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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)
简体中文
以斯帖进见王（公元前510年）
¹ 第三日，以斯帖穿上朝服，进王宫的内院，对殿而立；王在殿里坐在宝座上，对着殿门。 ² 王见王后以斯帖站在院内，就在眼中蒙恩；王向以斯帖伸出手中所持的金杖。以斯帖便上前摸杖头。 ³ 王对她说：王后以斯帖啊，你要什么？你求什么？就是国的一半，也必赐给你。 ⁴ 以斯帖说：王若以为美，就请王带着哈曼今日赴我所为他预备的筵席。 ⁵ 王说：快叫哈曼来，好照以斯帖所说的去行。于是王带着哈曼来赴以斯帖所预备的筵席。 ⁶ 在酒席筵前，王问以斯帖说：你要什么？我必赐给你；你求什么？就是国的一半，也必为你成就。 ⁷ 以斯帖回答说：我有所要，有所求。 ⁸ 我若在王眼前蒙恩，王若愿意赐我所要的、成全我所求的，就请王带着哈曼明日赴我所要预备的筵席；明日我必照王所吩咐的去行。
此处有：I. 以斯帖大胆地进见王，斯 5:1。当所定的禁食日子一满，她不再耽延，第三日，当她灵里仍带着敬拜的新鲜印象，就进见王。心既在与 神相交中得着宽广，就必在为祂行事、为祂受苦上得着胆量。有人认为那三日的禁食其实只是一整日两整夜，在此全部时间里他们完全不进饮食，而此事被称为三日，正如基督在坟墓中那样长久。这一解释从王后第三日在朝廷露面这一事实得到佐证。那些需要突破艰难危险的决心，应当毫不迟延地推行，免得冷却松懈。凡你当行的、必须大胆去行的事，当快快地去行。此时她穿上朝服，好更得王的喜悦，并脱下禁食日的衣服。她穿上华服，不是为悦己，而是为悦她的丈夫；在她的祷告中，如我们在次经里所见（以斯帖记十四章16节），她如此向 神恳求：主啊，你知道，我厌恶我头上那高位的标记，在我露面的日子……愿那些因身份所限而须穿华服的人，从此学会对华服向己死，不以华服为自己的妆饰。她站在内院对着王的地方，在希望与恐惧之间，等候自己的判决。
II. 王所给予她的恩待。王一见她，她就在他眼中蒙恩。次经的作者和约瑟夫说，她带了两个宫女同行，一位她可以倚靠着，另一位替她托着裙裾——她面容欢悦而极其可爱，但心中却痛苦万分——王抬起他那威严发光的面容，起先十分严厉地注视她，她因此脸色苍白、晕厥过去，俯伏在身旁那宫女的头上；然而随后 神改变了王的心意，他在惧怕中从宝座上跳下，把她抱在怀中，直到她苏醒过来，又用亲爱的话安慰她。此处只告诉我们：
1. 他保护她免受律法的刑罚，并向她保证安全，就是向她伸出金杖（斯 5:2），她存着感谢的心摸了杖头，借此以谦卑恳求者的身份把自己献上。如此，她既像雅各那样与 神较力得了胜，也就得了胜人的力量。凡为 神肯舍掉生命的，必能保全，或在一个更美的生命里得着它。
2. 他鼓励她陈词（斯 5:3）：王后以斯帖啊，你要什么？你求什么？他非但没有把她当作罪人，反倒像是乐意见她、愿意施恩于她。他既曾因王后奉召不来而休了一位，就不会因另一位不召自来而严苛相待。 神能随己意转动人心、转动伟大之人的心、转动那些行事最专断之人的心，使之转向我们。以斯帖本以为自己必死，却蒙应许：凡她所求的，即便国的一半，也必赐给她。当知，神在祂的护理中常常先于百姓的恐惧、又超乎百姓的盼望而行事，尤其当他们在祂的事业上冒险之时。让我们从这故事推论，正如我们的主从不义的审判官的比喻中所推论的，受鼓励要常常向我们的 神祷告，不可灰心，路 18:6-8。请听这位傲慢的王说什么（你要什么？你求什么？必赐给你），然后说： 神岂不更要听允祂所选民昼夜呼吁祂的祷告么？以斯帖所来见的是一位骄傲专横的人；我们所来见的是爱与恩典的 神。她并未蒙召而来；我们却是蒙召的：圣灵说“来”，新妇也说“来”。她有律法与她为敌；我们却有应许，许多利于我们的应许：你们祈求，就给你们。她没有朋友引荐她、为她代求，反倒是当时王的宠臣正是她的仇敌；但我们与父之间有一位中保，是父所喜悦的。所以，让我们坦然无惧地来到施恩宝座前。
