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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.
1-6
Haman Accused by Esther (510 BC)
哈曼被以斯帖指控（主前 510 年）
¹ 於是王帶着哈曼來赴王后以斯帖的筵席。
² 第二日在酒席的筵上，王又問以斯帖說：王后以斯帖啊，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。
³ 王后以斯帖回答說：王啊，我若在你眼前蒙恩，王若以為美，我所求的，是存我的性命；我所要的，是存我的本族。
⁴ 因我和我的本族被賣了，要剪除殺戮滅絕我們。我們若被賣為奴為婢，我也閉口不言；但仇敵的損失抵不上王的損失。
⁵ 亞哈隨魯王對王后以斯帖回答說：擅敢起意如此行的人是誰？這人在哪裏呢？
⁶ 以斯帖說：仇人敵人就是這惡人哈曼。哈曼在王和王后面前就甚驚惶。
王在興頭上，哈曼敗興而來，在以斯帖的席上相遇。如今，
I. 王第三次催促以斯帖，要她告訴他所求的是甚麼，因為他急於知道，並重申了必賜給她的應許（Es 7:2）。王若在此時忘記了以斯帖有話要對他說，不再問是甚麼，她幾乎不知如何自己重新提起；但他記念這事，如今更被三重應許的繩索所約束，三次所應許的都使他要恩待她。
II. 以斯帖終於以一個請求使王驚訝——不是求財富或尊榮，不是為朋友謀求高官——王所期望的正是這些——而是求保全自己和同胞免於死亡和滅絕（Es 7:3,4）。
1. 即使是一個外人、一個罪犯，也當蒙允許為自己的性命求情；但一個朋友、一個妻子，竟然要提出這樣的請求，實在令人動容：我所求的，是存我的性命；我所要的，是存我的本族。有兩件事表明性命極其寶貴，若無辜就當不惜代價拯救：（1）威嚴。若受害的是戴冠冕的頭，那就是該行動的時候了。以斯帖的情形正是如此：我所求的，是存我的性命。你若對懷中的愛妻有任何情意，現在就是表露的時候；因為性命正懸一線。（2）眾多。若被瞄準的是許多性命，極多的性命，而且毫無過犯，就不可浪費時間、不可吝惜氣力去防止禍害。「不是一兩個朋友，而是我的本族——一整個民族，而且是我所親愛的民族，我如今為之代求的就是它的拯救。」
2. 為了更感動王，她暗示：（1）她和她的百姓是被買賣的。他們並非因觸犯政府而自賣，而是被賣以滿足一個人的驕傲和報復。（2）被賣的不僅是他們的自由，更是他們的性命。「我們若」（她說）「被賣為奴，我也不抱怨；因為日久或可恢復自由，雖然王會做一筆虧本生意，我們的身價也不能增加他的財富。無論為我們付了多少錢，從王的國中失去這麼多勤勞的雙手，對國庫的損失遠非那身價所能抵消。」逼迫好人，既是不敬虔，也是不明智的，明顯損害君王和國家的利益；這使他們被削弱和貧困化。但這不是此處的情形。我們被賣（她說）要剪除殺戮滅絕；那就是該說話的時候了。她引用了諭旨的話（Es 3:13），其中針對的正是他們的毁滅；這若能觸動王心中任何柔軟之處，就必使他回心轉意。
III. 王對這番陳詞大感驚訝，問道（Es 7:5）：擅敢起意如此行的人是誰？這人在哪裏呢？甚麼！竟圖謀王后和她一切朋友的性命？世上竟有這樣的人，不如說這樣的怪物嗎？擅敢起意如此行的人是誰？這人在哪裏呢？或作：誰充滿了他的心。他驚奇，1. 竟有人壞到如此地步，會想出這樣的事來；無疑是撒但充滿了他的心。2. 竟有人膽大到如此地步，會行這樣的事，他的心竟如此堅定地要行惡，如此膽大妄為。請注意，（1）世上實在有的那些可怕的罪惡，令人難以想像。是誰、在哪裏，竟敢、竟敢質疑神的存在和祂的護理，嘲弄祂的聖言，褻瀆祂的名，逼迫祂的百姓，還向祂的烈怒挑釁？這樣的人確實存在，想到他們就足以使恐懼抓住我們（詩 119:53）。（2）我們有時聽見某種惡事就驚訝，而我們自己卻正犯着同樣的惡。亞哈隨魯對他所自犯的罪惡大感驚訝；因為他同意了那道殺害猶太人的血腥諭旨。你就是那人，以斯帖也未嘗不可如此真實地說。
IV. 以斯帖當着哈曼的面，坦白地指控他：「他在這裏，讓他自己說吧，因為請他來正是為此：仇人敵人就是這惡人哈曼（Es 7:6）；就是他設計要謀害我們，更糟的是，他卑鄙地使王在無知中同意，成了particeps criminis——他罪惡的同夥。」
V. 哈曼很快就意識到自己的危險：他在王和王后面前就甚驚惶；當王后是他的控告者、王是他的審判官、而他自己的良心作見證反對他時，正是他該懼怕的時候；而那天早上護理出人意料的作為，也不能不增加他的恐懼。如今他雖被邀赴酒筵，卻毫無喜樂；當他自以為在豐富充足之中時，卻發現自己陷入困境。他被自己的腳陷入網羅。
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.
