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英文原文
The last news we had of Haman left him in his cups, Es 3:15. Our last news of queen Esther left her in tears, fasting and praying. Now this chapter brings in, I. Esther in her joys, smiled upon by the king and honoured with his company at her banquet of wine, Es 5:1-8. II. Haman upon the fret, because he had not Mordecai's cap and knee, and with great indignation setting up a gallows for him, Es 5:9-14. Thus those that sow in tears shall reap in joy, but the triumphing of the wicked is short.
1-8
Esther's Approach to the King (510 BC)
以斯帖進見王（主前 510 年）
¹ 第三日，以斯帖穿上朝服，進王宮的內院，對殿而立；王在殿裏坐在寶座上，對着殿門。
² 王見王后以斯帖站在院內，就在她眼前蒙恩；王向以斯帖伸出他手中的金杖。以斯帖便上前摸杖頭。
³ 王對她說：王后以斯帖啊，你要甚麼？你求甚麼？就是國的一半，也必賜給你。
⁴ 以斯帖說：王若以為美，求王帶着哈曼今日赴我所預備的筵席。
⁵ 王說：叫哈曼速速去，照以斯帖所說的行。於是王帶着哈曼赴以斯帖所預備的筵席。
⁶ 在酒席的筵上，王對以斯帖說：你要甚麼？我必賜給你：你求甚麼？就是國的一半，也必為你成就。
⁷ 以斯帖回答說：我所求的，我所要的，是：
⁸ 我若在王眼前蒙恩，王若願意賜我所求的，准我所要的，求王帶着哈曼明日赴我所要預備的筵席；明日我必照王所說的而行。
此處有：I. 以斯帖勇敢地進見王（Es 5:1）。當他們禁食的日期滿了，她沒有耽延，就在第三日——當她靈裏敬虔的感動還鮮活的時候——進見了王。當人心在與神相交中擴充時，在為祂作事和受苦時就必剛強壯膽。有人認為三天的禁食只是完整的一日兩夜，在這整段時間裏他們完全不吃任何食物，而這被稱為「三天」，正如基督在墳墓裏躺了三天一樣。王后在第三日出現在宮廷這一事實，也有利於這種解釋。有着困難和危險需要突破的決定，當毫不遲延地去行，免得冷卻鬆懈。你所要大膽去行的事，要快快地行。她穿上朝服，好使自己在王面前更加得蒙喜悅，並脫下了禁食日的衣服。她穿上華美的衣服，不是為取悅自己，而是為取悅她的丈夫；在她的禱告中（如我們在次經中所見，以斯帖記十四章16節），她這樣向神呼求：主啊，你知道我厭惡那在我頭上作我尊貴記號的冠冕，在我顯露出來的日子……那些因身份而不得不穿華美衣服的人，當由此學習向這些衣服死，不以它們為自己的裝飾。她站在內院，對殿而立，在盼望和恐懼之間等待着自己的判決。
II. 王給她的恩惠接待。當他看見她時，她在他眼前蒙了恩。次經的作者和約瑟夫說，她帶了兩個使女，一個她可以倚靠，另一個提着她的裙裾——她面容愉快、十分可愛，但心裏卻在痛苦之中——王舉起他閃耀着威嚴的面容，起初十分兇惡地看着她，於是她面色蒼白、暈倒，伏在隨行使女的頭上；但神改變了王的心意，他在恐懼中從寶座上跳起來，將她抱在懷中直到她恢復知覺，用溫柔的話安慰她。此處我們只被告知：
1. 他保護她免受法律的刑罰，並藉着向她伸出手中的金杖保證她的安全（Es 5:2），她感恩地摸了杖頭，藉此以謙卑懇求者的身份獻上自己。這樣，她既像雅各那樣與神較力並且得勝，也就有能力與人較力了。凡為神喪掉生命的，必要得着生命，或在更好的生命中得着它。