3. 她此时对他所要提的全部请求，只是请他赏光赴她为他所摆的筵席，并带着哈曼同来，斯 5:4,5。借此：(1.) 她暗示自己是何等看重他的恩宠与同在。无论她要提什么，她都以他的恩宠为首要，并愿以任何代价换取。(2.) 她要试探他对自己心意如何；因为若他连这都拒绝，那此时再提别的请求就毫无意义。(3.) 她要设法使他心情舒畅，柔化他的心，使他更以柔软的心怀来接受她要向他陈述的苦情。(4.) 她要讨好他，便向他的宠臣哈曼示好，邀请他同来——她知道王喜欢哈曼同在，并希望在自己申诉之时有哈曼在场；因为她要说哈曼的任何话，都是当着哈曼的面敢说的。(5.) 她盼望在酒席上能有更合适、更有利的机会呈递她的请求。智慧能指引人如何应付某些难处之人，并抓住他们合适的把柄。
4. 王欣然赴席，并吩咐哈曼同来（斯 5:5），这是他仍对她存着情谊的明证；若他真的有意要毁灭她和她本族，就不会接受她的筵席。在那里，他再次殷勤地询问（你要什么？），并慷慨地应许，就是国的一半也必赐给（斯 5:6），这是俗语，他借此向她保证，凡是合理的事他都不拒绝。希律也曾用过这话，可 6:23。
5. 那时以斯帖认为合适，只求他应许再赏光，明日到她住处赴另一席，并带哈曼同来（斯 5:7,8），暗示到那时她就要把所要说的事告诉他。这一再推迟主要请求，可以归因于：(1.) 以斯帖的审慎；她希望借此进一步赢得他的心、得他的喜悦。或许她现在到了要提请求的时候，心却退缩了，她希望再有一点时间祷告，求 神赐她口才和智慧。她这样拖延，大概她知道王必悦纳，看作她对王的极大敬畏、以及她不愿过分催逼的表示。仓促所求的往往也仓促被拒；而带停顿所求的，却当受慎重思考。(2.) 神的护理将以斯帖的心意放在再拖一日的延迟上，她自己不知为何，但 神知道——为要使今夜与明日之间所要发生的事，可以推进她的计划，为她成功开路，使哈曼对末底改的恶意达到顶点，并开始在他面前仆倒。犹大人或许会责怪以斯帖拖延，其中有人开始怀疑她的诚意，至少怀疑她的热心；但事情的结果证明他们的疑心是错的，一切都是为着最好的。
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)
简体中文
哈曼的欢喜与恼怒；哈曼图谋报复（公元前510年）
⁹ 那日哈曼出来，心中欢喜快乐；只是见了末底改在朝门不站起来，连身也不动，他就满心恼怒末底改。 ¹⁰ 哈曼暂且忍耐，回到家，差人请了朋友们和他妻子细利斯来。 ¹¹ 哈曼将他荣耀的众多儿女、和王如此抬举他使他超乎首领与臣仆之上的一切事，都数说给他们听。 ¹² 哈曼又说：王后以斯帖预备筵席，除了我以外，不许别人随王赴席；明日我又请去随王赴席。 ¹³ 只是这一切都与我无益，因为我每见犹大人末底改坐在朝门，便觉无味。 ¹⁴ 他的妻细利斯和他的一切朋友对他说：不如叫人为他立一个五丈高的木架，明日求王将末底改挂在其上；然后你可以欢欢喜喜地随王赴席。哈曼以这话为美，就叫人作了木架。
此处关于哈曼的记载，正是所罗门那句话的注解，箴 21:24：*心骄气傲的人，名叫亵慢；他行事狂妄骄傲。*从来没有人比哈曼更符合这名称——骄傲与暴怒在他里面如此得势。请看他，
I. 因蒙召赴以斯帖的筵席而飘飘然。他为此心中欢喜快乐，斯 5:9。请看他说到这事时何等神气十足（斯 5:12），何等引以为荣，又何等以为这已使自己近乎福乐的极致——王后以斯帖竟不许别人随王赴席，只许他这位显赫的人物；他想这是因为自己的谈吐极为使她着迷，所以次日她又请他随王赴席；除了他，再无别人配与王作伴。当记取：自赏自夸的人实在是自欺。哈曼满心喜悦地幻想王后既一再邀请他，便是存心要尊荣他；其实她是要控告他，召他赴席不过是把他传到案前罢了。骄傲的人是看着何等的放大镜来端详自己的容貌啊！他们心中的骄傲，何等欺瞒他们！俄 1:3。
