서론
無標題
繁體中文
英文原文
This is but a part of a chapter; the rest of it, beginning at Es 10:4, with six chapters more, being found only in the Greek, is rejected as apocryphal. In these three verses we have only some short hints, I. Concerning Ahasuerus in the throne, what a mighty prince he was, Es 10:1,2. II. Concerning Mordecai his favourite, what a distinguished blessing he was to his people, Es 10:2,3.
1-3
The Glory of Mordecai (495 BC)
繁體中文
末底改的榮耀（主前 495 年）
¹ 亞哈隨魯王使旱地和海島的人民都進貢。
² 他以權柄能力所行的，和他抬舉末底改使他尊大的經過，豈不都寫在瑪代和波斯王的歷史上嗎？
³ 猶太人末底改作亞哈隨魯王的宰相，在猶太人中為大，得他眾弟兄的喜悅，為本族的人求好處，向他們說和平的話。
此處我們被告知，
I. 亞哈隨魯王何等偉大、何等有權勢。他擁有廣大的版圖，無論在大陸上還是在海島中，從那裏他徵收巨額的歲入。除了波斯王通常所徵收的賦稅之外（Ezr 4:13），他還向臣民加徵額外的貢賦，以應付他某項需要大量金錢的大事（Es 10:1）：王使旱地和海島的人民進貢。我們的海島是有福的，只繳納由它的代表、由它自己選擇的代表所定的貢賦，而不被專橫的權力所壓榨，如一些鄰國那樣。除了亞哈隨魯偉大的這一例子之外，還有許多可以列舉，都是他以權柄能力所行的。然而這些不適合記在神聖的歷史中——聖史只限於猶太人，只在他國的事務與猶太人有關時才記載他國的事；但它們寫在波斯王的歷史上（Es 10:2），那些歷史早已失傳，埋沒於遺忘之中，而聖經卻長存，存於尊榮之中，並將存到時間不再有。當人的國——君王和君王制度——被毁滅，他們的記念也隨同他們消滅（詩 9:6），神在人間的國度和那國度的記錄卻必長存，如天之日一般（Da 2:44）。
II. 末底改何等偉大、何等善良。
1. 他是偉大的；看見美德和敬虔如此得尊榮，實在令人快慰。（1）他在王面前為大，僅次於王，是王最喜悅、最信任的人。末底改在朝門安坐了許久，如今終於被升到他的議事會的首位。有功之人或許一時看似被埋沒；但或遲或早，他們常被發現而得提拔。王所抬舉末底改到的偉大地位，其宣告寫在國的歷史上，因為十分值得記念，而且有助於王的偉大成就。末底改作他的右臂時，他從未行過如此大的權能之舉。（2）他在猶太人中為大（Es 10:3），不但是在他們之上為大——比他們中間任何人都更尊榮——也是與他們同在為大——蒙他們所愛、與他們親近、受他們極大的尊敬。他們遠非嫉妒他的高升，反而為之歡喜，並在他們中間給他極大的影響力，使一切事務都服從他的指揮，以此為他的高升增色。
2. 他是善良的，非常善良，因為他行善。這善良使他真正偉大，而他的偉大又使他有機會行更多的善。王抬舉他之後，（1）他沒有否認自己的百姓猶太人，也不以與他們的關係為恥，雖然他們是外人、是俘虜，四散各處、受人輕看。他仍舊自稱猶太人末底改，因此無疑他持守猶太人的信仰，以遵守禮儀分別自己，而這並不阻礙他的高升，也不被視為他的瑕疵。（2）他不謀求自己的財富，不為自己和家人增置產業——這是大多數人得居高位時所追求的首要之事；他卻關顧他百姓的福祉，以推進它為己任。他的權力、財富，以及他在王和王后面前的一切影響力，他都用以造福公眾。（3）他不但行善，而且以謙卑俯就的方式行善，平易近人，舉止有禮、和藹可親，向一切前來求助的人說和平的話。行善事是有財有勢之人當盡的最好和首要的本分；但說好話也是值得稱讚的，能使善行更蒙悅納。（4）他不偏袒他百姓中任何一派而壓制另一派，不寵幸一部分人而疏忽、壓榨其餘的人；而是無論他們中間有何分歧，他都作他們眾人共同的父親，使自己得他眾弟兄的喜悅——不輕看大眾——並向他們一切的後裔說和平的話，一視同仁。這樣，他以謙卑和仁慈使自己蒙人喜悅，就得了眾弟兄普遍的認可和好評。感謝神，我們所享受的正是這樣的政府，為本族的人求好處，向他們說和平的話。願神長久、極長久地保守它，使我們在它蒙福的保護和影響之下，過敬虔、端正、和平的生活！
英文原文
The Glory of Mordecai (495 BC)
¹ And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.