2. 他鼓勵她陳情（Es 5:3）：王后以斯帖啊，你要甚麼，你求甚麼？他不但沒有把她當作罪犯，反而似乎很高興見到她，樂意使她滿意。他曾因一個妻子不蒙召而來就休了她，卻不會因另一個妻子未蒙召而來就苛待她。神能隨己意轉動人的心——偉人的心、行事最專橫之人的心——使之朝向我們。以斯帖恐怕自己會滅亡，卻得到應許，她所求的都可得着，即使是國的一半。請注意，神在護理中常常先發阻止祂百姓的恐懼，並超乎他們的盼望。讓我們從這個故事推論出，正如我們的救主從不義的官的比喻中所推論的那樣，一個常常禱告、不可灰心的鼓勵（Lu 18:6-8）。聽聽這個驕傲的王所說的話（你要甚麼，你求甚麼？必賜給你），然後說：神豈不更要聽允祂的選民、為他們晝夜呼求而施行報應嗎？以斯帖來到一個驕傲專橫的人面前；我們來到的是愛和恩典的神面前。她沒有蒙召；我們卻蒙了召：聖靈說來，新婦也說來。她有律法反對她；我們卻有應許——許多的應許——有利於我們：*你們祈求，就給你們。*她沒有朋友引薦她或為她代求，反而當時王所寵幸的人正是她的仇敵；但我們有一位與父同在的中保，是父所喜悅的。所以，我們只管坦然無懼地來到施恩的寶座前。
3. 此時她所要的一切，就是求王肯赴她為他所預備的筵席，並帶哈曼一同來（Es 5:4,5）。藉此，（1）她要暗示他她何等看重他的恩寵和同在。無論她有甚麼所求，她最看重的還是他的恩寵，願付任何代價得着它。（2）她要試探他對她的態度；因為他若拒絕這個請求，她此時提出別的請求就毫無意義。（3）她要努力使他心情愉快，軟化他的心，使他以更大的溫柔領受她所要向他提出的控訴。（4）她要取悅他，方法是向他所寵幸的哈曼表示敬意，邀請他一同來——她知道王喜歡哈曼的同在，也願意哈曼在場聽她申訴；因為關於哈曼的事，她沒有甚麼不敢當着他的面說。（5）她希望在酒筵上得到一個更好、更有利的機會來呈遞請求。智慧有益於引導人如何應對那些難以相處的人，如何抓住他們的正確把手。
4. 他欣然赴席，並吩咐哈曼一同前來（Es 5:5），這表明他仍然對她懷有情意；他若真的有意毁滅她和她本族，就不會接受她的筵席了。在那裏他重申了他親切的詢問（你要甚麼？）和慷慨的應許，說必賜給她，就是國的一半（Es 5:6）——這是一句箴言式的話，他藉此向她保證，凡是合理的事他都不會拒絕。希律也曾用過這話（Mk 6:23）。
5. 此時以斯帖認為合宜的，不過是求他明日再賞光赴她住處的另一場筵席，也帶哈曼同來（Es 5:7,8），暗示他到時她才會告訴他所求何事。這將主要請求推遲，可歸因於：（1）以斯帖的謹慎；她希望藉此進一步贏得王的歡心，與王更親近。或許她此時正要開口請求，卻心裏發怯，希望再花些時間禱告，求神給她口才和智慧。她知道這樣的推遲，會被理解為她對王的極大敬畏和不願過分催逼，因而得到好的回應。匆忙所求的，常常也匆忙被拒；而有所停頓地提出的，才配得被考慮。（2）神的護理，將延遲請求一天的心意放在以斯帖心裏——她不知為何，但神知道——為了使今夜與明日之間所將發生的事，能促進她的計劃、為她的成功鋪路，使哈曼對末底改的惡意達到最高峰，而開始在他面前跌倒。猶太人或許責備以斯帖拖延，有些人開始懷疑她的誠意，或至少她的熱心；但事情的結果證明他們的疑慮是多餘的，一切都為最好的結果。
英文原文
Esther's Approach to the King (510 BC)
¹ Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
² And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
³ Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.
⁴ And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.
⁵ Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
⁶ And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.
⁷ Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;
⁸ If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.
