以斯帖被立為王后

這事之後,亞哈隨魯王的怒氣平息下來,就想起瓦實提和她的所作所為,並怎樣降旨懲罰她的事。 王的侍臣說:「讓人為王物色一些年輕貌美的處女吧。 請王在國中各省委派專使把所有年輕漂亮的處女選入書珊城的女宮,交給管理女子的太監希該,供給她們美容用品。 哪個女子討王歡心,便立她為王后,代替瓦實提。」王覺得這個建議很好,就採納了。

當時,書珊城中有個猶太人,名叫末底改,是便雅憫人基士的曾孫、示每的孫子、雅珥的兒子。 巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒曾從耶路撒冷擄走猶大王耶哥尼雅和百姓,末底改也在其中。 末底改收養了叔叔的女兒哈大沙,又名以斯帖,把她認作自己的女兒,因為她父母雙亡。這女子體態優美,容貌動人。 王的諭旨一下,許多年輕的女子被召到書珊城中,交給管理女子的希該照管。以斯帖也被送到王宮中交給希該。 希該喜歡以斯帖,就恩待她,急忙給她需用的美容用品和膳食,又從王宮為她挑選七名宮女,讓她和她的宮女搬進女宮上好的房屋。 10 以斯帖沒有向人透露過自己的種族和身世,因為末底改吩咐她不要透露。 11 末底改天天在女宮的庭院前徘徊,好打聽以斯帖的消息,瞭解她的情況。

12 每個女子依次晉見亞哈隨魯王之前,都要照規矩潔淨十二個月:六個月用沒藥油,六個月用香料和潔身用品。 13 每個女子從女宮到王宮晉見王時,她所要求的一切都要給她。 14 她晚上進去,次日被帶到另一個女宮,交給管理妃嬪的太監沙甲。除非王喜歡她,提名召見她,否則她不會再見到王。

15 以斯帖是末底改的叔叔亞比孩的女兒,後來被末底改收養。輪到她晉見王時,除了管理女子的太監希該給她的東西外,她沒有別的要求。凡看見她的人都喜歡她。 16 亞哈隨魯王執政第七年十月,即提別月,以斯帖被帶進宮中見王。 17 王愛以斯帖勝過愛其他所有的女子,她比其他處女更得王的恩寵。於是,王把后冠戴在她頭上,立她為王后,代替瓦實提。 18 王為以斯帖大擺宴席招待文武百官,又宣佈各省休假[a],並厚賜禮物。

末底改救王的性命

19 第二次召集處女時,末底改已坐在宮門供職。 20 以斯帖依照末底改的吩咐,沒有向人透露自己的身世和籍貫,因為她像幼年時一樣聽從末底改的話。

21 一天,末底改正在宮門供職,兩個守門的太監辟探和提列惱恨亞哈隨魯王,想要下手害他。 22 末底改知道後,便通知以斯帖王后,以斯帖就以末底改的名義稟告王。 23 查明確有此事後,便把二人吊死在木架上,並將這事當著王的面寫入史書。

Footnotes

  1. 2·18 休假」或譯「免去賦稅」。

以斯帖被立为王后

这事之后,亚哈随鲁王的怒气平息下来,就想起瓦实提和她的所作所为,并怎样降旨惩罚她的事。 王的侍臣说:“让人为王物色一些年轻貌美的处女吧。 请王在国中各省委派专使把所有年轻漂亮的处女选入书珊城的女宫,交给管理女子的太监希该,供给她们美容用品。 哪个女子讨王欢心,便立她为王后,代替瓦实提。”王觉得这个建议很好,就采纳了。

当时,书珊城中有个犹太人,名叫末底改,是便雅悯人基士的曾孙、示每的孙子、雅珥的儿子。 巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒曾从耶路撒冷掳走犹大王耶哥尼雅和百姓,末底改也在其中。 末底改收养了叔叔的女儿哈大沙,又名以斯帖,把她认作自己的女儿,因为她父母双亡。这女子体态优美,容貌动人。 王的谕旨一下,许多年轻的女子被召到书珊城中,交给管理女子的希该照管。以斯帖也被送到王宫中交给希该。 希该喜欢以斯帖,就恩待她,急忙给她需用的美容用品和膳食,又从王宫为她挑选七名宫女,让她和她的宫女搬进女宫上好的房屋。 10 以斯帖没有向人透露过自己的种族和身世,因为末底改吩咐她不要透露。 11 末底改天天在女宫的庭院前徘徊,好打听以斯帖的消息,了解她的情况。

12 每个女子依次晋见亚哈随鲁王之前,都要照规矩洁净十二个月:六个月用没药油,六个月用香料和洁身用品。 13 每个女子从女宫到王宫晋见王时,她所要求的一切都要给她。 14 她晚上进去,次日被带到另一个女宫,交给管理妃嫔的太监沙甲。除非王喜欢她,提名召见她,否则她不会再见到王。

