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英文原文
We are now to attend the second banquet to which the king and Haman were invited: and there, I. Esther presents her petition to the king for her life and the life of her people, Es 7:1-4. II. She plainly tells the king that Haman is the man who designed her ruin and the ruin of all her friends, Es 7:5,6. III. The king thereupon gave orders for the hanging of Haman upon the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai, which was done accordingly, Es 7:7-10. And thus, by the destruction of the plotter, a good step was taken towards the defeating of the plot.
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Haman Accused by Esther (510 BC)
哈曼被以斯帖控告（公元前510年）
¹ 王带着哈曼来赴王后以斯帖的筵席。 ² 第二日在酒席筵前，王又问以斯帖说：王后以斯帖啊，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。 ³ 王后以斯帖回答说：王啊，我若在王眼前蒙恩，王若以为美，我所要的，是存我的性命；我所求的，是保全我的本族。 ⁴ 因我和我的本族被卖了，要剪除杀戮灭绝我们。我们若被卖为奴为婢，我也闭口不言；但敌人的损失，断不能补足王所受的亏损。 ⁵ 亚哈随鲁王问王后以斯帖说：擅敢起意行这事的人是谁？这人在哪里呢？ ⁶ 以斯帖说：仇人敌人就是这恶人哈曼。哈曼在王和王后面前就甚惊惶。
王在兴致之中，哈曼却兴致全无，二人在以斯帖的席上相遇。如今：
I. 王第三次催问以斯帖，告诉她：他渴望知道她的请求是什么，并重申他必赐给的应许，斯 7:2。倘若王此时已忘记以斯帖有话要禀，并未再次问她是什么，她几乎不知如何自己重新提起；但他记念这事，如今既三次应许，三股合成的绳已把她与王的恩宠紧紧绑住。
II. 以斯帖终于以一个请求使王大为震惊；她不求财富或尊荣，也不为某位亲友求什么高位——这正是王所预料的——而是为保全自己和同胞免于死亡与灭亡，斯 7:3,4。
1. 即便是陌生人、是罪犯，也当被允许为自己的性命恳求；然而一位朋友、一位妻子，竟有理由呈递这样的恳求，这实在令人动容：我所要的，是存我的性命；我所求的，是保全我的本族。有两样东西表明人命极其宝贵，若为无辜，便当不惜任何代价拯救：— (1.) 尊贵。若被袭击的是戴冠冕的头颅，就是该行动的时候了。以斯帖的就是这样的性命：“求存我的性命。你若对怀中之妻有任何情意，现在是表达的时候；因为现在正赌上的是那性命。” (2.) 众多。若所瞄准的是许多性命、极多的性命，而且他们并未以任何方式当受此祸，那么就不当有所耽延或顾惜劳苦，去阻止这场祸患。“这不是一两位朋友，而是我的本族，整整一个民族，一个我所亲爱的民族，我如今就是为它的拯救而代求。”
2. 为要更打动王，她暗示：(1.) 她和她的本族是被买卖的。他们并非因对政府有何冒犯而自卖，而是为满足一个人的骄傲与报复而被卖。(2.) 被卖的不是他们的自由，而是他们的性命。她说：我们若被卖为奴，我必不言；因为日久我们或可重获自由，虽然王在这交易上必大吃亏，并不能因我们的身价增加他的财富。无论我们被定价多少，这么多勤劳之手从他的国中失去，对国库的损害，远非那点价钱所能补偿。逼迫良民，既是不敬虔，也是不明智，显然损害君王与国家的利益；他们因此被削弱、被贫穷。然而此处情形并非如此。她说：我们被卖了，要剪除杀戮灭绝我们；那么现在就是该说话的时候。她引用谕旨的用语（斯 3:13），其目标不外乎他们的灭绝；若王的心中还有任何柔软之处，这必触动它，使他回心转意。
III. 王对此陈述大为惊讶，便问（斯 7:5）：擅敢起意行这事的人是谁？这人在哪里呢？什么！竟图谋杀害王后和她一切亲友？世上竟有这样的人，不如说这样的怪物吗？是谁，在哪里，他的心竟充满他行这事？或者：谁充满他的心。他惊奇：1. 竟有人坏到如此地步，能想出这样的事；无疑是撒但充满他的心。2. 竟有人胆大到如此地步，敢行这样的事，他的心竟如此定意要行恶，竟如此胆大妄为。须知：(1.) 我们难以想象世上竟真有如此可怕的恶行被行出来。是谁，在哪里，竟敢、竟敢质问 神的存在与祂的护理，戏弄祂的圣言，亵渎祂的名，逼迫祂的百姓，却还要向祂的震怒挑战？这样的人是有的，想到他们就足以使恐怖抓住我们，诗 119:53。(2.) 我们有时听见那邪恶的事会惊骇，而我们自己却也犯着同样的罪。亚哈随鲁对他自己也犯了的邪恶大为惊讶；因为他曾同意那针对犹大人的血腥谕旨。“你就是那人，”以斯帖本可以再真实不过地这样说。
IV. 以斯帖当着哈曼的面明确地指控他：“他在这里，让他为自己说话罢，因为正是为此他被请来：仇人敌人就是这恶人哈曼（斯 7:6）；正是他图谋我们的谋杀，更糟的是，他卑鄙地把王也拖了进去，作他罪孽的同伙——叫王在不知情下同意了这事。”
V. 哈曼立刻意识到自己的危险：他在王和王后面前就甚惊惶；他该害怕的时候到了——王后是控告他的人，王是审判他的法官，他自己的良心是与他为敌的证人；而当日早晨那出人意料的护理作为，更不能不增加他的恐惧。如今他被邀赴这酒筵，已全无喜乐可言；他原以为自己丰足充足，却发现自己陷入困境。他必被自己的脚陷入网罗。
英文原文
Haman Accused by Esther (510 BC)
¹ So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
² And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.
³ Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:
⁴ For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.
⁵ Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?
