서론
無題
英語原文
The last news we had of Haman left him in his cups, Es 3:15. Our last news of queen Esther left her in tears, fasting and praying. Now this chapter brings in, I. Esther in her joys, smiled upon by the king and honoured with his company at her banquet of wine, Es 5:1-8. II. Haman upon the fret, because he had not Mordecai's cap and knee, and with great indignation setting up a gallows for him, Es 5:9-14. Thus those that sow in tears shall reap in joy, but the triumphing of the wicked is short.
1-8
Esther's Approach to the King (510 BC)
エステルが王に近づく（紀元前510年）
¹ 第三日に、エステルは王妃の衣を着け、王宮の内庭、すなわち王の家の向かいに立った。王は王宮の中で、家の門の向かいにある王の王座に座していた。
² 王が庭に立っている王妃エステルを見た時、彼女は王の目に好意を得た。王は手に持っていた金の笏をエステルに差し出した。エステルは近づいてその笏の先に触れた。
³ 王は彼女に言った。「王妃エステルよ、何を願うのか。あなたの願いは何か。王国の半ばでもあなたに与えられよう。」
⁴ エステルは答えた。「王が良いと見なされるなら、王とハマンが今日私が王のために備えた宴に来てください。」
⁵ 王は言った。「ハマンを急いで来させ、エステルが言ったようにさせよ。」こうして王とハマンはエステルが備えた宴に行った。
⁶ ぶどう酒の宴で王はエステルに言った。「あなたの願いは何か。それはあなたに許されよう。あなたの願いは何か。王国の半ばでも行われよう。」
⁷ エステルは答えて言った。「私の願いと私の願いはこうです。
⁸ 私が王の目に好意を得ており、王が私の願いを許し、私の願いを行うことを良いとされるなら、王とハマンは私が彼らのために備える宴に来てください。そうすれば私は明日王が言われた通りにしましょう。」
ここに次のことがある。 I. エステルが大胆に王に近づいたこと（Es 5:1）。彼らの断食のために定めた時間が終わった時、彼女は時間を浪費しなかった。第三日、彼女の敬虔な献身の印象がなお霊に鮮明な時に、王に近づいた。心が神との交わりにおいて広げられる時、神のために行い苦しむことにおいても大胆となる。ある者たちは三日の断食が丸一日と丸二夜にすぎず、その間全く食物を取らず、これがキリストが墓にそれほど長く横たえられたのと同じく三日と呼ばれると考える。王妃が第三日に宮廷に現れたという事実はこの解釈を支持する。困難と危険を突破しなければならない決意は、冷えて緩まないうちに遅延なく追求されるべきである。大胆にしなければならないことは、速やかに行え。今や彼女は王により良く受け入れられるために王妃の衣を着け、断食日の衣服を脱ぎ捨てた。彼女が良い服を着たのは自分を喜ばせるためではなく、夫を喜ばせるためであった。外典に見られる彼女の祈り（エステル14:16）で彼女は神に次のように訴える。主よ、私が自分を示す日々に、私の頭の上にある高い身分のしるしを忌み嫌うことをあなたはご存じです。身分のゆえに高価な服を着なければならない者たちは、ここからそれらに対して死んだ者となり、それらを自分の飾りとしないことを学べ。彼女は王の向かいの内庭に立ち、希望と恐れの間で自分の判決を待った。
II. 王が彼女を好意的に受け入れたこと。王が彼女を見た時、彼女は王の目に好意を得た。外典の著者とヨセフスは、彼女が二人の侍女を連れて行き、一人に寄りかかり、もう一人が彼女の裾を支えたと言う。彼女の顔は明るく非常に愛らしかったが、心は苦悩にあったという。威厳に輝く顔を上げた王は最初は非常に激しく彼女を見たので、彼女は青ざめ、気絶し、そばを行く侍女の頭の上に身を伏せたという。しかしその時神が王の霊を変えられ、王は恐れの中で王座から飛び降り、彼女が正気を取り戻すまで腕に抱き、愛の言葉で慰めたという。ここで私たちに語られるのは次だけである。
1. 王が彼女に金の笏を差し出して（Es 5:2）、彼女を法から守り、安全を保証したこと。彼女は感謝をもってその先に触れることによって、謙遜な嘆願者として自分を彼に捧げた。このようにヤコブのように神と格闘して勝った彼女は、人にも力を得た。神のために自分の命を失おうとする者は、それを救い、あるいはより良い命の中に見出すであろう。