Here is, I. Esther's bold approach to the king, Es 5:1. When the time appointed for their fast was finished she lost no time, but on the third day, when the impression of her devotions were fresh upon her spirit, she addressed the king. When the heart is enlarged in communion with God it will be emboldened in doing and suffering for him. Some think that the three days' fast was only one whole day and two whole nights, in all which time they did not take any food at all, and that this is called three days, as Christ's lying in the grave so long is. This exposition is favoured by the consideration that on the third day the queen made her appearance at court. Resolutions which have difficulties and dangers to break though should be pursued without delay, lest they cool and slacken. What thou doest, which must be done boldly, do it quickly. Now she put on her royal apparel, that she might the better recommend herself to the king, and laid aside her fast-day clothes. She put on her fine clothes, not to please herself, but her husband; in her prayer, as we find in the Apocrypha (Esther xiv. 16), she thus appeals to God: Thou knowest, Lord, I abhor the sign of my high estate which is upon my head, in the days wherein I show myself, etc. Let hose whose rank obliges them to wear rich clothes learn hence to be dead to them, and not make them their adorning. She stood in the inner court over against the king, expecting her doom, between hope and fear.
II. The favourable reception which the king gave her. When he saw her she obtained favour in his sight. The apocryphal author and Josephus say that she took two maids with her, on one of whom she leaned, while the other bore up her train,—that her countenance was cheerful and very amiable, but her heart was in anguish,—that the king, lifting up his countenance that shone with majesty, at first looked very fiercely upon her, whereupon she grew pale, and fainted, and bowed herself on the head of the maid that went by her; but then God changed the spirit of the king, and, in a fear, he leaped from his throne, took her in his arms till she came to herself, and comforted her with loving words. Here we are only told,
1. That he protected her from the law, and assured her of safety, by holding out to her the golden sceptre (Es 5:2), which she thankfully touched the top of, thereby presenting herself to him as a humble petitioner. Thus having had power with God and prevailed, like Jacob, she had power with men too. He that will lose his life for God shall save it, or find it in a better life.
2. That he encouraged her address (Es 5:3): What wilt thou, queen Esther, and what is thy request? So far was he from counting her an offender that he seemed glad to see her, and desirous to oblige her. He that had divorced one wife for not coming when she was sent for would not be severe to another for coming when she was not sent for. God can turn the hearts of men, of great men, of those that act most arbitrarily, which way he pleases towards us. Esther feared that she should perish, but was promised that she should have what she might ask for, though it were the half of the kingdom. Note, God in his providence often prevents the fears, and outdoes the hopes, of his people, especially when they venture in his cause. Let us from this story infer, as our Saviour does from the parable of the unjust judge, an encouragement to pray always to our God, and not faint, Lu 18:6-8. Hear what this haughty king says (What is thy petition, and what is thy request? It shall be granted thee), and say shall not God hear and answer the prayers of his own elect, that cry day and night to him? Esther came to a proud imperious man; we come to the God of love and grace. She was not called; we are: the Spirit says, Come, and the bride says, Come. She had a law against her; we have a promise, many a promise, in favour of us: Ask, and it shall be given you. She had no friend to introduce her, or intercede for her, while on the contrary he that was then the king's favourite was her enemy; but we have an advocate with the Father, in whom he is well pleased. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace.
3. That all the request she had to make to him, at this time, was that he would please to come to a banquet which she had prepared for him, and bring Haman along with him, Es 5:4,5. Hereby, (1.) She would intimate to him how much she valued his favour and company. Whatever she had to ask, she desired his favour above any thing, and would purchase it at any rate. (2.) She would try how he stood affected to her; for, if he should refuse this, it would be to no purpose as yet to present her other request. (3.) She would endeavour to bring him into a pleasant humour, and soften his spirit, that he might with the more tenderness receive the impressions of the complaint she had to make to him. (4.) She would please him, by making court to Haman his favourite, and inviting him to come whose company she knew he loved and whom she desired to have present when she made her complaint; for she would say nothing of him but what she durst say to his face. (5.) She hoped at the banquet of wine to have a fairer and more favourable opportunity of presenting her petition. Wisdom is profitable to direct how to manage some men that are hard to deal with, and to take them by the right handle.
4. That he readily came, and ordered Haman to come along with him (Es 5:5), which was an indication of the kindness he still retained for her; if he really designed the destruction of her and her people, he would not have accepted her banquet. There he renewed his kind enquiry (What is thy petition?) and his generous promise, that it should be granted, even to the half of the kingdom (Es 5:6), a proverbial expression, by which he assured her that he would deny her nothing in reason. Herod used it, Mk 6:23.