⁶ And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
The king in humour, and Haman out of humour, meet at Esther's table. Now,
I. The king urged Esther, a third time, to tell him what her request was, for he longed to know, and repeated his promise that it should be granted, Es 7:2. If the king had now forgotten that Esther had an errand to him, and had not again asked what it was, she could scarcely have known how to renew it herself; but he was mindful of it, and now was bound with the threefold cord of a promise thrice made to favour her.
II. Esther, at length, surprises the king with a petition, not for wealth or honour, or the preferment of some of her friends to some high post, which the king expected, but for the preservation of herself and her countrymen from death and destruction, Es 7:3,4.
1. Even a stranger, a criminal, shall be permitted to petition for his life; but that a friend, a wife, should have occasion to present such a petition was very affecting: Let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request. Two things bespeak lives to be very precious, and fit to be saved, if innocent, at any expense:—(1.) Majesty. If it be a crowned head that is struck at, it is time to stir. Esther's was such: "Let my life be given me. If thou hast any affection for the wife of thy bosom, now is the time to show it; for that is the life that lies at stake." (2.) Multitude. If they be many lives, very many, and those no way forfeited, that are aimed at, no time should be lost nor pains spared to prevent the mischief. "It is not a friend or two, but my people, a whole nation, and a nation dear to me, for the saving of which I now intercede."
2. To move the king the more she suggests, (1.) That she and her people were bought and sold. They had not sold themselves by any offence against the government, but were sold to gratify the pride and revenge of one man. (2.) That it was not their liberty only, but their lives that were sold. "Had we been sold" (she says) "into slavery, I would not have complained; for in time we might have recovered our liberty, thought the king would have made but a bad bargain of it, and not have increased his wealth by our price. Whatever had been paid for us, the loss of so many industrious hands out of his kingdom would have been more damage to the treasury than the price would countervail." To persecute good people is as impolitic as it is impious, and a manifest wrong to the interests of princes and states; they are weakened and impoverished by it. But this was not the case. We are sold (says she) to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish; and then it is time to speak. She refers to the words of the decree (Es 3:13), which aimed at nothing short of their destruction; this would touch in a tender part if there were any such in the king's heart, and would bring him to relent.