2. 王が彼女の言葉を励ましたこと（Es 5:3）。「王妃エステルよ、何を願うのか。あなたの願いは何か。」王が彼女を違反者とみなすのとはほど遠く、むしろ彼女を見て喜び、彼女に好意を示したいと望むようであった。呼ばれた時に来なかったという理由で一人の妻と離婚した王が、呼ばれないのに来たという理由で他の妻に厳しく当たらなかった。神は人々の心、大きな人々の心、最も専制的に行動する者たちの心をも、私たちに向けてご随意に変えることができる。エステルは自分が死ぬだろうと恐れたが、王国の半ばであっても求めれば受けられるという約束を得た。注目せよ。神は摂理のうちに、特にご自身の民が神の大義のために危険を冒す時、彼らの恐れをしばしば前もって防ぎ、彼らの望みより大きく行われる。この物語から私たちは、救い主が不正な裁判官のたとえからなさったように、常に祈り、落胆してはならないという励ましを自分たちの神に対して引き出そう（Lu 18:6-8）。この高ぶる王の言うことを聞け。「あなたの願いは何か、あなたの求めは何か。それはあなたに許されよう。」そして言え。まして神が夜昼叫ぶご自身の選ばれた者たちの祈りを聞いて答えられないことがあろうか。エステルは高ぶり権力を振るう人のもとに行った。私たちは愛と恵みの神のもとに行く。彼女は召されていなかった。私たちは召されている。御霊が来よと言い、花嫁も来よと言う。彼女には自分に逆らう法があった。私たちは私たちに有利な約束、多くの約束がある。*求めよ、そうすれば与えられる。*彼女には自分を紹介し、とりなす友がなく、むしろ当時の王の寵臣が彼女の敵であった。しかし私たちには父の御前で私たちのために助け主があり、父は彼に満足される。それゆえ私たちは恵みの御座に大胆に近づこう。
3. その時彼女が王に求めたことはすべて、王が自分のために備えた宴に来て、ハマンも共に連れて来てほしいということであった（Es 5:4,5）。これによって、(1) 彼女は王の好意と同伴をどれほど尊ぶかを王にほのめかそうとした。彼女が何を求めなければならないにせよ、彼女は何よりも王の好意を望み、いかなる代価を払ってもそれを得ようとした。(2) 彼女は王が自分にどのような心を持っているかを試そうとした。もし王がこれを拒むなら、まだ他の願いを示すのは無駄であったからである。(3) 彼女は王を機嫌よくし、その心を和らげ、自分が彼にしなければならない訴えの印象をより柔らかく受け取らせようとした。(4) 彼女は王が寵愛するハマンに礼を尽くし、王が彼の同伴を喜ぶことを知り、また自分が訴えをする時に彼にその場にいてほしいと望んだので、彼を招くことによって王を喜ばせようとした。彼女は彼の顔の前であえて言えないことは彼について何も言わないつもりであった。(5) 彼女はぶどう酒の宴で自分の嘆願を示すより良くより好意的な機会を得ることを望んだ。扱いにくいある人々をどう扱うべきか、どこを掴むべきかを導くのに知恵は有益である。
4. 王は進んで来て、ハマンも共に来るよう命じた（Es 5:5）。これは王が依然として彼女に抱く親切のしるしであった。もし王が本当に彼女と彼女の民の滅びを計画していたなら、彼女の宴を受け入れなかったであろう。そこで王は親切な問いかけを新たにした。「あなたの願いは何か。」そして王国の半ばであっても許されるという寛大な約束を新たにした（Es 5:6）。これは諺的な表現で、当然のことなら何も拒まないという保証であった。ヘロデもこの表現を用いた（Mk 6:23）。
5. その時エステルは翌日自分の居室でもう一つの饗宴を喜んで受けてほしいという約束以上を求めないのがよいと考えた。その時もハマンが王と共に来るように頼んだ（Es 5:7,8）。そしてその時自分の用件が何であるかを王に知らせるとほのめかした。この主要な嘆願の延期は、(1) エステルの慎み深さによるものと見なすことができる。彼女はこのようにすることでさらに王の心を勝ち取り、王の好感を得ることを望んだ。おそらく彼女が願いをしようとする瞬間に心が弱まり、神が彼女に口と知恵を与えられるようさらに祈る時間を取りたかったのかもしれない。このように先延ばしにすることは、王への大きな敬意と、あまり執拗に迫らない姿勢の表現として良く受け取られることを彼女は知っていたであろう。急いで求められるものはしばしば急いで拒まれる。しかし一時停止して求められるものは考慮に値する。(2) 神の摂理がエステルの心に彼女の嘆願をもう一日延期させたことによるものと見なすことができる。彼女はなぜか知らなかったが、神は知っておられた。今日と明日の間にはさむ夜に起こる事が彼女の計画を助け、成功への道を開き、ハマンがモルデカイに対する悪意の最高潮に達し、彼の前に倒れ始めるようにするためであった。ユダヤ人たちはおそらくエステルが遅いと非難し、彼らの一部は彼女の誠実さ、あるいは少なくとも熱心を疑い始めたことであろう。しかし出来事の結果は彼らの疑いが誤りであったことを示し、すべては最善であった。
英語原文
Esther's Approach to the King (510 BC)
¹ Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
² And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
³ Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.
⁴ And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.
⁵ Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
⁶ And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.
⁷ Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;
⁸ If 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.
