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Es 5:1-14.
繁體中文
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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繁體中文
2. 王向以斯帖伸出他手中的金杖——這金杖在波斯和亞述的雕刻紀念碑上有饒有意思的說明。在羅伯特·柯爾·波特爵士（Sir Robert Ker Porter）所臨摹的波斯波利斯（Persepolis）浮雕中，我們看見大流士王端坐於朝廷之中，又同樣威嚴地在外行走；兩種情形下，他右手都持著一根細長的杖或棒，長約與他本人身高相等，頂端飾以一個小圓球。在亞述的雪花石膏浮雕中——無論是在尼姆魯德（Nimroud）所發現的，還是在科薩巴德（Khorsabad）出土的——「大王」也都配有同一的君權標誌——一根細長的杖，但沒有任何圓球或裝飾。在科薩巴德的浮雕上，這根杖被塗成紅色，無疑是為要代表金子；這證明「金杖」不過是那貴重金屬所造的一根普通的棒，通常握在右手，一端支在地上，無論王坐著或行走時都是如此。這「金杖」自古代以來幾乎沒有什麼變化或更改
[GOSS]。王向以斯帖伸出金杖，乃是表明不僅她未經蒙召擅入之罪得蒙赦免，而且她這次進見是受歡迎的，她所要呈上的請求也將獲得恩准。
摸杖頭——這是承認王的恩典、同時又表達對王威嚴的敬畏與順服的慣常方式。
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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繁體中文
3. 就是國的一半也必賜給你——這種說法源於波斯的風俗：他們為供給偉人或王所寵愛之人的生活，特撥一座城給他作餅之用，另一座作酒之用，第三座作衣服之用，等等；因此這話所表示的，乃是極大的慷慨。
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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繁體中文
4. 請王帶著哈曼今日赴我所預備的筵席——以斯帖此舉極具手腕；因為對王所寵愛之人表示如此崇高的敬意，她就能更好地討得王的歡心，並為提出自己的請求贏得一個更合適的機會。
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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無標題
繁體中文
8. 請王帶著哈曼來赴我所預備的筵席——王獨自進膳，賓客則在相鄰的大廳裡進食；但飲酒時他們獲准與王同席。哈曼既是在王和王后之外唯一受邀的客人，他自然為這尊榮而得意忘形。
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。
以斯帖請王和哈曼赴席。
1. 以斯帖穿上朝服——王后在這等場合以合乎自己崇高身分的華美裝扮修飾自己，不但自然合宜，更是十分得當且必要的。在平常的日子，她儘可盡量顯出自己的佳美；但在此時，她既想求得那身兼她丈夫與君王雙重身分之人的恩寵，公私兩方面的考量——既為她自身安全的顧慮，也為她那命在旦夕的同胞的保全——都催促她使用一切正當的方法，使自己在亞哈隨魯眼前蒙悅納。
王坐在宮中的寶座上，對著宮門——這位波斯王的宮殿，似乎與許多同等、同類的建築一樣，建有一處向門伸出的廊子，形如一個寬大的單披屋頂（penthouse），僅靠前面或正中的一兩根相連的柱子支撐。在這樣的敞開式建築中，眾 巴夏（pashas，即省長）、卡迪（kadis，即法官）及其他大官，便在衛士和謀臣的環繞之中，照例施行審判，辦理各省份的公務
[SHAW，《遊記》]。波斯王就坐在這樣的位置上。他所坐的並不是我們概念中的那種寶座，不過是一把椅子，卻相當之高，需要配以腳凳。它是用金子造的，至少也鑲有金子，並罩以華美的帷幔，除王以外，任何人坐上去都必被處死。這種寶座在波斯波利斯（Persepolis）的紀念碑上屢見刻畫，且樣式始終相同。