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繁體中文
영문 원문
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)
繁體中文
以斯帖的高升；以斯帖被選為王后（主前 514 年）
¹ 這事以後，亞哈隨魯王的怒氣止息，他就想念瓦實提和她所行的，並怎樣降旨辦她。
² 於是王的侍臣對王說：不如為王尋找美貌的處女。
³ 王可以派官在國中的各省，把一切美貌的處女招聚到書珊城的宮，交給女院的太監希該，派給她們當用的潔淨物；
⁴ 王所喜悅的處女，可以立她為后，代替瓦實提。王以這事為美，就如此行。
⁵ 書珊城的宮內有一個猶太人，名叫末底改，是便雅憫人基士的曾孫，示每的孫子，睚珥的兒子；
⁶ 從前猶大王耶哥尼雅在位時，被巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒擄去的，末底改也在其內。
⁷ 末底改撫養他叔叔的女兒哈大沙（就是以斯帖），因為她沒有父母；這女子又容貌俊美。她父母死了，末底改就收她為自己的女兒。
⁸ 王的命令和諭旨傳出，許多處女招聚到書珊城的宮，交在希該手下的時候，以斯帖也送入王宮，交在管理女子的希該手下。
⁹ 這女子蒙希該喜悅，就在他面前得恩；他速速給她潔淨的物，和她所當得的分，又從王宮裏挑選七個極合宜的宮女賜給她；並使她和她的宮女搬入女院中上好的地方。
¹⁰ 以斯帖未曾將籍貫宗族告訴人，因為末底改囑咐她不可叫人知道。
¹¹ 末底改天天在女院前邊行走，要知道以斯帖平安不平安，並情形如何。
¹² 眾女子照例先潔淨身體十二個月，（因為潔淨的日期是這樣滿的：六個月用沒藥油，六個月用香料和潔淨婦人的其他物；）然後挨次進去見亞哈隨魯王。
¹³ 處女進去見王是這樣：從女院到王宮的時候，凡她所要的都必給她。
¹⁴ 晚上進去，次日回到女子第二院，交給管理妃嬪的太監沙甲；除非王喜愛她，提名召她，就不再進去見王。
¹⁵ 末底改叔叔亞比孩的女兒，就是末底改收為自己女兒的以斯帖，輪到她進去見王的時候，除了管理女子的太監希該所派定給她的，她別無所求；凡看見以斯帖的都喜悅她。
¹⁶ 亞哈隨魯王第七年十月，就是提別月，以斯帖被引入宮見亞哈隨魯王。
¹⁷ 王愛以斯帖過於愛一切女子；她在王眼前蒙寵愛比眾處女更甚；王就把王后的冠冕戴在她頭上，立她為后，代替瓦實提。
¹⁸ 王因立以斯帖為后的緣故，為一切首領臣僕設擺大筵席，就是以斯帖的筵席；又豁免各省的租稅，並照王的厚意大頒賞賜。
¹⁹ 第二次招聚處女的時候，末底改坐在朝門。
²⁰ 以斯帖照末底改所囑咐的，還沒有將籍貫宗族告訴人；因為以斯帖遵末底改的命，如從小撫養她的時候一樣。
在前一章我們讀到神如何使一位高高在上的人從座位上被趕下，如今我們要讀到祂如何抬舉一位卑微的人，正如童女馬利亞在她頌歌中所觀察到的（Lu 1:52），以及在她之前的哈拿（1Sa 2:4-8）。瓦實提因她的高傲而被降卑，以斯帖因她的謙卑而被高升。請留意，
I. 為取悅王而另娶一妻以代替瓦實提所採取的鋪張手段。約瑟夫說，當王的怒氣過去之後，他十分後悔事情發展到這地步，本想與瓦實提和好，但因政體的章程，判決是不可更改的——因此為了使他忘記她，他們設法先以大量的妃嬪來娛樂他，然後在其中最合他心意的一位身上定下來，作代替瓦實提的王后。君王的婚姻通常都是基於政治和利益，為擴張疆土和鞏固聯盟而締結；但這次婚姻必須部分地取決於本人對王的口味是否相宜，不論她是貧是富、是貴是賤。為了迎合王，費了多少心力！彷彿他的權力和財富賜給他，沒有別的目的，只為使他一切的感官享受達到高度的愉悅，並精緻地加以提煉——然而與屬神和屬靈的喜樂相比，這一切不過是渣滓和沉澱。1. 王國的一切省份都要搜尋美貌的處女，並派人挑選她們（Es 2:3）。2. 特意為她們預備了一處住所（後宮），並指定一人負責管理，看顧她們得到良好供應。3. 她們得用整整十二個月來潔淨（至少那些從鄉間帶來的女子需要如此），使她們十分清潔、熏香（Es 2:12）。