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Es 6:1-14.
英文原文
Es 6:1-14.
AHASUERUS REWARDS MORDECAI FOR FORMER SERVICE.
1. the king . . . commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles--In Eastern courts, there are scribes or officers whose duty it is to keep a journal of every occurrence worthy of notice. A book of this kind, abounding with anecdotes, is full of interest. It has been a custom with Eastern kings, in all ages, frequently to cause the annals of the kingdom to be read to them. It is resorted to, not merely as a pastime to while away the tedium of an hour, but as a source of instruction to the monarch, by reviewing the important incidents of his own life, as well as those of his ancestors. There was, therefore, nothing uncommon in this Persian monarch calling for the court journal. But, in his being unable to sleep at that particular juncture, in his ordering the book then to be read to him, and in his attention having been specially directed to the important and as yet unrewarded services of Mordecai, the immediate interposition of Providence is distinctly visible.
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無標題
4. 哈曼正進外院——那時乃清晨。東方國家的君王，照例在日頭還沒有炎熱以前辦理公務，常在露天之下進行；因此哈曼很可能是按職分前來侍候他的主子。
英文原文
4. Now Haman was come into the outward court--This was early in the morning. It is the invariable custom for kings in Eastern countries to transact business before the sun is hot, often in the open air, and so Haman was in all probability come officially to attend on his master.
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無標題
6. 王所喜悅尊榮的人，要怎樣待他呢？——波斯王在賜下恩寵的標記時，並不立即按自己的意思決定當賜何種尊榮；他們轉而詢問站在自己身旁、品級最近的朝臣，問他當如何對待那行了所指定功勞的人；然後按所得的回答，發出王命。
英文原文
6. What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour?--In bestowing tokens of their favor, the kings of Persia do not at once, and as it were by their own will, determine the kind of honor that shall be awarded; but they turn to the courtier standing next in rank to themselves, and ask him what shall be done to the individual who has rendered the service specified; and according to the answer received, the royal mandate is issued.
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8. 王所穿的朝服——一件曾穿在王或王子身上的外衣被視為極尊榮的禮物，要經過隆重的儀式才予賜贈。
王所騎的馬——波斯是出產馬匹的國家，王所騎的那匹純種駿馬，在他那惟利是圖的臣民眼中，因這緣故而獲得一種近乎神聖的地位。
戴在他頭上的王冠——或是王的頭巾，也可能是一種冠冕，在國家大典的行列中，馬的頭上便飾以此物。
英文原文
8. the royal apparel . . . which the king useth to wear--A coat which has been on the back of a king or prince is reckoned a most honorable gift, and is given with great ceremony.
the horse that the king rideth upon--Persia was a country of horses, and the highbred charger that the king rode upon acquired, in the eyes of his venal subjects, a sort of sacredness from that circumstance.
and the crown royal which is set upon his head--either the royal turban, or it may be a tiara, with which, on state processions, the horse's head was adorned.
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9. 交給王的一位最尊貴的領袖……給那人穿上——在隆重的公開場合，王的御馬由地位最高的臣子牽著，穿過城中的主要街道，這一儀式可能要持續數小時。
英文原文
9. delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes . . . array the man--On grand and public occasions, the royal steed is led by the highest subject through the principal streets of the city, a ceremony which may occupy several hours.
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無標題
11. 於是哈曼把，等等——這一突如其來的逆轉，對哈曼個人而言無論如何痛苦，卻正是波斯風俗的特別寫照。
英文原文
11. Then Haman took, &c.--This sudden reverse, however painful to Haman as an individual, is particularly characteristic of the Persian manners.
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14. 王的太監來了，催哈曼快去赴以斯帖所預備的筵席——除了一次宴席的請柬之外，在所定日子的時辰一到，總有人立即差人去通知賓客，宣告一切都已齊備。
英文原文
14. came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared--Besides the invitation given to an entertainment, a message is always sent to the guests, immediately at the day and hour appointed, to announce that all things are ready.
斯 6:1-14。
亞哈隨魯王因先前的功勞賞賜末底改。
1. 王……吩咐人取歷史記事的书卷來——在東方朝廷中，設有書記或專職官員，其職責便是將一切值得記載的事件記入日誌。這樣的一本書，其中軼事繁多，讀來極具趣味。東方的君王歷來都有常常命人將本國的史記讀給他們聽的習慣。這樣做，不僅是為了消磨時光、解悶遣愁，更是君王的一門功課——藉著回顧自己一生以及先祖生平中的重大事件而得著教益。因此，這位波斯王命人取來朝廷日誌，本不足為奇。但他在那個特定的時刻失眠，恰在那時吩咐人將那書讀給他聽，他的注意力又特別被引到末底改那重要而尚未獲賞的功勞之上——在這些事上，神護理的直接干預便清晰可見。