Here is, I. Esther's bold approach to the king, Es 5:1. When the time appointed for their fast was finished she lost no time, but on the third day, when the impression of her devotions were fresh upon her spirit, she addressed the king. When the heart is enlarged in communion with God it will be emboldened in doing and suffering for him. Some think that the three days' fast was only one whole day and two whole nights, in all which time they did not take any food at all, and that this is called three days, as Christ's lying in the grave so long is. This exposition is favoured by the consideration that on the third day the queen made her appearance at court. Resolutions which have difficulties and dangers to break though should be pursued without delay, lest they cool and slacken. What thou doest, which must be done boldly, do it quickly. Now she put on her royal apparel, that she might the better recommend herself to the king, and laid aside her fast-day clothes. She put on her fine clothes, not to please herself, but her husband; in her prayer, as we find in the Apocrypha (Esther xiv. 16), she thus appeals to God: Thou knowest, Lord, I abhor the sign of my high estate which is upon my head, in the days wherein I show myself, etc. Let hose whose rank obliges them to wear rich clothes learn hence to be dead to them, and not make them their adorning. She stood in the inner court over against the king, expecting her doom, between hope and fear.
II. The favourable reception which the king gave her. When he saw her she obtained favour in his sight. The apocryphal author and Josephus say that she took two maids with her, on one of whom she leaned, while the other bore up her train,—that her countenance was cheerful and very amiable, but her heart was in anguish,—that the king, lifting up his countenance that shone with majesty, at first looked very fiercely upon her, whereupon she grew pale, and fainted, and bowed herself on the head of the maid that went by her; but then God changed the spirit of the king, and, in a fear, he leaped from his throne, took her in his arms till she came to herself, and comforted her with loving words. Here we are only told,
1. That he protected her from the law, and assured her of safety, by holding out to her the golden sceptre (Es 5:2), which she thankfully touched the top of, thereby presenting herself to him as a humble petitioner. Thus having had power with God and prevailed, like Jacob, she had power with men too. He that will lose his life for God shall save it, or find it in a better life.
