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Es 5:1-14.
简体中文
英文原文
Es 5:1-14.
ESTHER INVITES THE KING AND HAMAN TO A BANQUET.
1. Esther put on her royal apparel--It was not only natural, but, on such occasions, highly proper and expedient, that the queen should decorate herself in a style becoming her exalted station. On ordinary occasions she might reasonably set off her charms to as much advantage as possible; but, on the present occasion, as she was desirous to secure the favor of one who sustained the twofold character of her husband and her sovereign, public as well as private considerations--a regard to her personal safety, no less than the preservation of her doomed countrymen--urged upon her the propriety of using every legitimate means of recommending herself to the favorable notice of Ahasuerus.
the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house--The palace of this Persian king seems to have been built, like many more of the same quality and description, with an advanced cloister, over against the gate, made in the fashion of a large penthouse, supported only by one or two contiguous pillars in the front, or else in the center. In such open structures as these, in the midst of their guards and counsellors, are the bashaws, kadis, and other great officers, accustomed to distribute justice, and transact the public affairs of the provinces [SHAW, Travels]. In such a situation the Persian king was seated. The seat he occupied was not a throne, according to our ideas of one, but simply a chair, and so high that it required a footstool. It was made of gold, or, at least, inlaid with that metal, and covered with splendid tapestry, and no one save the king might sit down on it under pain of death. It is often found pictured on the Persepolitan monuments, and always of the same fashion.
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简体中文
2. 王向以斯帖伸出他手中的金杖——这金杖在波斯和亚述的雕刻纪念碑上有饶有意思的说明。在罗伯特·柯尔·波特爵士（Sir Robert Ker Porter）所临摹的波斯波利斯（Persepolis）浮雕中，我们看见大流士王端坐于朝廷之中，又同样威严地在外行走；两种情形下，他右手都持着一根细长的杖或棒，长约与他本人身高相等，顶端饰以一个小圆球。在亚述的雪花石膏浮雕中——无论是在尼姆鲁德（Nimroud）所发现的，还是在科萨巴德（Khorsabad）出土的——“大王”也都配有同一的君权标志——一根细长的杖，但没有任何圆球或装饰。在科萨巴德的浮雕上，这根杖被涂成红色，无疑是为要代表金子；这证明“金杖”不过是那贵重金属所造的一根普通的棒，通常握在右手，一端支在地上，无论王坐着或行走时都是如此。这“金杖”自古代以来几乎没有什么变化或更改
[GOSS]。王向以斯帖伸出金杖，乃是表明不仅她未经蒙召擅入之罪得蒙赦免，而且她这次进见是受欢迎的，她所要呈上的请求也将获得恩准。
摸杖头——这是承认王的恩典、同时又表达对王威严的敬畏与顺服的惯常方式。
英文原文
2. the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand--This golden scepter receives an interesting illustration from the sculptured monuments of Persia and Assyria. In the bas-reliefs of Persepolis, copied by Sir Robert Ker Porter, we see King Darius enthroned in the midst of his court, and walking abroad in equal state; in either case he carries in his right hand a slender rod or wand, about equal in length to his own height, ornamented with a small knob at the summit. In the Assyrian alabasters, those found at Nimroud as well as those from Khorsabad, "the great king" is furnished with the same appendage of royalty, a slender rod, but destitute of any knob or ornament. On the Khorsabad reliefs the rod is painted red, doubtless to represent gold; proving that "the golden sceptre" was a simple wand of that precious metal, commonly held in the right hand, with one end resting on the ground, and that whether the king was sitting or walking. "The gold sceptre" has received little alteration or modification since ancient times [GOSS]. It was extended to Esther as a token not only that her intrusion was pardoned, but that her visit was welcome, and a favorable reception given to the suit she had come to prefer.
touched the top of the sceptre--This was the usual way of acknowledging the royal condescension, and at the same time expressing reverence and submission to the august majesty of the king.
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3. 就是国的一半也必赐给你——这种说法源于波斯的风俗：他们为供给伟人或王所宠爱之人的生活，特拨一座城给他作饼之用，另一座作酒之用，第三座作衣服之用，等等；因此这话所表示的，乃是极大的慷慨。
英文原文
3. it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom--This mode of speaking originated in the Persian custom of appropriating for the maintenance of great men, or royal favorites, one city for his bread, another for his wine, a third for his clothes, &c., so that the phrase denoted great liberality.
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4. 请王带着哈曼今日赴我所预备的筵席——以斯帖此举极具手腕；因为对王所宠爱之人表示如此崇高的敬意，她就能更好地讨得王的欢心，并为提出自己的请求赢得一个更合适的机会。
英文原文
4. let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him--There was great address in this procedure of Esther's; for, by showing such high respect to the king's favorite, she would the better insinuate herself into the royal affections; and gain a more suitable opportunity of making known her request.
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8. 请王带着哈曼来赴我所预备的筵席——王独自进膳，宾客则在相邻的大厅里进食；但饮酒时他们获准与王同席。哈曼既是在王和王后之外唯一受邀的客人，他自然为这尊荣而得意忘形。
英文原文
8. let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare--The king ate alone, and his guests in an adjoining hall; but they were admitted to sit with him at wine. Haman being the only invited guest with the king and queen, it was natural that he should have been elated with the honor.
斯 5:1-14。
以斯帖请王和哈曼赴席。
1. 以斯帖穿上朝服——王后在这等场合以合乎自己崇高身分的华美装扮修饰自己，不但自然合宜，更是十分得当且必要的。在平常的日子，她尽可尽量显出自己的佳美；但在此时，她既想求得那身兼她丈夫与君王双重身分之人的恩宠，公私两方面的考量——既为她自身安全的顾虑，也为她那命在旦夕的同胞的保全——都催促她使用一切正当的方法，使自己在亚哈随鲁眼前蒙悦纳。
王坐在宫中的宝座上，对着宫门——这位波斯王的宫殿，似乎与许多同等的、同类的建筑一样，建有一处向门伸出的廊子，形如一个宽大的单披屋顶（penthouse），仅靠前面或正中的一两根相连的柱子支撑。在这样的敞开式建筑中，众 巴夏（pashas，即省长）、卡迪（kadis，即法官）及其他大官，便在卫士和谋臣的环绕之中，照例施行审判，办理各省份的公务
[SHAW，《游记》]。波斯王就坐在这样的位置上。他所坐的并不是我们概念中的那种宝座，不过是一把椅子，却相当之高，需要配以脚凳。它是用金子造的，至少也镶有金子，并罩以华美的帷幔，除王以外，任何人坐上去都必被处死。这种宝座在波斯波利斯（Persepolis）的纪念碑上屡见刻画，且样式始终相同。