5. That then Esther thought fit to ask no more than a promise that he would please to accept of another treat, the next day, in her apartment, and Haman with him (Es 5:7,8), intimating to him that then she would let him know what her business was. This adjourning of the main petition may be attributed, (1.) To Esther's prudence; thus she hoped yet further to win upon him and ingratiate herself with him. Perhaps her heart failed her now when she was going to make her request, and she desired to take some further time for prayer, that God would give her a mouth and wisdom. The putting of it off thus, it is likely, she knew would be well taken as an expression of the great reverence she had for the king, and her unwillingness to be too pressing upon him. What is hastily asked is often as hastily denied; but what is asked with a pause deserves to be considered. (2.) To God's providence putting it into Esther's heart to delay her petition a day longer, she knew not why, but God did, that what was to happen in the night intervening between this and to-morrow might further her design and make way for her success, that Haman might arrive at the highest pitch of malice against Mordecai and might begin to fall before him. The Jews perhaps blamed Ester as dilatory, and some of them began to suspect her sincerity, or at least her zeal; but the event disproved their jealousy, and all was for the best.
9-14
Haman's Joy and Chagrin; Haman's Mediated Revenge (510 BC)
哈曼的歡喜與懊喪；哈曼的中介報仇（主前 510 年）
⁹ 那日哈曼出來，心中歡喜快樂；但哈曼見末底改在朝門不站起來，連身也不動，就滿心惱怒末底改。
¹⁰ 只是哈曼忍住氣回來，打發人召了他的朋友和他妻子細利斯來。
¹¹ 哈曼將他豐厚的尊榮、眾多的兒女，和王抬舉他使他超乎一切首領臣僕的事，都述說給他們聽。
¹² 哈曼又說：王后以斯帖預備筵席，不許別人隨王赴席，只准我一人；明日我又被請赴席，與王同去。
¹³ 只是這一切都於我無益，只要我見猶太人末底改坐在朝門，便萬般無趣。
¹⁴ 他的妻細利斯和他一切的朋友對他說：不如為末底改立一個五丈高的木架，明日早晨求王將末底改掛在其上；這樣你就可以歡歡喜喜地隨王赴席。哈曼以這話為美，就叫人作了木架。
此處關於哈曼的記述，正可作所羅門那句話的註解（箴 21:24）：*心驕氣傲的人名叫褻慢；他行事狂妄驕傲。*從未有任何人比哈曼更貼切地應了這名；在他裏面，驕傲和暴怒如此佔上風。看他：
I. 因被邀赴以斯帖的宴席而得意忘形。他為此心中歡喜快樂（Es 5:9）。看他是何等得意洋洋地說這事（Es 5:12），如何以此自誇，又如何以為這事使他近乎幸福之極——王后以斯帖請王赴宴，只准他一人相陪，而沒有別人；他心想這必是因他的言談極其迷人，所以翌日她又請他與王同去；除了他，再沒有人更適合陪伴王了。注意，自誇者和自媚者其實是自欺者。哈曼以為王后一再邀請是為了尊榮他，其實王后是要控告他；她召他赴宴，不過是召他到審判台前。驕傲的人用何等大的放大鏡來照自己的面目！他們心中的驕傲何等地欺騙了他們！（俄 1:3）。
II. 因末底改對他的輕慢而氣憤煩躁，因而自己不得安寧，也使周圍的人不得安寧。
1. 末底改一如既往地堅定：他不站起來，連身也不動（Es 5:9）。他這樣行是出於良心的原則，因此堅持不懈，不肯向哈曼卑躬屈膝，就是在他有理由懼怕哈曼、甚至以斯帖本人奉承他的時候也不肯。他知道神能、也必拯救他和他的百姓脫離哈曼的烈怒，不必用如此卑鄙可憐的手段去安撫他。那些以聖潔的真誠行事的人，也可以在聖潔的安穩中前行，在自己的工作上不息，不懼怕人能作甚麼。行正直路的，步步安穩。
