイは彼女を自分の娘として引き取った。
⁸ 王の命令と勅令が聞かれ、多くの処女たちがシュシャンの宮殿に集められ、女たちを預かるヘガイの管理の下に置かれた時、エステルも王宮に連れて行かれ、女たちを預かるヘガイの管理の下に置かれた。
⁹ その処女は彼の目にかなって彼の好意を得たので、彼は急いで彼女に清めの用品と、彼女に属するもの、および王宮から彼女に与えるにふさわしい七人の侍女を与えた。そして彼女と彼女の侍女たちを女たちの家の最も良い場所に移した。
¹⁰ エステルは自分の民族も親族も明かにしなかった。モルデカイがそれを明かにしてはいけないと命じたからである。
¹¹ モルデカイは毎日女たちの家の中庭の前を歩き、エステルがどうしているか、彼女に何が起こるかを知ろうとした。
¹² それぞれの処女がアハシュエロス王のもとに入る順番が来た時、女たちの規定に従い十二か月を過ごした後のことであった。これは彼女たちの清めの日々が満たされたためで、すなわち六か月は没薬の油で、六か月は香料と女たちを清める他の用品で過ごした。
¹³ その時、処女が王のもとに入るにはこのようにした。彼女が望むものは何でも、女たちの家から王宮に一緒に持って行くようにと与えられた。
¹⁴ 夕方に入り、翌朝第二の女たちの家に戻り、側室を預かる王の宦官シャアシュガズの管理の下に置かれた。王が彼女を喜んで名ざしに呼ばない限り、彼女はもはや王のもとに入ることはなかった。
¹⁵ モルデカイが自分の娘として引き取った、モルデカイの叔父アビハイルの娘エステルが王のもとに入る順番が来た時、彼女は女たちを預かる王の宦官ヘガイが定めたもののほかは何も求めなかった。エステルは彼女を見るすべての人の目に好意を得た。
¹⁶ エステルはアハシュエロス王の治世第七年の第十の月、すなわちテベテの月に王宮に王のもとへ連れて行かれた。
¹⁷ 王はすべての女たちよりエステルを愛した。彼女はすべての処女たちより王の目に恵みと好意を得た。それで王は王冠を彼女の頭に戴き、ワシュティの代わりに王妃とした。
¹⁸ その時、王はすべての君たちと家来たちのために大いなる宴、すなわちエステルの宴を設けた。また州々に免除を与え、王の威厳にふさわしく贈り物をした。
¹⁹ 処女たちが二度目に集められた時、モルデカイは王の門に座していた。
²⁰ エステルはまだ自分の親族も民族も明かにしなかった。モルデカイが命じた通りであった。エステルはモルデカイに育てられた時と同様に、彼の命令を行った。
前の章で神が高い者をその座から下ろされたことを読んだが、今やマリヤがその歌で言ったように（Lu 1:52）、またその前のハンナが言ったように（1Sa 2:4-8）、神が低い者をどのように高められたかを聞く。ワシュティは高ぶりのゆえに低くされ、エステルは謙遜のゆえに高められた。見よ。
I. ワシュティの代わりに王の心にかなうもう一人の妻を探すために取られた贅沢な手順。ヨセフスは、王の怒りが去った後、事がそこまで進んだことを王がひどく悲しみ、ワシュティと和解したかったが、政府の法制上その判決は取り消せなかったと言う。それゆえ人々は王に彼女を忘れさせるために、まず多くの側室で王を楽しませ、次に彼らの中で最も気に入った者をワシュティの代わりに妻として定めようと企てた。王たちの結婚は通常、領土を広げ同盟を強めるための政策と利害によって行われる。しかしこの結婚は、その女が富んでいても貧しくても、貴くても卑しくても、ある程度は王の好みに合う美しさによるものでなければならなかった。王の機嫌を取るためにどれほどの手間がかけられたことか！あたかも彼の権力と富が、感覚のすべての楽しみを最高度に引き上げ精巧に洗練させるため以外に与えられたのではないかのようであった。しかしそれらは最も良くても、神的で霊的な楽しみに比べれば滓とおりにすぎない。1. 彼の王国のすべての州から美しい若い処女たちが捜し出されなければならず、彼女たちを選ぶ役人が任命されなければならなかった（Es 2:3）。2. 彼女たちのために特別に家（ハレム）が備えられ、彼女たちを預かりよく供給されるように世話する者が任命された。