The Story of Esther
“Then Queen Esther answered, ‘If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request.’” (Esther 7:3)
By Pastor Park Ok-soo, Good News Gangnam Church
The Book of Esther records the reign of King Ahasuerus, who ruled over 127 provinces from India to Cush. In the third year of his reign, the king gave a great banquet for all his princes and officials in the citadel of Susa. The feast lasted for 180 days, during which he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor of his majesty. Afterward, the king held another seven-day banquet in the courtyard of the palace garden for all the people living in Susa.
Vashti Deposed, Esther Made Queen
On the seventh day, when the king was merry with wine, he ordered seven eunuchs, “Bring Queen Vashti before the king, wearing her royal crown, so that the people and nobles may see her beauty, for she is lovely to look at.” But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command. The king waited, but she never appeared. His anger burned within him, and he said to those who knew the law,
“What must be done to Queen Vashti according to the law, because she has not obeyed the command of King Ahasuerus?”
Then Memucan replied before the king and the princes:
“Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but also all the officials and all the peoples in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. For the queen’s conduct will become known to all women, so they will despise their husbands and say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.’ This day’s deed will cause widespread contempt and wrath. Let a royal decree be issued that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let her royal position be given to another who is better than she. Then all women will respect their husbands.”
The king and his nobles were pleased with this advice, and the king acted accordingly. Thus began the search for a new queen.
At that time, there was a Jew named Mordecai living in Susa. When King Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem, Mordecai and his people were taken captive. He had a cousin named Esther, the daughter of his uncle, whom he raised as his own daughter after her parents died. Esther was beautiful in form and features. When the king’s order was proclaimed to gather virgins, Esther was taken to the royal palace. King Ahasuerus found Esther more pleasing than any of the other women, and he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen. Even after becoming queen, Esther continued to respect and obey Mordecai.
“If I perish, I perish”
Later, King Ahasuerus honored Haman, elevating him above all other nobles. All the royal officials knelt down and paid honor to Haman—but Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid him honor. Haman was enraged, and he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead, he looked for a way to destroy all the Jews throughout the kingdom of Ahasuerus.
Haman said to the king,
“There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom whose laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them.”
The king agreed, and on the thirteenth day of the first month, Haman issued the decree: “On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, all Jews—young and old, women and children—are to be destroyed, killed, and annihilated in a single day, and their goods plundered.” It was sealed with the king’s signet ring and sent to all provinces.
When Mordecai learned of this, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. The Jews throughout the land fasted and mourned. Through her attendants, Esther received word from Mordecai urging her to go before the king and plead for her people.
But Esther replied,
“All the king’s officials know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned, there is but one law: that they be put to death, unless the king extends the gold scepter. I have not been called to go to the king for thirty days.”
Then Mordecai sent back this reply:
“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Esther replied,
“Go, gather all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. If I perish, I perish.”
Mordecai did as Esther had instructed, and all the Jews in Susa fasted for three days. Then Esther put on her royal robes and went before the king.
“Queen Esther, what is your request?”
When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won his favor, and he held out the golden scepter. Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
The king asked,
“Queen Esther, what is your request? Whatever you ask—even up to half the kingdom—shall be given to you.”
Esther replied, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to a banquet I have prepared for the king.”
The king summoned Haman at once, and together they attended the banquet. During the wine, the king again asked,
“Now what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”
Esther replied, “Tomorrow, if it pleases the king, come again with Haman to another banquet, and then I will answer.”
Haman went home joyful that only he had been invited with the king to Queen Esther’s banquet. Yet, when he saw Mordecai sitting at the gate, he was filled with rage. His wife and friends said, “Have a gallows seventy-five feet high built, and ask the king in the morning to hang Mordecai on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and be happy.” The suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the gallows built.
That night, the king could not sleep. He ordered the book of chronicles to be read, and there it was written that Mordecai had exposed the plot of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who had conspired to assassinate the king. The king asked,
“What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?”
“Nothing has been done for him,” they answered.
At that moment, Haman entered to ask the king about hanging Mordecai. The king said to him,
“What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?”
Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” So he answered, “Have them bring a royal robe the king has worn, a horse the king has ridden, and place a royal crown on its head. Then have one of the king’s most noble princes lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’”
The king said, “Go at once, do just as you have suggested, for Mordecai the Jew. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”
“The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!”
At the second banquet, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It shall be granted you—even up to half the kingdom.”
Then Esther answered,
“If I have found favor in your sight, O king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request. For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, killed, and annihilated!”
The king demanded, “Who is he, and where is he, who has dared to do such a thing?”
Esther said, “The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!”
Haman was terrified before the king and queen. In the end, Haman was hanged on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. The Jews were delivered from death and rejoiced with great joy and gladness.
These events are recorded in the Book of Esther.