7-10
The King Incensed Against Haman; Haman Hanged upon His Own Gallows (510 BC)
王向哈曼發怒；哈曼被掛在自己所備的木架上（主前 510 年）
⁷ 王從飲酒的筵席前發怒出來，進入王宮的御園；哈曼見王定意要加罪於他，就起來求王后以斯帖救命。
⁸ 王從御園回到飲酒的處所，見哈曼伏在以斯帖所靠的榻上。王說：他在宮內、在我面前，竟敢凌辱王后嗎？這話一出王口，人就蒙了哈曼的臉。
⁹ 太監哈波拿上前說：哈曼為那曾說好話救王的末底改作了五丈高的木架，現今立在哈曼家裏。王說：把他掛在其上。
¹⁰ 於是人將哈曼掛在他為末底改所預備的木架上。王的忿怒這才止息。
此處我們看到：
I. 王帶怒退席。他在極大的憤怒中離席，進入王宮的御園，要使自己冷靜下來，並考慮該怎麼辦（Es 7:7）。他沒有差人去請那知時明理的七位謀士，因為他羞於與他們商議要撤銷自己未經他們知曉和建議而輕率作成的事；他到園中散步一會，在心中比較以斯帖此刻告訴他的與從前他和哈曼之間所發生的事。我們可以設想他：
1. 對自己感到憤恨——自己竟如此愚昧，憑着一個自私之人的卑鄙指控，不查究其真偽，就將一個無辜的民族定了死罪，連自己的王后在內。憑己意行事的人，事後回想時必自責。
2. 對他所引為心腹的哈曼感到憤恨——他竟如此卑鄙，利用自己對他的影響力，拉他同意如此邪惡的措施。當他看見自己被所寵信的人出賣，就對他滿懷憤恨；然而他什麼也不說，直到給自己時間再想一想，看第二次的想法是否會使事情看來比初次更好或更壞，好據此行事。我們發怒時，當暫停片刻才下任何決定，作為管轄自己心靈的人，受理性支配。
II. 哈曼成了向王后求命的卑微懇求者。他從王倉促離席之中容易看出有禍患定意臨到他。因為王的烈怒——這樣一位王的烈怒——如同獅子吼叫，又如死亡的使者。如今看：
1. 哈曼看起來何等卑賤——他先站起來，然後俯伏在以斯帖腳前，求她救他的命，並願交出一切所有的。那些在權勢和興盛時最驕傲、最蠻橫、最專橫的人，當命運之輪轉向他們時，往往是最卑鄙、最沒有骨氣的。人說懦夫最殘忍，而對自己殘忍的自覺又使他們更加怯懦。
2. 以斯帖看起來何等威嚴——她不久前還被冷落、被定為屠殺的對象，如同羊羔一般；如今她的死敵承認自己任她處置，向她求命。如此神顧念祂使女的卑微，又用膀臂施展大能，驅散心裏妄想的人（路 1:48,51）。將此與對非拉鐵非教會的應許比較（啟 3:9）：*我要使那撒但一會的人，來在你腳前下拜，也使他們知道我是已經愛你了。*那日子將到，恨惡和迫害神選民的人，情願仰望他們。給我們你的油。亞伯拉罕哪，打發拉撒路來。正直人將在早晨掌權。
III. 王回來時對哈曼更加憤恨。他越想哈曼，就越覺得哈曼和他所作的越壞。不久前哈曼所說所行的一切，連最該定罪的，都被善意地領受，被解釋為對哈曼有利；如今相反，哈曼所作的——不但是無辜的，更是悔改的記號——都被惡意地領受，毫無道理地被解釋為對哈曼不利。他在以斯帖腳前恐懼俯伏，懇求保命。怎麼！（王說）他在宮內、在我面前，竟敢凌辱王后嗎？他並非真以為哈曼有此意圖，但因他一直在思想哈曼謀害王后的計謀，如今見他這副姿態，就藉此向哈曼發洩怒氣，把他看作一個連最大最無恥的惡行也不顧忌的人。「他設計要殺王后，要在我在家中時殺她；他也要照樣凌辱她嗎？怎麼！先強暴她，然後謀殺她？那設計要她命的人，大有被懷疑要害她貞潔的理由。」