III. The king stands amazed at the remonstrance, and asks (Es 7:5) "Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? What! contrive the murder of the queen and all her friends? Is there such a man, such a monster rather, in nature? Who is he, and where is he, whose heart has filled him to do so?" Or, Who hath filled his heart. He wonders, 1. That any one should be so bad as to think such a thing; Satan certainly filled his heart. 2. That any one should be so bold as to do such a thing, should have his heart so fully set in him to do wickedly, should be so very daring. Note, (1.) It is hard to imagine that there should be such horrid wickedness committed in the world as really there is. Who, where is he, that dares, presumes, to question the being of God and his providence, to banter his oracles, profane his name, persecute his people, and yet bid defiance to his wrath? Such there are, to think of whom is enough to make horror take hold of us, Ps 119:53. (2.) We sometimes startle at the mention of that evil which yet we ourselves are chargeable with. Ahasuerus is amazed at that wickedness which he himself is guilty of; for he consented to that bloody edict against the Jews. Thou art the man, might Esther too truly have said.
IV. Esther plainly charged Haman with it before his face: "Here he is, let him speak for himself, for therefore he is invited: The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman (Es 7:6); it is he that has designed our murder, and, which is worse, has basely drawn the king in to be particeps criminis—a partaker of his crime, ignorantly agreeing to it."
V. Haman is soon apprehensive of his danger: He was afraid before the king and queen; and it was time for him to fear when the queen was his prosecutor, the king his judge, and his own conscience a witness against him; and the surprising operations of Providence against him that same morning could not but increase his fear. Now he has little joy of his being invited to the banquet of wine, but finds himself in straits when he thought himself in the fulness of his sufficiency. He is cast into a net by his own feet.
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The King Incensed Against Haman; Haman Hanged upon His Own Gallows (510 BC)
王向哈曼发怒；哈曼被挂在自己所立的木架上（公元前510年）
⁷ 王便大怒，起来离开酒席往御园去了；哈曼见王定意要降祸与他，就起来求王后以斯帖救命。 ⁸ 王从御园回到酒席之处，见哈曼伏在以斯帖所靠的榻上。王说：他竟敢在王宫里、在我面前，凌辱王后么？这话一出王口，人就蒙了哈曼的脸。 ⁹ 在王面前的一个太监哈波拿，说：哈曼为那曾说好话救王有功的末底改，作了五丈高的木架，现今立在哈曼家里。王说：把他挂在其上罢。 ¹⁰ 于是人将哈曼挂在他为末底改所预备的木架上。王的怒气这才止息。