3. 彼女たちの清めのために十二か月が与えられた。少なくとも田舎から連れて来られた者の一部には、非常に清く香りよくするためであった（Es 2:12）。自然の傑作と言うべき者たちでさえ、虚しく肉的な心に自分を推薦するためには技術のすべての助けを受けなければならなかった。4. 王が一度彼女たちを自分の寝床に受け入れた後は、王がいつでも呼ぶことを喜ばない限り、彼女たちは以後隠遁者とされた（Es 2:14）。彼女たちは下位の妻と見なされ、それに応じて王から生活を支給され、結婚することはできなかった。この例によって、私たちは神的啓示を持たない者たちがどれほど不条理な慣習に至ったかを見ることができる。彼らは偶像礼拝の刑として恥ずべき情欲に引き渡された。神が人を造られたことから生じる創造の法を破った時、彼らは神が一人の男と一人の女を造られたことに基づくもう一つの法も破った。人々を肉の欲からきよめ、本来の制度に立ち返らせるために、キリストの福音がどれほど必要であったかを見よ。キリストを学んだ者は、このようなこと、すなわち彼らが密かにだけでなく公然と行っていたことを語ることさえ恥ずかしいと思うであろう（Eph 5:12）。
II. 神の統治する摂理がこのようにエステルを王妃とされた。もし彼女がアハシュエロスに妻として推薦されていたなら、彼はその提案を軽蔑して拒んだであろう。しかし彼女が数人の後に自分の順番で入り、その中の多くの者が才知に富み分別があり、優雅で好ましかったにもかかわらず、エステルが彼らすべてにまさることが明らかになった時、彼女の競争者たちによってさえ、王の愛情とそれに伴う栄誉への道が開かれた。パトリック監督が言うように、彼女がこの地位に達するために大いなる罪を犯したと言う者たちは、その時代と国の慣習を考慮していないことは確かである。王が自分の寝床に受け入れた者はすべて彼と結婚し、ハガルがアブラハムの妻であったように下位の妻となった。それゆえエステルが王妃とされなかったとしても、ヤコブの子たちが言ったように彼が私たちの姉妹を遊女のように扱ったと言う必要はなかったであろう。エステルについては次を見なければならない。
1. 彼女の出自と性格。(1) 彼女は捕囚の子らの一つであり、ユダヤ人として自分の民と共に束縛を分かち合った者であった。ダニエルとその仲間たちは捕囚の地で高められた。彼らは神が彼らの益のためにそこに遣わされた者たちの中にいたからである（Jer 24:5）。(2) 彼女は孤児であった。彼女の父と母は共に死んでいた（Es 2:7）。しかしそれらが彼女を見捨てた時、主は彼女を引き取られた（Ps 27:10）。幼い時に父母を失う不幸に遭った者たちが後に際立って敬虔で栄えるようになる時、私たちは神とその恵みと摂理の栄光のためにそれに注目すべきである。神はご自身の誉れの称号の中にみなしごの父という名を置かれたからである。(3) 彼女は美しかった。姿が美しく、顔立ちが良かったと欄外にある（Es 2:7）。彼女の知恵と徳が最も大きな美しさであったが、ダイヤモンドがよくセッティングされることは有利である。(4) 彼女のいとこであるモルデカイが彼女の後見人であり、彼女を育て、自分の娘として引き取った。七十人訳は彼が彼女を自分の妻にするつもりであったと言う。もしそうであれば、彼女のより良い昇進を妨げなかったという点で称賛されるべきである。父母のない者たちに友を起こされる神を認めよ。孤児たちの教育の世話をした多くの者が、その苦労と配慮の良い実を生きて見て、豊かに慰められたことは、そのような敬虔な慈善の模範に対する励ましとなる。ライトフット博士はこのモルデカイがEzr 2:2に言及されるモルデカイと同じ人物であると考える。彼は第一の群れと共にエルサレムに上り、神殿の建築が止められるまで自分の民の定着を助け、その後彼らのために何ができるかを見るためにペルシャの宮廷に戻ったという。モルデカイがエステルの後見人、すなわち代理親であったので、次を聞く。[1] 彼が自分の子供であるかのように彼女をどれほど優しく世話したか（Es 2:11）。