II. 因末底改对他的轻慢而愤恨恼怒，并因此使自己及周围的人都不得安宁。1. 末底改仍旧一如既往地坚定：他不站起来，连身也不动，斯 5:9。他这样行是凭着良心原则，所以才能坚持到底，不愿向哈曼谄媚——即使他正有理由惧怕他，连以斯帖自己还礼数周到地恭维他。他知道 神能也必拯救他和他的百姓脱离哈曼的暴怒，无需借助这等卑鄙怯懦的手段来讨好他。那以圣洁的真诚行事为人的人，也可以在圣洁的稳妥中前行，继续作自己的工，不怕人能对他们怎样。行事正直的，行事稳妥。2. 哈曼却与从前一样不能忍受；不，他既被抬得越高，就越不能忍受被人轻看，越因此怒火中烧。(1.) 这使他自己的心不得安宁，叫他陷入剧烈的烦躁。他满心恼怒（斯 5:9），却又暂且忍耐，斯 5:10。他巴不得拔出剑来，把胆敢如此冒犯他的末底改一剑刺死；但他指望不久便要看见他与一切犹大人一同倾覆，所以好不容易才强压住自己，没有立时下手。他胸中何等激烈交战——他的怒气催促他立时将末底改处死（巴不得他肉在我口中！我便不能自慰！伯 31:31），他的恶意却已定意要等到那场大屠杀之时。因此乖僻人的路上，有荆棘和网罗。(2.) 这使他一切的享受都索然无味。他从末底改所受的这点小冒犯，就是那只败坏了他整瓶贵重香膏的死苍蝇；他在妻子和朋友面前亲口承认——这是骄傲不满之心永久的羞辱——只要末底改一日活着、一日仍坐在朝门，他在家产、升迁、家庭上就毫无乐趣，斯 5:10-13。他一一数算自己的财富与尊荣、儿女的众多、所获擢升的高位、自己是王的宠臣、朝廷的偶像；然而只要末底改一日不被挂起来，这一切都与己无益。那些天性惯于不乐的人，永远不会缺少这样那样叫自己不乐的事；骄傲的人即使已有了许多称心如意的事，但只要不是全然称心，那一切对他们便如同没有。哈曼所有的千分之一，已足以使一个谦卑知足的人得着他从这世界所能指望的福乐；然而哈曼却激愤抱怨，仿佛他已经沉沦到贫穷屈辱的最低渊。
III. 图谋报复，并得着他妻子和朋友的从旁协助，斯 5:14。他们看出他是何等乐意摆脱自己那把屠杀延宕到签所定之日的决定，于是劝他把那时所指望的满足先取一个尝头和定金，赶快将末底改处决；让他眼下得着这件快心事；并且既已（如他所想）必操胜算地在所定之时毁灭一切犹大人，他现在便不耻于单单对末底改一人下手。1. 为满足他的幻想，他们劝他预备一个木架，立在自己家门之前，使只要一旦求得王的命令，便可立即执行，毫不迟延；他甚至不必等候造架的工夫。这正合哈曼的心意，他立时命人把木架造好竖起；要高五丈，或尽可能接近此数，为要更加羞辱末底改，使每一个过路的人都可看见；又要立在哈曼的家门前，使众人都注意到末底改是被献给他那复仇之偶像的祭物，又使他自己可以眼见为快。2. 为达成所图，他们劝他明日一早去见王，从王那里求得一道将末底改悬挂的命令；他们毫不怀疑，这一道命令对一个既如此得王宠眷、又如此轻易求得灭绝犹大全族谕旨的人来说，必随手可得。无需捏造什么口实，他只要让王知道末底改公然藐视王的命令、不肯敬奉他，便已足够。现在我们暂别哈曼，让他去就寝，他满心欢喜地盘算着明日要看见末底改被挂起来，然后欢欢喜喜去赴筵席——却全然梦想不到那木架竟要先收他自己的首级。
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.
前次关于哈曼的消息，是他仍在酒宴之中（斯3:15）。王后以斯帖最后的情况，则是她在泪水中禁食祈祷。如今本章记述：I. 以斯帖身处喜乐之中，蒙王恩待，在酒筵上得与王同席蒙尊荣，斯5:1-8。II. 哈曼满怀忿怒，因不得末底改的冠冕与跪拜之礼，便怒气冲冲地为他竖起木架，斯5:9-14。如此，"流泪撒种的，必欢呼收割"，而恶人的夸胜却是短暂的。