提要
波斯國王亞哈隨魯，也叫做撒克斯(Xerxes)，為他的達官顯貴們在書珊的皇宮開了一場宴席。之前六個月，亞哈隨魯驕傲地向貴官們炫耀他王國的豪奢。這些有頭有臉的貴賓，觀遍他所有的奢華，看了他廣大的王國，又參加了擴展波斯軍力的會議。第六個月終了，亞哈隨魯便舉辦了這場特別隆重的宴會，也因而導致了一連串事關重大的歷史事件。
在宴會中，酒無限量供應。看起來，這一連七天的宴會，是一個放肆的醉酒大會，目的是表彰王的偉大。當亞哈隨魯驕傲地炫耀他王國中的美女以後，他又想炫耀他最美的王后瓦實提。她的名字述說了她的美麗，意思是「最好」。於是，亞哈隨魯醉醺醺地下令要她自己來到宴會中展示一番。（1：10~11）。那時她正在另一個宴會中款待一批婦女。她拒絕王，極可能是因為她覺得那不適合，並且害怕自己的威嚴在那些喝醉酒的男人，包括他丈夫面前受損。頃刻之間，宴會的快樂消失了，最後男女主人還以離婚收場。他們的歡樂，消失的情形，顯出世人的歡樂是多麼短促，但是篤信主耶穌的人，卻有深厚根基的喜樂，不管什麼環境，永遠存在（參箴15：15）。
亞哈隨魯的脾氣，一發不可收拾。他，一個控制亞非二洲一百二十七省的王（1：1），卻不能控制自己的脾氣（箴16：32；25：28；14：29；19：11；弗4：31~32）。他聽從了手下「聰明人」──可能是星象家或律法師的建議。這些人認為瓦實提反抗的壞榜樣，可能會造成全國婦女不恭敬且反叛自己的丈夫。為確保男人為一家之主的地位，以及國王繼續受到臣民尊敬，亞哈隨魯休了瓦實提，剝奪了她皇后的地位。由是，全波斯王國的婦女都知道，她們不可以背離或不服自己的丈夫。
這一事件也許看來不幸，但就由此，上帝做工，拯救祂的子民免於滅亡，並且保全了彌賽亞要來的那一條支脈（參3：6）。以斯帖，一位非常美麗的猶太女人，住在這事件發生的同一城市書珊。他的堂兄末底改是便雅憫人，看見她成為孤兒後用愛心帶她回家，像自己的女兒一般把她撫養長大，表現了真正的信仰精神（雅1：27）。他們很可能就是掃羅王的後代（2：5；參撒上9：1；林前8：33）。書珊城可能有大量的猶太居民是尼布甲尼撒王當年從耶路撒冷抓來安置在那兒的。尼希米也住在書珊，以後做了亞哈隨魯之子亞達薛西的酒政。
根據那些聰明人的計畫，許多美麗的童女被帶到宮中。這樣，國王可以從他們中間，選出一個皇后取代長瓦實提。以斯帖甘甜的靈，安靜的性情，和長得美麗，贏得了後宮太監親切的恩惠。最要緊的，她得到亞哈隨魯王本人的恩愛。末底改曾聰明地教她隱藏自己的國籍。這可能是因為他從上帝那裡有一個預告，這樣做最好；因為如果別人知道她是一個猶太人，便可能對她產生傷害。就這樣，一位卑下、做下手的孤女，居然搖身一變，成為當時世界上最有勢力的波斯國皇后。她逐漸有了很大的力量，能影響國王，但這一切，都在上帝的計畫之中（羅8：28）。上主並未放棄祂的子民；雖然他們受懲，在流散之中，祂仍然愛著他們，並且為他們的好處，介入歷史之中。
因為末底改關心以斯帖，他常常靠近皇宮，這樣才能和她取得一些聯繫。在第二章結尾，有人要合謀暗殺亞哈隨魯王。上帝恩眷地安排末底改適時適地聽到這個密謀。以斯帖立即向王報告，此事後來被登錄在官方史錄中，而以斯帖也一再強調是末底改的功勞，雖然末底改不是波斯本國人，而且這麼做，似乎也沒人感激，他還是盡本分的對王忠誠（羅13：1~4；提前2：1~4）。故事說到這裡，這一事件看起來並不重大，但到後來，卻變成故事中的關鍵之一。主在過去掌管一切，在今天也是如此。
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Overview
The Persian king Ahasuerus, also known as Xerxes, held a great feast for all his nobles in his palace at Shushan, one of the main cities of the kingdom. For a period of six months, Ahasuerus proudly showed all the nobles the splendour of his kingdom. His honoured guests probably travelled around at his expense, viewing his vast kingdom and participating in meetings to plan Persia's military efforts for expansion. At the end of the six months, Ahasuerus held an extravagant feast which providentially led to a change in the events of history.