2. 哈曼一如既往地受不了；不但如此，他越高升，就越不能容忍被人輕慢，越因之發怒。（1）這使他自己的心不得安寧，陷入劇烈的煩躁。他滿心惱怒（Es 5:9），卻又忍住氣（Es 5:10）。他巴不得拔劍將末底改刺透，作為對他如此冒犯的報復；但他盼望不久就能看見他隨所有猶太人一同傾覆，因此勉強忍住，沒有當場下手。他的胸中有一番怎樣的爭戰——他的怒氣要求立即處死末底改（巴不得我得着他的肉！我不能滿足！伯 31:31），而他的惡意卻已決定等待那全面的屠殺！如此，乖僻人的路上有荊棘和網羅。（2）這使他一切享樂索然無味。末底改對他這小小的冒犯，就是那隻使整瓶珍貴膏油變了味的死蒼蠅；他在妻子和朋友面前親口承認——這是驕傲和不滿之心的永遠羞辱——只要末底改還活着、還坐在朝門，他在產業、晉升和家庭上就毫無安慰（Es 5:10-13）。他細數自己的財富和尊榮、家中兒女之多、所升遷的高位，說自己是王的寵臣、朝廷的偶像；然而只要末底改不被掛死，這一切都於他無益。那些天性愛發牢騷的人，永遠不愁找不到發牢騷的事；驕傲的人，雖然有許多稱心之事，卻若不能樣樣稱心，那一切對他們就等於零。哈曼所有之物中的千分之一，就足以使一個謙卑知足的人得到如他所期望從這世界得到的那麼多幸福；然而哈曼卻抱怨得如此激烈，好像他已淪入最深的貧窮和恥辱之中。
III. 籌謀報仇，並得到他妻子和朋友的慫恿（Es 5:14）。他們看出他多麼樂意推翻自己等到籤定的日期才執行屠殺的決定，因此勸他先取一個他所盼望的滿足的預嘗——即速速處決末底改；讓他先有這個樂子；他既然（自以為）已保證了所有猶太人在所定的時候被毁滅，目前先對末底改一人下手，也不算有損體面。
1. 為了滿足他的幻想，他們勸他預備一個木架，立在自己家門前，這樣一等到拿到簽署的命令，就可以立即執行，不必耽擱；連做木架的時間也不必等。這話正合哈曼的心意，他立刻叫人作了木架；要高五丈，或盡量接近這高度，為的是使末底改更蒙羞辱，使每一個過路的人都看見；又要放在哈曼家門前，好叫眾人都知道末底改是獻給他報仇之偶像的祭物，也使他得以飽享眼福。
2. 為了達成目的，他們勸他清早去見王，從王那裏得一道命令，將末底改掛死；他們毫不懷疑這命令必輕易獲准，因為他如此得王的寵信，又如此輕而易舉地得了滅絕整個猶太民族的諭旨。不必編造甚麼藉口；他只要讓王知道末底改藐視王的命令、不肯尊敬他就夠了。如今我們暫且撇下哈曼去就寢，他滿心歡喜地想着第二天要看見末底改被掛死，然後快快樂樂地去赴宴，卻絲毫沒有想到自己要試用自己那個木架。
英文原文
Haman's Joy and Chagrin; Haman's Mediated Revenge (510 BC)
⁹ Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.
¹⁰ Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.
¹¹ And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
¹² Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king.
¹³ Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
¹⁴ Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.
This account here given of Haman is a comment upon that of Solomon, Pr 21:24. Proud and haughty scorner is his name that deals in proud wrath. Never did any man more answer that name than Haman, in whom pride and wrath had so much the ascendant. See him,
I. Puffed up with the honour of being invited to Esther's feast. He was joyful and glad of heart at it, Es 5:9. Observe with what a high gust he speaks of it (Es 5:12), how he values himself upon it, and how near he thinks it brings him to the perfection of felicity, that Esther the queen did let no man come with the king to the banquet but his mighty self, and he thought it was because she was exceedingly charmed with his conversation that the next day she had invited him also to come with the king; none so fit as he to bear the king company. Note, Self-admirers and self-flatterers are really self-deceivers. Haman pleased himself with the fancy that the queen, by this repeated invitation, designed to honour him, whereas really she designed to accuse him, and, in calling him to the banquet, did but call him to the bar. What magnifying glasses do proud men look at their faces in! And how does the pride of their heart deceive them! Ob 1:3.