2. That he encouraged her address (Es 5:3): What wilt thou, queen Esther, and what is thy request? So far was he from counting her an offender that he seemed glad to see her, and desirous to oblige her. He that had divorced one wife for not coming when she was sent for would not be severe to another for coming when she was not sent for. God can turn the hearts of men, of great men, of those that act most arbitrarily, which way he pleases towards us. Esther feared that she should perish, but was promised that she should have what she might ask for, though it were the half of the kingdom. Note, God in his providence often prevents the fears, and outdoes the hopes, of his people, especially when they venture in his cause. Let us from this story infer, as our Saviour does from the parable of the unjust judge, an encouragement to pray always to our God, and not faint, Lu 18:6-8. Hear what this haughty king says (What is thy petition, and what is thy request? It shall be granted thee), and say shall not God hear and answer the prayers of his own elect, that cry day and night to him? Esther came to a proud imperious man; we come to the God of love and grace. She was not called; we are: the Spirit says, Come, and the bride says, Come. She had a law against her; we have a promise, many a promise, in favour of us: Ask, and it shall be given you. She had no friend to introduce her, or intercede for her, while on the contrary he that was then the king's favourite was her enemy; but we have an advocate with the Father, in whom he is well pleased. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace.
3. That all the request she had to make to him, at this time, was that he would please to come to a banquet which she had prepared for him, and bring Haman along with him, Es 5:4,5. Hereby, (1.) She would intimate to him how much she valued his favour and company. Whatever she had to ask, she desired his favour above any thing, and would purchase it at any rate. (2.) She would try how he stood affected to her; for, if he should refuse this, it would be to no purpose as yet to present her other request. (3.) She would endeavour to bring him into a pleasant humour, and soften his spirit, that he might with the more tenderness receive the impressions of the complaint she had to make to him. (4.) She would please him, by making court to Haman his favourite, and inviting him to come whose company she knew he loved and whom she desired to have present when she made her complaint; for she would say nothing of him but what she durst say to his face. (5.) She hoped at the banquet of wine to have a fairer and more favourable opportunity of presenting her petition. Wisdom is profitable to direct how to manage some men that are hard to deal with, and to take them by the right handle.
4. That he readily came, and ordered Haman to come along with him (Es 5:5), which was an indication of the kindness he still retained for her; if he really designed the destruction of her and her people, he would not have accepted her banquet. There he renewed his kind enquiry (What is thy petition?) and his generous promise, that it should be granted, even to the half of the kingdom (Es 5:6), a proverbial expression, by which he assured her that he would deny her nothing in reason. Herod used it, Mk 6:23.
5. That then Esther thought fit to ask no more than a promise that he would please to accept of another treat, the next day, in her apartment, and Haman with him (Es 5:7,8), intimating to him that then she would let him know what her business was. This adjourning of the main petition may be attributed, (1.) To Esther's prudence; thus she hoped yet further to win upon him and ingratiate herself with him. Perhaps her heart failed her now when she was going to make her request, and she desired to take some further time for prayer, that God would give her a mouth and wisdom. The putting of it off thus, it is likely, she knew would be well taken as an expression of the great reverence she had for the king, and her unwillingness to be too pressing upon him. What is hastily asked is often as hastily denied; but what is asked with a pause deserves to be considered. (2.) To God's providence putting it into Esther's heart to delay her petition a day longer, she knew not why, but God did, that what was to happen in the night intervening between this and to-morrow might further her design and make way for her success, that Haman might arrive at the highest pitch of malice against Mordecai and might begin to fall before him. The Jews perhaps blamed Ester as dilatory, and some of them began to suspect her sincerity, or at least her zeal; but the event disproved their jealousy, and all was for the best.