IV. 他周圍的人樂意作他怒氣的器皿。那些在哈曼如日方升時奉承他的朝臣，如今見他成了將落的星，就同樣激烈地反對他，甚至幸災樂禍地找機會推倒他：驕傲的人對自以為擁有的勢力是如此不穩妥。
1. 王一說出忿怒的話，他們就蒙了哈曼的臉，如同對待已被定罪的人，不再配見王，也不配被王看見；他們標記他要被處決。被掛的人通常都蒙着臉。看僕人何等樂意捉住王在此事上的第一個暗示。*羅馬的群眾隨着命運的轉向而改變，總是欺壓失勢的人。*哈曼若在下落之中，他們就都喊說：「推倒他。」
2. 最近曾奉差到哈曼家帶他赴宴的人中，有一位向王報告了哈曼為末底改所備的木架（Es 7:9）。如今末底改是寵臣，太監就稱讚他——他曾為王說好話；哈曼既已失勢，凡能加罪於他、激怒王、填滿他罪惡之量的事，都被注意到了。
V. 王下令將他掛在他自己的木架上，事就照着行了；也沒有人問他有甚麼話說，為何不該判他此刑、執行此刑。判決簡短——把他掛在其上；執行迅速——於是人將哈曼掛在木架上（Es 7:10）。在此看見：
1. 驕傲被貶抑。那指望人人都向他致敬的人，如今成了世人面前可恥的景象，自己成了報仇心的祭物。神阻擋驕傲的人；祂所阻擋的人，必發現祂是不可抗拒的。
2. 迫害受罰。哈曼在許多方面都是惡人，但他對神教會的敵意是他最惹神怒的罪，正因這罪，那報應的神在此與他算帳；雖然他的計謀已被挫敗，卻仍照他所謀的惡報應他（詩 28:4）。
3. 禍患返回那設計者的身上，惡人被自己手所作的纏住（詩 7:15,16,9:15,16）。哈曼被掛在他為末底改不義地預備的同一個木架上，誠然是公義的。他若沒有立那木架，王也許不會想到下令將他掛死；但他若為王所喜悅尊榮的人立一個木架，那麼下令讓他自己試一試、看看是否合身、是否合意，就十分自然了。神教會的仇敵常常如此在自己的詭計中被捉住。早晨哈曼還在為自己設計朝服、為末底改設計木架；如今情勢逆轉：末底改得了冠冕，哈曼得了十字架。耶和華藉着這樣的審判顯為已知。（箴 11:8,21:18）。
*最後，*王在這執行中的滿足。那時王的忿怒才止息——直到那時才止息。他下令掛哈曼，與下令尊榮末底改同樣高興。王所喜悅報仇的人，必如此待他。神論到惡人說（結 5:13）：我要使我的烈怒止息在他們身上，我就得了安慰。
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.
如今我們要赴王和哈曼所受邀的第二個筵席：在那裏，I. 以斯帖向王呈上她的請求，求王保全她的性命和她本族的性命（Es 7:1-4）。II. 她坦白地告訴王，哈曼就是那設計要毁滅她和她一切朋友的人（Es 7:5,6）。III. 王隨即下令將哈曼吊死在他為末底改所預備的木架上，事就照着行了（Es 7:7-10）。這樣，藉着謀劃者的滅亡，挫敗陰謀已邁出了可喜的一步。