II. Vexing and fretting at the slight that Mordecai put upon him, and thereby made uneasy to himself and to all about him. 1. Mordecai was as determined as ever: He stood not up, nor moved for him, Es 5:9. What he did was from a principle of conscience, and therefore he persevered in it, and would not cringe to Haman, no, not when he had reason to fear him and Esther herself complimented him. He knew God could and would deliver him and his people from the rage of Haman, without any such mean and sneaking expedients to mollify him. Those that walk in holy sincerity may walk in holy security, and go on in their work, not fearing what man can do unto them. He that walks uprightly walks surely. 2. Haman can as ill bear it as ever; nay, the higher he is lifted up, the more impatient is he of contempt and the more enraged at it. (1.) It made his own spirit restless, and put him into a grievous agitation. He was full of indignation (Es 5:9) and yet refrained himself, Es 5:10. Gladly would he have drawn his sword and run Mordecai through for affronting him thus; but he hoped shortly to see him fall with all the Jews, and therefore with much ado prevailed with himself to forbear stabbing him. What a struggle had he in his own bosom between his anger, which required Mordecai's death immediately (O that I had of his flesh! I cannot be satisfied! Job 31:31), and his malice, which had determined to wait for the general massacre! Thus thorns and snares are in the way of the froward. (2.) It made all his enjoyments sapless. This little affront which he received from Mordecai was the dead fly which spoiled all his pot of precious ointment; he himself owned in the presence of his wife and friends, to the everlasting reproach of a proud and discontented mind, that he had no comfort in his estate, preferment, and family, as long as Mordecai lived and had a place in the king's gate, Es 5:10-13. He took notice of his own riches and honours, the numerousness of his family, and the high posts to which he was advanced, that he was the darling of the prince and the idol of the court; and yet all this avails him nothing as long as Mordecai is unhanged. Those that are disposed to be uneasy will never want something or other to be uneasy at; and proud men, though they have much to their mind, yet, if they have not all to their mind, it is as nothing to them. The thousandth part of what Haman had would serve to make a humble modest man as much of a happiness as he expects from this world; and yet Haman complained as passionately as if he had been sunk into the lowest degree of poverty and disgrace.
III. Meditating revenge, and assisted therein by his wife and his friends, Es 5:14. They saw how gladly he would dispense with his own resolution of deferring the slaughter till the time determined by the lot, and therefore advised him to take an earnest and foretaste of the satisfaction he then expected in the speedy execution of Mordecai; let him have that to please him at the moment; and having, as he thought, made sure the destruction of all the Jews, at the time appointed, he will not think scorn, for the present, to lay hands on Mordecai alone. 1. For the pleasing of his fancy they advise him to get a gallows ready, and have it set up before his own door, that, as soon as ever he could get the warrant signed, there might be no delay of the execution; he would not need so much as to stay the making of the gallows. This is very agreeable to Haman, who has the gallows made and fixed immediately; it must be fifty cubits high, or as near that as might be, for the greater disgrace of Mordecai and to make him a spectacle to every one that passed by; and it must be before Haman's door, that all men might take notice it was to the idol of his revenge that Mordecai was sacrificed and that he might feed his eyes with the sight. 2. For the gaining of his point they advise him to go early in the morning to the king, and get an order from him for the hanging of Mordecai, which, they doubted not, would be readily granted to one who was so much the king's favourite and who had so easily obtained an edict for the destruction of the whole nation of the Jews. There needed no feigned suggestion; it was enough if he let the king know that Mordecai, in contempt of the king's command, refused to reverence him. And now we leave Haman to go to bed, pleased with the thoughts of seeing Mordecai hanged the next day, and then going merrily to the banquet, and not dreaming of handselling his own gallows.
上文關於哈曼的消息是他在飲酒作樂之中（Es 3:15）。上文關於以斯帖王后的消息是她在流淚、禁食和禱告之中。如今本章記載：I. 以斯帖在她的喜樂之中，蒙王賜恩微笑，並得王赴她的筵席為榮（Es 5:1-8）。II. 哈曼怒氣填胸，因為末底改不肯向他脫帽屈膝，便滿心憤恨地為他立了一個木架（Es 5:9-14）。這樣，那流淚撒種的，必歡呼收割；而惡人的誇勝不過轉眼之間。