9-14
Haman's Joy and Chagrin; Haman's Mediated Revenge (510 BC)
ハマンの喜びと憤り；ハマンのはかりごろませた復讐（紀元前510年）
⁹ その日、ハマンは喜び、心楽しく出て行った。しかしハマンが王の門にいるモルデカイを見た時、彼が立ち上がらず、自分のために動かなかったので、モルデカイに対して憤りが満ちた。
¹⁰ しかしハマンは自分を抑えた。家に着くと、人をやって自分の友人たちと妻ゼレシを呼んだ。
¹¹ ハマンは自分の富の栄光、子どもたちの多さ、王が自分を昇進させたすべてのこと、王の君たちや家来たちより自分を高くしたことを彼らに語った。
¹² ハマンはさらに言った。「しかも王妃エステルは、自分が備えた宴に王と共に来る者として私のほかにはだれも許さなかった。明日も私は王と共に彼女に招かれている。
¹³ しかしユダヤ人モルデカイが王の門に座しているのを見る限り、これらはすべて私に何の益にもならない。」
¹⁴ その時、彼の妻ゼレシとすべての友人たちは彼に言った。「高さ五十キュビトの絞首台を造り、明日王に語ってモルデカイをその上にかけさせるようにしなさい。それから王と共に楽しく宴に入りなさい。」その事はハマンを喜ばせたので、彼はその絞首台を造らせた。
ここに与えられるハマンに関する記述は、ソロモンの言葉Pr 21:24の注解である。*誇り高く高ぶるあざける者、それが彼の名。怒りをもって行う者は誇り高い。*ハマンほどその名に合う者はいなかった。彼においては誇りと怒りがそれほどまでに支配的であったからである。彼を見よ。
I. エステルの宴に招かれた栄誉に有頂天になっている。彼はそのことで喜び、心楽しくなった（Es 5:9）。彼がそれをどれほど大げさに語るか（Es 5:12）、それを自分の価値として誇り、王妃エステルが王と共に宴に来る者として偉大な自分自身のほかは許さなかったという事実が、幸福の完成にどれほど近いと考えているかを見よ。また翌日も彼女が王と共に来るよう自分を招いたのは、彼女が自分の会話を大いに魅力的と感じたからだと考えたのである。王の伴侶となるに自分ほどふさわしい者はないと思った。注目せよ。自分を崇拝し自分をへつらう者たちは実際には自分を欺く者たちである。ハマンは王妃がこの繰り返される招待によって自分を尊ぼうとしていると想像して自分を喜ばせた。しかし実際には彼女は彼を告発しようとしており、彼を宴に招いたのは彼を裁きの座に呼んだにすぎなかった。誇り高い者たちはどんな拡大鏡で自分の顔を見るのであろうか！またその心の誇りが彼らをどれほど欺くか！（Ob 1:3）。
II. モルデカイが彼に示した軽蔑のゆえに苛立ち苛立ち、それによって自分自身と周囲のすべてを不快にする。1. モルデカイは以前と同様に固い決意であった。彼は立ち上がらず、彼のために動かなかった（Es 5:9）。彼のしたことは良心の原則からであったので、その中に留まり続け、ハマンにへりくだって屈しなかった。彼を恐れる理由があり、エステル自身が彼に礼を尽くしていた時でさえ。彼は神がそのような卑しく卑屈な方法でハマンを和らげずに、自分と民をハマンの怒りから救うことができ、また救われることを知っていた。聖なる誠実さの中を歩む者は聖なる安全の中を歩むことができ、人が自分たちに何をなしうるかを恐れずに自分のわざを続けることができる。正しく歩む者は安全に歩む。2. ハマンは以前と同様にそれに耐えられなかった。いや、彼がより高く上げられるほど、軽蔑に耐えられず、それにいっそう激怒した。(1) それは彼の霊を休まらせ、彼をひどい動揺の中に追いやった。彼は憤りが満ちたが（Es 5:9）、自分を抑えた（Es 5:10）。彼は喜んで剣を抜き、こうも自分を侮辱したモルデカイを突き通したかったであろう。しかし間もなくモルデカイがすべてのユダヤ人と共に倒れるのを見るだろうと望んだので、やっとのことで彼を刺すことを思いとどまった。彼自身の胸の中でどれほどの闘いがあったことか！一方にはモルデカイの即時の死を求める怒り（ああ、彼の肉があれば！私は満足できない！Job 31:31）があり、他方には一般的虐殺まで待つと決めた悪意があった。このように背き者の道にはいばらとわながある。(2) それは彼のすべての楽しみの味を奪った。モルデカイから受けたこの小さな侮辱は、彼の貴重な香油のつぼ一つを台無しにした死んだばえであった。彼は妻と友人たちの前で、誇り高く不満多い心の永遠の恥として、モルデカイが生きており王の門に場所を持っている限り、自分の財産、昇進、家族のうちに何の慰めもないと自ら認めた（Es 5:10-13）。彼は自分の富と栄誉、家族の多さ、自分が昇った高い地位、自分が君主の寵児であり宮廷の偶像であることを言及した。しかしモルデカイがかけられない限りこれらはすべて私に何の益にもならない。不快になろうとする性質を持つ者たちは、何か不快になるものを常に欠かさない。誇り高い者たちは自分の心に多く合うものを持っていても、すべてが自分の心に合わなければ、それを何でもないことと見なす。ハマンが持っていた千分の一があれば、謙遜で節度ある人にはこの世から期待するほどの幸福をもたらすのに十分であったであろう。それなのにハマンはまるで最も低い貧困と恥に沈んだ者のように激しく不満を言った。