以斯帖的故事
“王后以斯帖回答说：‘……我所愿的，是愿王将我的性命赐给我；我所求的，是求王将我的本族赐给我。’”（斯7：3）
作者：朴玉洙（好消息江南教会牧师）
《以斯帖记》中记载了亚哈随鲁王。从印度到古实，他统治着127省。亚哈随鲁在位第三年，在书珊城，他为一切首领、臣仆摆设筵席。筵席办了180日，其间，王彰显了他荣耀之国的丰富和美好威严的尊贵。筵席过后，王又为住书珊城的百姓，在御园的后院设摆筵席七日。
瓦实提被废，以斯帖成为王后
第七日，王酒兴大起，命七个太监：“去请王后瓦实提来，让所有臣民看她的美貌。”因为王后的容貌甚美。可是王后却没到酒席筵前来。王左等右等，王后始终没来。王甚发怒，心如火烧，于是问知例明法的人：
“王后瓦实提不遵太监所传的王命，照例应当怎样办理呢？”
此时，米母干在王和众首领面前回答说：
“王后瓦实提这事不但得罪王，并且有害于王各省的臣民；因为王后这事必传到众妇人的耳中，说亚哈随鲁王吩咐王后瓦实提到王面前，她却不来。她们就藐视自己的丈夫。从此必大开藐视和忿怒之端。请降旨，不准瓦实提再到王面前，将她王后的位分赐给比她还好的人。如此，所有的妇人必都尊敬自己的丈夫。”
王以这话为美，就照这话去行。此后，便有了选立新王后的事情。
当时，在书珊城有一个叫末底改的犹大人。当尼布甲尼撒王攻打耶路撒冷时，他和百姓一同被掳来，住在书珊城。与他一起同住的以斯帖是他叔叔的女儿，她的父母去世后，末底改把她养为自己的女儿。以斯帖容貌俊美，王招聚处女，遴选王后时，以斯帖也被带进王宫。此后，亚哈随鲁王尤其喜爱以斯帖，立以斯帖为王后，并设摆大筵席。以斯帖成为王后之后，依然尊敬并跟随末底改。
我去见王，死就死吧
这事以后，亚哈随鲁王抬举哈曼，使他高升，叫他的爵位超过与他同事的一切臣宰。所有人都跪拜哈曼，只有末底改不跪不拜。因此，哈曼怒气填胸，以为害末底改一人是小事，便计划灭绝所有的犹大人。哈曼求王说：
“有一种民，散居在王国各省的民中，他们的律例与万民的律例不同，也不守王的律例，所以容留他们与王无益。王若以为美，请下旨意灭绝他们。”
王允准了此事。正月十三日，哈曼奉王的命令写旨意：“在十二月十三日，一日之间杀戮灭绝犹大人，并夺他们的财为掠物。”用王的戒指盖印，颁行到各省。
末底改得知此事，就穿麻衣，蒙灰尘，在城中行走，痛痛哀号，犹大人也大大悲哀。以斯帖从宫女和太监处得到末底改传来的消息：“你要去见王，为犹大人恳切祈求。”但以斯帖讲述了自己无法这样做的处境。
“人都知道，若不蒙召，擅入内院见王的，必被治死；除非王向他伸出金杖。现在我没有蒙召进去见王已经三十日了。”
此时，末底改对以斯帖说：
“你莫想在王宫里强过一切犹大人，得免这祸。此时你若闭口不言，犹大人必从别处得解脱，蒙拯救，你和你父家必至灭亡。焉知你得了王后的位分，不是为现今的机会吗？”
以斯帖回答说：
“你当去招聚书珊城所有的犹大人，为我禁食三昼三夜，不吃不喝。我也这样禁食。然后我违例进去见王，我若死就死吧！”
末底改招聚书珊城的所有犹大人禁食三日，以斯帖也和宫女一起禁食，然后起身去见王。
王后以斯帖啊，你要什么？你求什么？
王后穿上朝服，进王宫的内院，对殿站立。王看到以斯帖，伸出了手中的金杖。以斯帖上前摸杖头，王说：
“王后以斯帖啊，你要什么？你求什么？就是国的一半也必赐给你。”
以斯帖说：“我为王摆设了筵席，请带哈曼一同来赴席。”
王马上召来哈曼，带他去了筵席。酒席间，王再次问道：
“你要什么？我必赐给你。你求什么？就是国的一半也必为你成就。”
以斯帖回答说：“明天也请王来赴席，届时必回答。”
回家时，哈曼因“王后预备筵席，除了他之外，不许别人随王赴席”，心中快乐。可是见末底改坐在朝门，他就满心愤怒。哈曼的妻和朋友对他说：“做一个五丈高的木架，明早求王将末底改挂在其上，然后你可以欢欢喜喜地随王赴席。”哈曼以这话为美，就叫人作了木架。
那夜，王睡不着觉，就叫人给他念历史书听。正见书上写着：太监辟探和提列，想要害王，末底改告发此事，拯救了王。王听到后问：
“赐给末底改什么尊荣爵位没有？”
“没有赐他什么。”
王问谁在院里。哈曼为了求王将末底改挂在木架上来见王。王问哈曼：
“王所喜悦尊荣的人，当如何待他呢？”
哈曼心里说：“王所喜悦尊荣的，不是我是谁呢？”便对王说：“给他穿上王的衣服、戴上王的冠冕，骑上王的御马，走遍城里的街市，宣告说：‘王所喜悦尊荣的人，就如此待他。’”王心想：“这小子想坐我的位置啊。”便说：“你速速照你所说的，向末底改去行，一样不可缺。”
仇人敌人就是这恶人哈曼
王带着哈曼来赴以斯帖的筵席。王再次问道：“你要什么？你求什么？就是国的一半，也必为你成就。”以斯帖回答说：
“我若在王眼前蒙恩，愿王将我的性命赐给我；将我的本族赐给我。因我和我的本族要被杀戮灭绝！”
王问：“擅敢起意如此行的是谁？这人在哪里呢？”以斯帖说：“仇人敌人就是这恶人哈曼。”哈曼甚是惊惶。
最终，哈曼被挂在了为末底改准备的木架上，所有犹大人都脱离了死亡，享受到了莫大的喜乐和幸福。这些就记录在《以斯帖记》中。
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