15 以斯帖是末底改的叔叔亚比孩的女儿,后来被末底改收养。轮到她晋见王时,除了管理女子的太监希该给她的东西外,她没有别的要求。凡看见她的人都喜欢她。 16 亚哈随鲁王执政第七年十月,即提别月,以斯帖被带进宫中见王。 17 王爱以斯帖胜过爱其他所有的女子,她比其他处女更得王的恩宠。于是,王把后冠戴在她头上,立她为王后,代替瓦实提。 18 王为以斯帖大摆宴席招待文武百官,又宣布各省休假[a],并厚赐礼物。

末底改救王的性命

19 第二次召集处女时,末底改已坐在宫门供职。 20 以斯帖依照末底改的吩咐,没有向人透露自己的身世和籍贯,因为她像幼年时一样听从末底改的话。

21 一天,末底改正在宫门供职,两个守门的太监辟探和提列恼恨亚哈随鲁王,想要下手害他。 22 末底改知道后,便通知以斯帖王后,以斯帖就以末底改的名义禀告王。 23 查明确有此事后,便把二人吊死在木架上,并将这事当着王的面写入史书。

Footnotes

  1. 2:18 休假”或译“免去赋税”。

2 After the Queen is put away, certain young maids are brought to the king. 17 Esther pleaseth the King, and is made Queen. 22 Mordecai discloseth unto the king those that would betray him.

After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus was appeased, he [a]remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed [b]against her.

And the King’s servants that ministered unto him, said, Let them seek for the King beautiful young virgins,

And let the King appoint officers through all the provinces of his Kingdom, and let them gather all the beautiful young virgins unto the palace of Shushan, into the house of the women, under the hand of Hegai the King’s eunuch, [c]keeper of the women, to give them their things [d]for purification.

And the maid that shall please the King, let her reign in the stead of Vashti. And this pleased the king, and he did so.

¶ In the city of Shushan there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish a man of Benjamin,

Which had been carried away from Jerusalem (A)with the captivity that was carried away with Jeconiah King of Judah (whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel had carried away.)

And he nourished Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful to look on: and after the death of her father, and her mother, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.

And when the king’s commandment, and his decree was published, and many maids were brought together to the palace of Shushan, under the hand of Hegai, Esther was brought also unto the King’s house under the hand of Hegai the keeper of the women.

And the maid pleased him, and she found favor in his sight, therefore he caused her things for purification to be given her speedily, and her [e]state, and seven comely maids to be given her out of the King’s house, and he gave change to her and to her maids of the best in the house of the women.

10 But Esther showed not her people and her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not tell it.

11 And Mordecai walked [f]every day before the court of the women’s house, to know if Esther did well, and what should be done with her.

12 And when the course of every maid came, to go in to King Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months according to the manner of the women (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors and in the purifying of the women:

13 And thus went the maids unto the King) whatsoever she required, was [g]given her to go with her out of the women’s house unto the king’s house.

14 In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women under the hand of Shaashgaz the King’s eunuch, which kept the concubines: she came in to the King no more, except she pleased the King, and that she were called by name.

15 Now when the course of Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai (which had taken her as his own daughter) came, that she should go in to the king, she desired nothing, but what [h]Hege the king’s eunuch the keeper of the women [i]said: and Esther found favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her.

16 ¶ So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the [j]month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

17 And the King loved Esther above all the women, and she found grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins: so that he set the crown of the kingdom upon her head, and made her Queen instead of Vashti.

18 Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes, and his servants, which was [k]the feast of Esther, and gave rest [l]unto the provinces, and gifts, according to the [m]power of a king.

19 And when the virgins were gathered the [n]second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate.

20 Esther had not yet showed her kindred nor her people, as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did after the word of Mordecai, as when she was nourished with him.

21 ¶ In those days when Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay [o]hand on the King Ahasuerus.

22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, and he told it unto Queen Esther, and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai’s name: and when inquisition was made, it was found so: therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the [p]Chronicles before the king.

Footnotes

  1. Esther 2:1 That is, he called the matter again into communication.
  2. Esther 2:1 By the seven wise men of his counsel.
  3. Esther 2:3 The abuse of these countries was so great, that they invented many means to serve the lusts of Princes, and therefore as they ordained wicked laws, that the king might have whose daughters he would, so they had divers houses appointed, as one for them while they were virgins, another when they were concubines and for the Queens another.
  4. Esther 2:3 Read what this purification was, verse 12.
  5. Esther 2:9 Hebrew, portions.
  6. Esther 2:11 For though she was taken away by a cruel law, yet he ceased not to have a fatherly care over her, and therefore did resort ofttimes to hear of her.
  7. Esther 2:13 What apparel she asked of the eunuch, that was he bound to give her.
  8. Esther 2:15 Or, Hegai.
  9. Esther 2:15 Wherein her modesty appeared, because she sought not apparel to commend her beauty, but stood to the Eunuch’s appointment.
  10. Esther 2:16 Which contained part of December and part of January.
  11. Esther 2:18 That is, made for her sake.
  12. Esther 2:18 He released their tribute.
  13. Esther 2:18 That is, great and magnificent.
  14. Esther 2:19 That is, at the marriage of Esther, which was the second marriage of the king.
  15. Esther 2:21 Meaning, to kill him.
  16. Esther 2:22 In the Chronicles of the Medes and Persians, as Esther 10:2.