这里，I. 王怒气冲冲地退去。他满腔怒火离席而起，往御园去了，要凉一凉自己，并思量该怎样办，斯 7:7。他没有召见那晓得时务的七个谋士，因他羞于就自己未与他们商量便草率作出的那事向他们求教如何挽回；他只在园中散步片刻，要在心里把以斯帖现今所告诉他的，与先前他和哈曼之间所经过的事一一比较。我们可以想见，1. 他恼恨自己，竟愚昧到凭一个营私之人的卑鄙谗言，不查究实情，便将一个无罪的百姓——连他自己的王后也在其中——判处灭亡。那些凭己意行事的人，事后回想起来必痛自责备。2. 他恼恨哈曼——就是他怀抱器重的人——竟如此恶棍，滥用在他身上的影响，诱他同意如此邪恶的计谋。他见自己被一个素来宠信的人出卖，便对他满心愤恨；但他仍不立即发话，要暂待再思，看看再思之后这事是比初见之时更好还是更坏，以便相机行事。我们发怒之时，应当暂且停顿，再下决断，因为凡辖制自己心灵的，必受理性支配。
II. 哈曼成了向王后求命的低声下气的乞求者。他从王匆匆离席的样子已不难看出：王定意要降祸与他。因为王的烈怒，——尤其是这样一位王的烈怒——如同狮子的吼叫，又如同死亡的使者；现在请看，1. 哈曼显得何等卑下：他先是站起来，随即仆倒在以斯帖脚前，求她救他性命，情愿把一切都给她。那些在权势亨通之时最傲慢、最跋扈、最专横的人，命运一旦逆转，往往就成了最卑贱、最怯懦的人。据说懦夫最残忍，而对残忍的自觉又使他们更加懦弱。2. 以斯帖显得何等尊贵——她近日仍被人冷落、被判与群羊一同宰杀；如今她的死敌也承认自己全凭她发落，竟在她脚前求命。 神正是这样顾念祂使女的卑微，又用膀臂施展大能，赶散心里妄想的狂傲人，路 1:48,51。请将这事与对非拉铁非教会所作的应许相比较（启 3:9）：*我要使那撒但一会的人，来到你脚前下拜，使他们知道我已经爱你了。*日子将到，那些恨恶逼迫 神选民的人，必情愿仰望他们施恩。把你们的油分一点给我们罢。亚伯拉罕啊，打发拉撒路来罢。正直人必在早晨掌权。
III. 王回来时对哈曼更加愤恨。他越想他，就越看他和他的作为可恶。不久以前，哈曼所言所行，连最犯罪的事，都被善意接受，向有利于他的方面解释；如今恰恰相反，哈曼那不但是无辜、更是悔改迹象的举动，反被恶解，毫无道理地被作不利于他的解释。他惊恐万分地伏在以斯帖脚前求命。怎么！（王说）他竟敢在王宫里、在我面前，凌辱王后么？王并非以为他真有此意，但因心里正想着哈曼要害王后性命的图谋，见他这副姿态，便借此发作，向他倾倒怒气，把他看作一个不论何等重大、何等无耻的恶事都不在乎的人。"他要害王后的命，要在我宫中害她的命；难道他还要照样凌辱她么？怎么！先奸后杀么？既对她的性命有图谋，便自然可疑他对她的贞洁也有图谋。"
IV. 周围侍立的人立时成了王怒气的执行者。哈曼如日方升之时向他阿谀奉承的廷臣们，如今他既成了一颗殒星，便同样落井下石，甚至巴不得找个把柄把他推倒：所以骄傲的人对自己以为把握十足的人缘是何等无准。1. 王一开口发怒，他们就蒙了哈曼的脸，像对待一个已定罪的人，再也不配见王、也不配被王看见；他们已把他标记为待决之囚。被挂的人通常都要蒙面。请看仆人们何等乐于在王心意一露端倪之时立即奉行。*罗马众人随命运而转，始终欺压失势者。*哈曼若将倾倒，他们便都喊："把他拉下来。"2. 不久前曾被差到哈曼家去请他赴席的人中，有一位向王报告了哈曼为末底改所立的木架，斯 7:9。如今末底改既已得宠，那太监便称赞他——他曾为王说过好话；而哈曼既已失势，凡能作证不利于他、激起王怒、使他恶贯满盈的事，都一一被人留意到了。
V. 王下令将他挂在自己所立的木架上，命令立时执行，竟无人问他有何话说，为何不当这样判他、不当这样行刑。判决简短——把他挂在其上；执行迅速——于是人将哈曼挂在木架上，斯 7:10。请看，1. 骄傲被降卑。那位指望人人向他叩拜的人，如今成了世人面前的羞辱景象，他自己反倒被献给他那复仇之欲。 神阻挡骄傲的人；祂所阻挡的，必发现自己敌挡不了祂。2. 逼迫受罚。哈曼从许多方面看都是恶人，但他对 神教会的敌意是他最惹动 神怒的罪，正为这，那施行报应的 神在此与他算账；虽然他的图谋已被挫败，仍按他手所作的报应他，诗 28:4。3. 恶谋反噬谋士本人，恶人被自己手所作的缠住，诗 7:15,16；9:15,16。哈曼被挂在他不义地为末底改所预备的木架上，这是公义的。倘若他没有立起那木架，王也许不会想到下令把他挂起来；然而他既为王所喜悦尊荣的人立起木架，那么命他自己上去一试、看看合不合身、合不合意，便是最自然的念头。 神教会的仇敌往往如此被自己的诡计所捕获。早晨哈曼还在盘算把朝服留给自己、把木架留给末底改；如今形势完全颠倒：末底改得了冠冕，哈曼得了十字架。*耶和华借这样的判断显出祂自己。*见箴 11:8；21:18。
*末后，*王对这次处刑感到满意。王的怒气这才止息，并且直到此时才止息。他下令把哈曼挂起来，与下令加尊荣给末底改一样感到称心。王所喜悦施报的人，必这样待他。 神论恶人说（结 5:13）：我要使我的烈怒止息，使自己得着安慰。
英文原文
The King Incensed Against Haman; Haman Hanged upon His Own Gallows (510 BC)
⁷ And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.
⁸ Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.
⁹ And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.
¹⁰ So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.