At the feast, there was no limit put on the amount of wine the men could drink. It appears that this seven-day feast was an extended drunken party in celebration of the king's greatness. As Ahasuerus had shown off the beauty of his kingdom with pride, he now wanted to show off his most beautiful queen, Vashti. Her name was descriptive of her beauty, meaning "the best". Ahasuerus himself was intoxicated when he ordered her to present herself at the party (1:10-11). She had been entertaining the women at a separate feast. She probably refused the king's order because she felt it inappropriate and feared for her dignity in the midst of those drunken men, including her husband. Suddenly, the joy of the party disappeared, and it ended in a divorce. The way their joy quickly vanished shows how the joy of the world is so temporal, but believers in the Lord Jesus have a deep-rooted joy that lasts despite any circumstances (cf. Proverbs 15:15).
Ahasuerus' anger led to drastic measures. He who controlled one hundred and twenty-seven provinces throughout Asia and Africa (1:1) could not control his own temper (Proverbs 16:32; 25:28; 14:29; 19:11; Ephesians 4:31-32). He followed the advice of his "wise men", probably astrologers and lawyers. They felt that Vashti's defiant example would cause the women of the kingdom to disrespect and disobey their husbands. To ensure that the man remained the head of the household and that the king continued to receive respect, Ahasuerus divorced Vashti, thus taking away her position as queen. The women throughout the Persian kingdom were to learn that they could not get away with disobeying their husbands.
This event may seem unfortunate, but through it all, God was working to save His people from extinction, and thus preserve the line from which the Messiah would come (cf. 3:6). Esther, a very beautiful Jewess, lived in the very city where these events took place, Shushan. Her elder cousin Mordecai, a Benjamite, exhibited true religion by lovingly taking her in and raising her as his own daughter when she became orphaned (James 1:27). They may well have been descendants of king Saul (2:5; cf. 1 Samuel 9:1; 1 Chronicles 8:33). Shushan must have had a large Jewish population that had been placed there by Nebuchadnezzar when he led thousands of people from Judah into captivity. Nehemiah also lived in Shushan and later served as cup-bearer to Ahasuerus' son Artaxerxes.
According to the plan of the wise men, many beautiful young virgins were found, so that from among them the king could choose a queen to replace Vashti. Esther's sweet spirit, quiet nature, and rare beauty gained her the immediate favour of the eunuch in charge of the king's harem. Most importantly, she gained the favour of Ahasuerus himself. Mordecai had wisely told Esther to conceal her nationality. It is possible that he had a premonition from the Lord that this would be best, for if it was known that she was a Jewess, there may have been prejudice against her. That day, a humble, subservient orphan girl was transformed into the queen of Persia, the most powerful kingdom in the world. Esther came to have a great influence on the king, but this was all in the plan of the Lord (Romans 8:28). God had not abandoned His people; though they were being punished in the Exile, He still loved them and intervened into the course of history for their good.
Because of Mordecai's love and concern for Esther, he remained close to the palace, so he might have some communication with her. Before the close of chapter two, we are told that he overheard the conspiracy to assassinate Ahasuerus. God had providentially arranged for Mordecai to be in the right place at the right time. In Esther's report to the king, which was recorded in the royal chronicles, she made sure to give the credit to Mordecai. He had acted with loyalty to the king, though he was a captive and though it appeared his action would go unappreciated (Romans 13:1-4; 1 Timothy 2:1-4). At this point in the story, this event seems insignificant, but it later becomes a crucial point in the story. The Lord had everything in control, just as He does for us, His people today.
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