² And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?
³ For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.
We are here told,
I. How great and powerful king Ahasuerus was. He had a vast dominion, both in the continent and among the islands, from which he raised a vast revenue. Besides the usual customs which the kings of Persia exacted (Ezr 4:13), he laid an additional tribute upon his subjects, to serve for some great occasion he had for money (Es 10:1): The king laid a tribute. Happy is our island, that pays no tribute but what is laid upon it by its representatives, and those of its own choosing, and is not squeezed or oppressed by an arbitrary power, as some of the neighbouring nations are. Besides this instance of the grandeur of Ahasuerus, many more might be given, that were acts of his power and of his might. These however are not thought fit to be recorded here in the sacred story, which is confined to the Jews, and relates the affairs of other nations only as they fell in with their affairs; but they are written in the Persian chronicles (Es 10:2), which are long since lost and buried in oblivion, while the sacred writings live, live in honour, and will live till time shall be no more. When the kingdoms of men, monarchs and monarchies, are destroyed, and their memorial has perished with them (Ps 9:6), the kingdom of God among men, and the records of that kingdom, shall remain and be as the days of heaven, Da 2:44.
II. How great and good Mordecai was.
1. He was great; and it does one good to see virtue and piety thus in honour. (1.) He was great with the king, next to him, as one he most delighted and confided in. Long had Mordecai sat contentedly in the king's gate, and now at length he is advanced to the head of his council-board. Men of merit may for a time seem buried alive; but often, by some means or other, they are discovered and preferred at last. The declaration of the greatness to which the king advanced Mordecai was written in the chronicles of the kingdom, as very memorable, and contributing to the great achievements of the king. He never did such acts of power as he did when Mordecai was his right hand. (2.) He was great among the Jews (Es 10:3), not only great above them, more honourable than any of them, but great with them, dear to them, familiar with them, and much respected by them. So far were they from envying his preferment that they rejoiced in it, and added to it by giving him a commanding interest among them and submitting all their affairs to his direction.
2. He was good, very good, for he did good. This goodness made him truly great, and then his greatness gave him an opportunity of doing so much the more good. When the king advanced him, (1.) He did not disown his people the Jews, nor was he ashamed of his relation to them, though they were strangers and captives, dispersed and despised. Still he wrote himself Mordecai the Jew, and therefore no doubt adhered to the Jews' religion, by the observances of which he distinguished himself, and yet it was no hindrance to his preferment, nor looked upon as a blemish to him. (2.) He did not seek his own wealth, or the raising of an estate for himself and his family, which is the chief thing most aim at when they get into great places at court; but he consulted the welfare of his people, and made it his business to advance that. His power, his wealth, and all his interest in the king and queen, he improved for the public good. (3.) He not only did good, but he did it in a humble condescending way, was easy of access, courteous and affable in his behaviour, and spoke peace to all that made their application to him. Doing good works is the best and chief thing expected from those that have wealth and power; but giving good words is also commendable, and makes the good deed the more acceptable. (4.) He did not side with any one party of his people against another, nor make some his favourites, while the rest were neglected and crushed; but, whatever differences there were among them, he was a common father to them all, recommended himself to the multitude of his brethren, not despising the crowd, and spoke peace to all their seed, without distinction. Thus making himself acceptable by humility and beneficence, he was universally accepted, and gained the good word of all his brethren. Thanks be to God, such a government as this we are blessed with, which seeks the welfare of our people, speaking peace to all their seed. God continue it long, very long, and grant us, under the happy protection and influence of it, to live quiet and peaceable lives, in godliness, honesty, and charity!
這只是本章的一部分；本章的其餘部分，從 Es 10:4 起，加上另外六章，只見於希臘文譯本中，被視為次經而遭拒斥。在這三節經文裏，我們只有一些簡短的提示：I. 關於在寶座上的亞哈隨魯，他是何等大有權勢的君王（Es 10:1,2）。II. 關於他所寵信的末底改，他是他百姓何等卓越的福分（Es 10:2,3）。