Here, I. The king retires in anger. He rose from table in a great passion, and went into the palace garden to cool himself and to consider what was to be done, Es 7:7. He sent not for his seven wise counsellors who knew the times, being ashamed to consult them about the undoing of that which he had rashly done without their knowledge or advice; but he went to walk in the garden awhile, to compare in his thoughts what Esther had now informed him of with what had formerly passed between him and Haman. And we may suppose him, 1. Vexed at himself, that he should be such a fool as to doom a guiltless nation to destruction, and his own queen among the rest, upon the base suggestions of a self-seeking man, without examining the truth of his allegations. Those that do things with self-will reflect upon them afterwards with self-reproach. 2. Vexed at Haman whom he had laid in his bosom, that he should be such a villain as to abuse his interest in him to draw him to consent to so wicked a measure. When he saw himself betrayed by one he had caressed he was full of indignation at him; yet he would say nothing till he had taken time for second thoughts, to see whether they would make the matter better or worse than it first appeared, that he might proceed accordingly. When we are angry we should pause awhile before we come to any resolution, as those that have a rule over our own spirits and are governed by reason.
II. Haman becomes a humble petitioner to the queen for his life. He might easily perceived by the king's hastily flying out of the room that there was evil determined against him. For the wrath of a king, such a king, is as the roaring of a lion and as messengers of death; and now see, 1. How mean Haman looks, when he stands up first and then falls down at Esther's feet, to beg she would save his life and take all he had. Those that are most haughty, insolent, and imperious, when they are in power and prosperity, are commonly the most abject and poor-spirited when the wheel turns upon them. Cowards, they say, are most cruel, and then consciousness of their cruelty makes them the more cowardly. 2. How great Esther looks, who of late had been neglected and doomed to the slaughter tanquam ovis—as a sheep; now her sworn enemy owns that he lies at her mercy, and begs his life at her hand. Thus did God regard the low estate of his handmaiden and scatter the proud in the imagination of their hearts, Lu 1:48,51. Compare with this that promise made to the Philadelphian church (Re 3:9), I will make those of the synagogue of Satan to come and to worship before thy feet and to know that I have loved thee. The day is coming when those that hate and persecute God's chosen ones would gladly be beholden to them. Give us of your oil. Father Abraham, send Lazarus. The upright shall have dominion in the morning.