彼は毎日彼女の門の前を歩き、彼女がどうしているか、どのような境遇にあるかを知ろうとした。神の摂理でこのような親族を任された者たちは、このように親切な愛情と配慮を持つべきである。[2] 彼女が彼をどれほど尊敬したか。関係上は彼と同等であったが、年齢と依存の面では下位であったので、彼女は彼を父のように尊敬して彼の命令を行った（Es 2:20）。これは孤児たちへの模範である。もしそれらが自分を愛し世話する者たちの手に委ねられたなら、当然の義務と愛情で報いるべきである。後見人が義務として彼らを養う責任が少なければ少ないほど、彼らは感謝をもって後見人を尊び従う責任が大きい。ここにエステルがモルデカイに従順であった一つの例がある。モルデカイが命じたので、彼女は自分の民族や親族を明かにしなかった（Es 2:10）。彼は彼女に自分の国を否めと言ったり、系統を隠すために嘘をつけと言ったりしなかった。もしそう言ったなら、彼女はそうしてはならなかった。彼はただ自分の国を公にしないと言っただけである。偽りはいかなる時にも語ってはならないが、すべての真理をすべての時に語らなければならないわけではない。彼女はシュシャンで生まれ、父母が死んでいたので、すべての人が彼女をペルシャ系統とみなし、彼女は彼らの誤解を解く義務はなかった。
2. 彼女の昇進。ユダヤ人、捕囚、孤児が王妃、すなわち皇后として生まれると誰が考えたであろうか！しかしそうなった。摂理は時に貧しい者をちりから起こし、君たちの中に座らせられる（1Sa 2:8）。(1) 王の宦官は彼女を尊んだ（Es 2:9）。また彼女に仕える準備ができていた。知恵と徳は尊敬を得る。神の恵みを確実に得た者たちは、それが彼らにとって良い限り、人からも好意を得るであろう。エステルを見たすべての者が彼女を称賛し（Es 2:15）、賞を得る女はまさに彼女であると結論し、実際に彼女が得た。(2) 王自身が彼女を愛するようになった。彼女は他の処女たちのように人工的な美しさで自分を引き立てようと熱心ではなかった。彼女は定められたもののほかは何も求めなかった（Es 2:15）。それでも彼女が最も受け入れられた。自然の美しさほど好ましいものはない。王はすべての女たちよりエステルを愛した（Es 2:17）。今や王はさらに試みる必要も、熟慮する時間を取る必要もなかった。彼はすぐに王冠を彼女の頭に戴き、王妃とすることを決めた（Es 2:17）。これは彼の第七年に行われ（Es 2:16）、ワシュティは彼の第三年に離縁された（Es 1:3）。それゆえ彼は四年間王妃なしで過ごしたことになる。次の事実が注目される。[1] 王がエステルに与えた栄誉。彼は彼女の戴冠式の荘厳さを王の宴で輝かせた（Es 2:18）。おそらくエステルは王に従ってその場で公に現れたことであろう。ワシュティが拒んだまさにその事において従順の称賛を得るためであり、もう一方が不従順の汚点を得た場で栄誉を得るためであった。王はまた州々に免除を与えた。これは未払いの税金の免除か、犯罪者に対する恩赦のいずれかであろう。ピラトが祭に囚人を一人解放したのと同じである。これは喜びを加えるためであった。[2] エステルが以前の後見人に払い続けた敬意。彼女は依然としてモルデカイに育てられた時と同様に彼の命令を行った（Es 2:20）。モルデカイは王の門に座していた。それが彼の昇進の頂点であった。彼は宮廷の門衛または守衛の一つであった。以前からその地位にあったのか、エステルがそれを彼のために得たのかは語られない。しかしそこに満足して座り、より高いものを求めなかった。それでも王座に就いたエステルは彼を尊重した。これは謙遜で感謝する性質の証拠であった。彼が以前の親切と継続する知恵を心に留めていたからである。高められた者たちが自分の恩人を覚え、良い教育の印象を保ち、自分自身を過信せず、進んで助言を受け、それに感謝することは、彼らにとって大きな飾りであり、大いに称賛されるべきことである。
英語原文
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.