即使那些是自然的傑作，仍需要人工的輔助來向一個虛浮屬肉體的心推薦自己。4. 王一旦將她們帶入他的床榻之後，她們從此就被幽禁，除非王隨時派人來召（Es 2:14）；她們被視為次等的妻，由王相應地供養，且不可嫁人。我們可以從這個例子看到，那些沒有神啟示的人墮落到何等荒謬的地步；他們因拜偶像而受罰，被交給可恥的情慾。他們既違背了那源於神造人時所設立的創造之律，也就違背了另一條律法——那建立於神只造一男一女的基礎上的律法。可見基督的福音何等需要潔淨人脫離肉體的情慾，使他們歸回起初的設立。那些學了基督的人，必以暗中所行的，就是他們不但暗中所行、還公然所行的這些事為恥（Eph 5:12）。
II. 神掌管的護理如此將以斯帖帶到王后的位上。她若被推薦給亞哈隨魯為妻，他必輕蔑地拒絕這建議；但當她在輪到她時前來——在好些人之後——人們發現，雖然她們中間有許多人聰明機智、優雅可人，但以斯帖超過她們一切，這樣，連她的競爭者也為她進入王的恩寵和隨之而來的尊榮鋪平了道路。誠然，如帕特里克主教所說，那些暗示她為得這尊位而犯了大罪的人，並未考慮到當時當地的風俗。王所帶上床榻的每一個人都娶為妻，只是位分較低的妻，正如夏甲之於亞伯拉罕；因此，即使以斯帖沒有被立為王后，雅各的兒子們也不必說他待他們的妹子如同妓女。關於以斯帖，我們當留意：
1. 她的身世和品格。（1）她是被擄之人的子女中的一個，是猶太女子，與她的百姓同受奴役。但以理和他的同伴在被擄之地得着高升；因為他們是神差遣到那裏為他們求福的人（Jer 24:5）。（2）她是孤兒，父母雙亡（Es 2:7）；但當他們離棄了她，主就收留她（詩 27:10）。那些不幸在幼年喪失父母的人，日後卻格外敬虔和昌盛，我們當注意這事，將榮耀歸給那位神，以及祂的恩典和護理——祂以作孤兒的父為祂的尊榮之一。（3）她是美人，容貌俊美；邊註如此說（Es 2:7）。她的智慧和美德才是她最大的美，但一顆鑽石鑲嵌得好也是好的。（4）她的表兄末底改是她的監護人，撫養她，收她為自己的女兒。七十士譯本說他打算娶她為妻；若果如此，他不攔阻她更好的前途，是值得稱讚的。當承認神為孤兒和無母之人興起朋友；讓這鼓勵那敬虔的慈善之舉——許多曾關心孤兒教育的人，親眼看到自己關心和勞苦的美好果子，大得安慰。萊特福特博士認為這位末底改就是 Ezr 2:2 所提到的那位，他與第一批人一同上耶路撒冷，協助百姓的安定，直到建殿工程被阻止，然後回到波斯宮廷，看他能在那裏為百姓做甚麼服事。末底改是以斯帖的監護人，或說代替父母，此處我們被告知：[1] 他何等愛護她，如同自己的女兒（Es 2:11）：他天天在她門前行走，要知道她如何，有甚麼消息。那些因神的護理而將親屬託付給自己的人，當如此以慈愛對待他們、為他們掛心。[2] 她何等尊敬他。論關係她是與他平等的，但因她在年齡和依賴上是晚輩，就尊他為父——遵他的命（Es 2:20）。這是孤兒的榜樣；若他們落在愛他們、照顧他們的人手中，當以相稱的本分和愛心回報。監護人在本分上越沒有義務供養他們，他們在感恩上就越有義務尊敬和順服監護人。這裏有一個以斯帖順服末底改的例子：她沒有將籍貫宗族告訴人，因為末底改囑咐她不可叫人知道（Es 2:10）。他沒有叫她否認本國，也沒有叫她撒謊隱瞞身世；他若如此吩咐，她就不可遵行。他只是叫她不要宣揚本國。不是一切的真理都當在任何時候說出來，雖然不真實的話在任何時候都不可說。她生在書珊，父母已死，所有人都以為她是波斯血統，她並沒有義務去糾正他們。