III. The king returns yet more exasperated against Haman. The more he thinks of him the worse he thinks of him and of what he had done. It was but lately that every thing Haman said and did, even that which was most criminal, was taken well and construed to his advantage; now, on the contrary, what Haman did that was not only innocent, but a sign of repentance, is ill taken, and, without colour of reason, construed to his disadvantage. He lay in terror at Esther's feet, to beg for his life. What! (says the king) will he force the queen also before me in the house? Not that he thought he had any such intention, but having been musing on Haman's design to slay the queen, and finding him in this posture, he takes occasion from it thus to vent his passion against Haman, as a man that would not scruple at the greatest and most impudent piece of wickedness. "He designed to slay the queen, and to slay her wish me in the house; will he in like manner force her? What! ravish her first and then murder her? He that had a design upon her life may well be suspected to have a design upon her chastity."
IV. Those about him were ready to be the instruments of his wrath. The courtiers that adored Haman when he was the rising sun set themselves as much against him now that he is a falling star, and are even glad of an occasion to run him down: so little sure can proud men be of the interest they think they have. 1. As soon as the king spoke an angry word they covered Haman's face, as a condemned man, not worthy any more either to see the king or to be seen by him; they marked him for execution. Those that are hanged commonly have their faces covered. See how ready the servants were to take the first hint of the king's mind in this matter. Turba Romae sequitur fortunam, et semper et odit damnatos—The Roman populace change as the aspects of fortune do, and always oppress the fallen. If Haman be going down, they all cry, "Down with him." 2. One of those that had been lately sent to Haman's house, to fetch him to the banquet, informed the king of the gallows which Haman had prepared for Mordecai, Es 7:9. Now that Mordecai is the favourite the chamberlain applauds him—he spoke good for the king; and, Haman being in disgrace, every thing is taken notice of that might make against him, incense the king against him, and fill up the measure of his iniquity.
V. The king gave orders that he should be hanged upon his own gallows, which was done accordingly, nor was he so much as asked what he had to say why this judgment should not be passed upon him and execution awarded. The sentence is short—Hang him thereon; and the execution speedy—So they hanged Haman on the gallows, Es 7:10. See here, 1. Pride brought down. He that expected every one to do him homage is now made an ignominious spectacle to the world, and he himself sacrificed to his revenge. God resists the proud; and those whom he resists will find him irresistible. 2. Persecution punished. Haman was upon many accounts a wicked man, but his enmity to God's church was his most provoking crime, and for that the God to whom vengeance belongs here reckons with him, and, though his plot was defeated, gives him according to the wickedness of his endeavours, Ps 28:4. 3. Mischief returned upon the person himself that contrived it, the wicked snared in the work of his own hands, Ps 7:15,16,9:15,16. Haman was justly hanged on the very gallows he had unjustly prepared for Mordecai. If he had not set up that gallows, perhaps the king would not have thought of ordering him to be hanged; but, if he rear a gallows for the man whom the king delights to honour, the thought is very natural that he should be ordered to try it himself, and see how it fits him, see how he likes it. The enemies of God's church have often been thus taken in their own craftiness. In the morning Haman was designing himself for the robes and Mordecai for the gallows; but the tables are turned: Mordecai has the crown, Haman the cross. The Lord is known by such judgments. See Pr 11:8,21:18.
Lastly, The satisfaction which the king had in this execution. Then was the king's wrath pacified, and not till then. He was as well pleased in ordering Haman to be hanged as in ordering Mordecai to be honoured. Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to take vengeance on. God saith of wicked men (Eze 5:13), I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted.
我们现在要出席国王与哈曼受邀赴的第二场筵席；在那里，I. 以斯帖向王为自己的性命和本族的性命恳求，斯 7:1-4。II. 她明确告诉王，设计谋害她和一切亲友的，正是哈曼这个人，斯 7:5,6。III. 王因此下令将哈曼吊死在他为末底改所预备的木架上，事就这样成了，斯 7:7-10。如此，因谋算者的灭亡，挫败阴谋也迈出了重要的一步。