III. 復讐を企て、そのことで妻と友人たちの助けを受けた（Es 5:14）。彼らは彼がくじで定められた時まで虐殺を延期しようとする自分の決心をどれほど喜んで差し置こうとしているかを見た。それで彼らに、その時に期待する満足の前払いであり前味として、モルデカイを速やかに処刑するよう勧めた。今の彼を喜ばせるそのものを持てと。彼が考えるには定められた時にすべてのユダヤ人の滅亡はすでに確実となっていたので、当面はモルデカイ一人に手を下すことを卑しいこととはしないであろう。1. 彼の想像を満足させるために、彼らは絞首台を準備させ、自分の家の前に立てるよう勧めた。許可証に署名さえできれば、執行が遅れないようにするためである。絞首台を作る間待つ必要さえないように。これはハマンの心に非常に合った。彼はすぐに絞首台を作り立てさせた。それは高さ五十キュビト、あるいはそれに近いものでなければならなかった。モルデカイをいっそう辱め、通りかかるすべての者の見世物にするためであった。またそれはハマンの家の前になければならなかった。モルデカイが彼の復讐の偶像に犠牲として捧げられたことをすべての者に気づかせ、ハマンがその光景で自分の目を満たすことができるように。
- 自分の目的を達成するために、彼らは朝早く王のところに行き、モルデカイをかける命令を得るよう勧めた。彼らはそれほど王の寵愛を受け、ユダヤ人全国を滅ぼす勅令をもあれほど容易に得た者に、その命令が喜んで許されるだろうと疑わなかった。偽りの告発は必要なかった。モルデカイが王の命令を蔑して彼に敬意を払うことを拒んだことを王に知らせるだけで十分であった。さて私たちはハマンを床に就かせておく。彼は翌日モルデカイがかけられるのを見、それから楽しく宴に行く思いで満足している。しかし自分自身の絞首台の最初の使用者になるなどとは夢にも思っていない。
英語原文
Haman's Joy and Chagrin; Haman's Mediated Revenge (510 BC)
⁹ Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.
¹⁰ Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.
¹¹ And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
¹² Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king.
¹³ Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
¹⁴ Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.
This account here given of Haman is a comment upon that of Solomon, Pr 21:24. Proud and haughty scorner is his name that deals in proud wrath. Never did any man more answer that name than Haman, in whom pride and wrath had so much the ascendant. See him,
I. Puffed up with the honour of being invited to Esther's feast. He was joyful and glad of heart at it, Es 5:9. Observe with what a high gust he speaks of it (Es 5:12), how he values himself upon it, and how near he thinks it brings him to the perfection of felicity, that Esther the queen did let no man come with the king to the banquet but his mighty self, and he thought it was because she was exceedingly charmed with his conversation that the next day she had invited him also to come with the king; none so fit as he to bear the king company. Note, Self-admirers and self-flatterers are really self-deceivers. Haman pleased himself with the fancy that the queen, by this repeated invitation, designed to honour him, whereas really she designed to accuse him, and, in calling him to the banquet, did but call him to the bar. What magnifying glasses do proud men look at their faces in! And how does the pride of their heart deceive them! Ob 1:3.