21-23
Mordecai's Discovery of a Plot (510 BC)
モルデカイが陰謀を発見する（紀元前510年）
²¹ その頃、モルデカイが王の門に座していた時、門を守る者のうち、王の宦官ビグタンとテレシの二人が怒り、アハシュエロス王に手を下そうと図った。
²² その事がモルデカイに知られ、モルデカイは王妃エステルに告げた。エステルはモルデカイの名でそれを王に告げた。
²³ その事を調べると事実であることが分かったので、二人は木にかけられた。そしてその事は王の前で年代記の書に記された。
王の命をそこなう陰謀を発見することによってモルデカイが政府に為したこの良い奉仕がここに記されているのは、それが再び言及され、彼に有利に作用するからである。まだユダヤ人を滅ぼすハマンの計画に向けての措置は取られていないが、彼らを救う神の計画に向けてのいくつかの措置はすでに取られており、これもその一つであった。神は今モルデカイに王に良いことをする機会を与えられた。それは後ほど彼がユダヤ人に良いことをするより良い機会を得るためであった。1. 王自身の二人の家来が王をそこなう計画を立てた。彼らは王に手を下そうとしたが、単に彼を捕虜にするだけでなく、彼の命を奪おうとしたのである（Es 2:21）。おそらく彼らは王が自分たちに与えたと思った何らかの侮辱や害を恨んでいたのであろう。それほどねたみの的になるなら、だれが偉くなろうとするか。それほど悪意の的になるなら、だれが専制的に振る舞おうとするか。君主たちはどんな人間よりも絶えず自分の命を手のひらに乗せており、特に生ける者の地に恐怖を起こさせた者はしばしば剣に殺されて穴に下る。2. モルデカイは彼らの反逆を知り、エステルを通じてそれを王に告げた。これによって彼はエステルを王の寵愛の中にいっそう堅く立て、自分も王の好意に推された。彼がどのようにしてそれを知ったかは明らかでない。彼らの会話を盗み聞きしたのか、あるいは彼らが彼を引き入れようとしたのかは分からないが、いずれにせよ*その事は知られた。*これはすべての反逆的で扇動的な行為に対する警告となるべきである。人々が秘密を頼んで油断しても、空の鳥がその声を運ぶであろう。モルデカイはそれを知るやいなや王に知らせた。これは良い臣民と認められたいすべての者に教訓と模範となるべきである。君主や公共の平和に逆らう悪い計画を知りながら隠してはならない。それは公共の敵との同盟を結ぶことだからである。3. 反逆者たちは当然の報いとして木にかけられた。しかし彼らの反逆が調べの末に十分に証明された後でそうされた（Es 2:23）。そしてそのすべての事は王の日誌に記され、モルデカイがその反逆を暴き出した者であるという特別な注記も添えられた。彼はすぐには報われなかったが、記憶の書が書かれた。キリストに仕える者たちも同様である。彼らの報いは義人の復活まで延期されているが、彼らの信仰の働きと愛の労苦は記録されている。神はそれを忘れるほど不義ではない（Heb 6:10）。
英語原文
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.
この章にはハマンの陰謀からユダヤ人を救う方向へと働いていた二つのことが記されている。 I. ワシュティに代わってエステルが王妃として高められたこと。その栄誉を得ようとする候補者は多くいた（Es 2:1-4）。しかしエステルは孤児であり、捕囚のユダヤ人であったが（Es 2:5-7）、まず王の侍従の好意を得（Es 2:8-11）、次に王の好意をも得て（Es 2:12-17）、王は彼女を王妃とした（Es 2:18-20）。II. モルデカイが王の命を害する陰謀を発見し、王に良い奉仕をしたこと（Es 2:21-23）。