2. 她的高升。誰會想到一個猶太女子、一個被擄的人、一個孤兒，竟生來就是王后、皇后！然而事實確是如此。護理有時從灰塵中抬舉貧寒人，使他們與王子同坐（1Sa 2:8）。（1）王的太監尊敬她（Es 2:9），樂意服事她。智慧和美德必得尊重。那些確保得着神恩寵的人，也必在人眼前蒙恩——只要這對他們有益。凡看見以斯帖的人都讚賞她（Es 2:15），認定她就是那將贏得桂冠的女子，而她確實贏得了。（2）王自己愛上了她。她不像其餘的處女那樣急於以人工的美貌來裝扮自己；她別無所求，只取所派定給她的（Es 2:15），卻最蒙悅納。越是自然的美，越蒙喜悅。王愛以斯帖過於愛一切女子（Es 2:17）。如今他不需要再作試驗，也不必花時間考慮；他很快決定把王后的冠冕戴在她頭上，立她為后（Es 2:17）。這事在他第七年成就（Es 2:16），而瓦實提在他第三年被休（Es 1:3）；所以他有四年沒有王后。此處也提到：[1] 王加給以斯帖的尊榮。他以御筵為她加冕的典禮增光（Es 2:18）；在筵席上，以斯帖或許為順應王的意思，公開露面——而這正是瓦實提所拒絕作的——使她在同一件事上因順服得着稱讚，正如前者因不順服而蒙上污點。他又豁免了各省的租稅——或是免了積欠的賦稅，或是對罪犯的恩赦；正如彼拉多在節期釋放囚犯一樣。這一切都是為了增添歡樂。[2] 以斯帖繼續向她從前的監護人表示敬意。她仍然遵末底改的命，如從小撫養她的時候一樣（Es 2:20）。末底改坐在朝門；那就是他高升的極限：他是宮廷的一個門衛或看門人。這職位是他先前已有的，還是以斯帖為他取得的，我們不被告知；但他在那裏心滿意足地坐着，並無更高的企圖；而高升到寶座上的以斯帖卻敬重他。這證明了她謙卑感恩的性情，她感念他從前的恩惠和不斷的智慧。對於高升的人，紀念自己的恩人、保持良好教育的印象、虛心納諫並為之感恩，是極大的裝飾，也甚值得稱讚。
영문 원문
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)
繁體中文
末底改發現陰謀（主前 510 年）
²¹ 當那些日子，末底改坐在朝門，王的兩個太監辟探和提列，就是守門的，惱怒，想要下手害亞哈隨魯王。
²² 末底改知道了這事，就告訴王后以斯帖；以斯帖奉末底改的名報告於王。
²³ 這事既查究，果然如此，就把二人掛在木頭上；這事在王面前寫在歷史上。
末底改在發現一樁謀害王性命的陰謀一事上對政府所作的這一善功，在此被記錄下來，因為日後這事的提及將再對他有利。此時哈曼毁滅猶太人的計謀尚未採取任何步驟，但神拯救他們的計劃卻已採取了好幾個步驟，這便是其中之一。神如今給末底改一個機會為王效勞，好叫他日後有更合宜的機會為猶太人效勞。
1. 王的兩個臣僕設計謀害王，他們要下手害他，不僅要拿住他為囚犯，更要取他的性命（Es 2:21）。大概是因他們認為王辱沒了他們、或虧待了他們而心懷怨恨。誰願為大，以致如此被人嫉恨？誰願專橫，以致如此遭人惡待？君王比任何世人更甚，常將性命握在自己手中，往往被殺下坑，尤其是那些曾在活人之地使人驚恐的。
2. 末底改得知他們的叛逆，並藉着以斯帖稟告於王，由此堅固了以斯帖在王面前的恩寵，又使自己蒙王的恩眷。他如何得知此事，並未說明。是無意中聽見他們的談話，還是他們試圖拉攏他入夥，總之這事被他知道了。這事應當成為對一切叛逆和煽動行為的警戒：雖然人自恃隱密，空中的飛鳥必傳揚聲音。末底改一知道這事，便立即稟告於王，這應當成為所有忠順之民的教訓和榜樣——不可隱瞞他們所知的任何危害君王或公共和平的詭計，因為這就是與公眾之敵結盟。
3. 叛徒被掛在木頭上，誠然罪有應得，但這是在查明屬實之後才執行的（Es 2:23），並且整件事記錄在王的年鑑中，特別註明末底改是揭發叛逆的人。他沒有立即得到賞賜，卻有紀念冊寫下了這事。論到那些服事基督的人也是如此，雖然他們的賞報要延遲到義人復活的時候才臨到，但他們憑信心所作的工夫和因愛心所受的勞苦卻都有記錄，神不是不公義的，必不忘記（來 6:10）。
영문 원문
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.
本章記載了兩件事，它們正朝着猶太人從哈曼的陰謀中得拯救的方向發展：I. 以斯帖被高升，取代瓦實提作王后。許多人都是這尊榮的候選者（Es 2:1-4）；但以斯帖——一個孤兒、一個被擄的猶太女子（Es 2:5-7）——先博得了王太監的喜悅（Es 2:8-11），然後又博得了王的喜悅（Es 2:12-17），王就立她為后（Es 2:18-20）。II. 末底改揭發了謀害王命的陰謀，為王立了大功（Es 2:21-23）。