II. Vexing and fretting at the slight that Mordecai put upon him, and thereby made uneasy to himself and to all about him. 1. Mordecai was as determined as ever: He stood not up, nor moved for him, Es 5:9. What he did was from a principle of conscience, and therefore he persevered in it, and would not cringe to Haman, no, not when he had reason to fear him and Esther herself complimented him. He knew God could and would deliver him and his people from the rage of Haman, without any such mean and sneaking expedients to mollify him. Those that walk in holy sincerity may walk in holy security, and go on in their work, not fearing what man can do unto them. He that walks uprightly walks surely. 2. Haman can as ill bear it as ever; nay, the higher he is lifted up, the more impatient is he of contempt and the more enraged at it. (1.) It made his own spirit restless, and put him into a grievous agitation. He was full of indignation (Es 5:9) and yet refrained himself, Es 5:10. Gladly would he have drawn his sword and run Mordecai through for affronting him thus; but he hoped shortly to see him fall with all the Jews, and therefore with much ado prevailed with himself to forbear stabbing him. What a struggle had he in his own bosom between his anger, which required Mordecai's death immediately (O that I had of his flesh! I cannot be satisfied! Job 31:31), and his malice, which had determined to wait for the general massacre! Thus thorns and snares are in the way of the froward. (2.) It made all his enjoyments sapless. This little affront which he received from Mordecai was the dead fly which spoiled all his pot of precious ointment; he himself owned in the presence of his wife and friends, to the everlasting reproach of a proud and discontented mind, that he had no comfort in his estate, preferment, and family, as long as Mordecai lived and had a place in the king's gate, Es 5:10-13. He took notice of his own riches and honours, the numerousness of his family, and the high posts to which he was advanced, that he was the darling of the prince and the idol of the court; and yet all this avails him nothing as long as Mordecai is unhanged. Those that are disposed to be uneasy will never want something or other to be uneasy at; and proud men, though they have much to their mind, yet, if they have not all to their mind, it is as nothing to them. The thousandth part of what Haman had would serve to make a humble modest man as much of a happiness as he expects from this world; and yet Haman complained as passionately as if he had been sunk into the lowest degree of poverty and disgrace.
III. Meditating revenge, and assisted therein by his wife and his friends, Es 5:14. They saw how gladly he would dispense with his own resolution of deferring the slaughter till the time determined by the lot, and therefore advised him to take an earnest and foretaste of the satisfaction he then expected in the speedy execution of Mordecai; let him have that to please him at the moment; and having, as he thought, made sure the destruction of all the Jews, at the time appointed, he will not think scorn, for the present, to lay hands on Mordecai alone. 1. For the pleasing of his fancy they advise him to get a gallows ready, and have it set up before his own door, that, as soon as ever he could get the warrant signed, there might be no delay of the execution; he would not need so much as to stay the making of the gallows. This is very agreeable to Haman, who has the gallows made and fixed immediately; it must be fifty cubits high, or as near that as might be, for the greater disgrace of Mordecai and to make him a spectacle to every one that passed by; and it must be before Haman's door, that all men might take notice it was to the idol of his revenge that Mordecai was sacrificed and that he might feed his eyes with the sight. 2. For the gaining of his point they advise him to go early in the morning to the king, and get an order from him for the hanging of Mordecai, which, they doubted not, would be readily granted to one who was so much the king's favourite and who had so easily obtained an edict for the destruction of the whole nation of the Jews. There needed no feigned suggestion; it was enough if he let the king know that Mordecai, in contempt of the king's command, refused to reverence him. And now we leave Haman to go to bed, pleased with the thoughts of seeing Mordecai hanged the next day, and then going merrily to the banquet, and not dreaming of handselling his own gallows.
私たちが最後に聞いたハマンの知らせは、彼が酒杯の中にいたということであった（Es 3:15）。王妃エステルについての最後の知らせは、彼女が涙と断食と祈りのうちにあったということであった。今やこの章は次のことを示す。 I. 喜びのうちにあるエステル。王が彼女に微笑みかけ、彼女のぶどう酒の宴に同伴することで彼女を尊ぶ（Es 5:1-8）。II. モルデカイが帽子を脱ぎひざまずかなかったため苛立つハマン。彼は大いなる憤りをもってモルデカイのための木を立てる（Es 5:9-14）。このように涙をもって種まく者は喜びをもって刈り取るが、悪者の勝利は短い。