The king hearing the good seruice of Mardocheus in detecting traitors, read in the chronicle (for which he had yet no rewarde) 4. commandeth Aman to honour him next to the king, 11. which he performeth.
1That night the king passed without sleep, and he commanded the histories and chronicles of former times to be brought him. And when they were reading them before him,Il re passò quella notte senza prender riposo, e comandò, che se gli portasser le storie, e gli annali del tempo passato: e mentre questi leggevansi in sua presenza,THAT night the king passed without sleepe, and he commanded the histories and chronicles of former times to be brought him. Which when they were read in his presence,Noctem illam duxit rex insomnem, jussitque sibi afferri historias et annales priorum temporum. Quæ cum illo præsente legerentur, 2They came to that place where it was written, how Mardochai had discovered the treason of Bagathan and Thares the eunuchs, who sought to kill king Assuerus.Si venne a quel luogo, dove stava scritto, come Mardocheo avea rivelata al re la congiura di Bagathan, e di Thares eunuchi, che volevano uccidere il re Assuero.they came to that place where it was written, how Mardocheus had vttered the treason of Bagathan, and Thares the eunuches, coueting to kil king Assuerus.ventum est ad illum locum ubi scriptum erat quomodo nuntiasset Mardochæus insidias Bagathan et Thares eunuchorum, regem Assuerum jugulare cupientium. 3And when the king heard this, he said: What honour and reward hath Mardochai received for this fidelity? His servants and ministers said to him: He hath received no reward at all.Or sentito ciò, disse il re: Qual premio, od onore ha ottenuto Mardocheo per tanta fedeltà? E i servitori, e i cortigiani suoi gli dissero: Ei non ha avuto ricompensa veruna.Which when the king had heard, he sayd: What honour and reward hath Mardocheus receiued for this fidelitie? His seruantes and ministers said to him: He hath receiued no reward at al.Quod cum audisset rex, ait: Quid pro hac fide honoris ac præmii Mardochæus consecutus est ? Dixerunt ei servi illius ac ministri: Nihil omnino mercedis accepit. 4And the king said immediately: Who is in the court? for Aman was coming in to the inner court of the king’s house, to speak to the king, that he might order Mardochai to be hanged upon the gibbet, which was prepared for him.E il re immediatamente disse: Chi è nell'atrio? Or Aman era entrato nell'atrio interiore della casa reale per suggerire al re, che desse ordine di far appiccar Mardocheo al patibolo già preparato.And the king by and by, who is, quoth he, in the court? For Aman had entered the inner court of the kings house, that he might suggest to the king, and he might command Mardocheus to be hanged fast on the gibbet, which was prepared for him.Statimque rex: Quis est, inquit, in atrio ? Aman quippe interius atrium domus regiæ intraverat, ut suggereret regi, et juberet Mardochæum affigi patibulo, quod ei fuerat præparatum.
5The servants answered: Aman standeth in the court, and the king said: Let him come in.Risposero i servi: Aman è nell'anticamera. E il re disse: Venga.The seruantes answered: Aman standeth in the court. And the king said: Let him come in.Responderunt pueri: Aman stat in atrio. Dixitque rex: Ingrediatur. 6And when he was come in, he said to him: What ought to be done to the man whom the king is desirous to honour? But Aman thinking in his heart, and supposing that the king would honour no other but himself,E quand'ei fu entrato, gli disse: Che dee farsi ad un uomo, cui il re vuole onorare? E Aman pensando dentro di se, e credendo, che non altri, che se, volesse il re onorare,And when he was come in, he said to him: What ought to be done to the man, whom the king is desirous to honour? But Aman thinking in his hart, and supposing that the king would honour no other, but him self,Cumque esset ingressus, ait illi: Quid debet fieri viro, quem rex honorare desiderat ? Cogitans autem in corde suo Aman, et reputans quod nullum alium rex, nisi se, vellet honorare, 7Answered: The man whom the king desireth to honour,Rispose: Un uomo, che il re vuole onorare,answered: The man, whom the king desireth to honour,respondit: Homo, quem rex honorare cupit, 8Ought to be clothed with the king’s apparel, and to be set upon the horse that the king rideth upon, and to have the royal crown upon his head,Dee vestirsi di abito reale, e farsi, salire sopra un cavallo, il quale sia stato e cavalcato dal re, e dee avere in testa il diadema reale,ought to be clothed with the kings garmentes, and to be set vpon the horse, that is for the kings saddle, and to take the kings crowne vpon his head,debet indui vestibus regiis, et imponi super equum, qui de sella regis est, et accipere regium diadema super caput suum: 9And let the first of the king’s princes and nobles hold his horse, and going through the street of the city, proclaim before him and say: Thus shall he be honoured, whom the king hath a mind to honour.E il primo de' principi reali, e dei signori grandi addestri il suo cavallo, e andando per la piazza della città gridi, e dica: Così sarà onorato colui, che il re vuole onorare.and let the chiefe of the kings princes and nobles hold his horse, and going throuh the streat of the citie, crie, and say: So shal he be honoured, whomsoeuer the king wil honour.et primus de regiis principibus ac tyrannis teneat equum ejus, et per plateam civitatis incedens clamet, et dicat: Sic honorabitur, quemcumque voluerit rex honorare.
10And the king said to him: Make haste and take the robe and the horse, and do as thou hast spoken to Mardochai the Jew, who sitteth before the gates of the palace. Beware thou pass over any of those things which thou hast spoken.E il re gli disse: Va tosto, e prendi il manto reale, e il cavallo, e quello che hai detto, fallo al Giudeo Mardocheo, che siede dinanzi alle porte del palazzo: guarda di non omettere nulla di quello, che hai detto.And the king said to him: Make hast, and taking a robe and a horse, do that thou hast spoken, to Mardocheus the Iewe, which sitteth before the doores of the palace: Beware thou pretermitte nothing of those things, which thou hast spoken.Dixitque ei rex: Festina, et sumpta stola et equo, fac, ut locutus es, Mardochæo Judæo, qui sedet ante fores palatii. Cave ne quidquam de his, quæ locutus es, prætermittas. 11So Aman took the robe and the horse, and arraying Mardochai in the street of the city, and setting him on the horse, went before him, and proclaimed: This honour is he worthy of, whom the king hath a mind to honour.Aman adunque prese il manto, e il cavallo, e fatto rivestir Mardocheo sulla piazza della città, e fattolo salire a cavallo, gli andava innanzi, e gridava: Di tale onore è degno chiunque vorrà il re, che sia onorato.Aman therfore tooke a robe and a horse, and putting it on Mardocheus, and setting him on the horse, in the streat of the citie went before him, and cried: This honour is he worthie of, whom soeuer the king is willing to honour.Tulit itaque Aman stolam et equum, indutumque Mardochæum in platea civitatis, et impositum equo præcedebat, atque clamabat: Hoc honore condignus est, quemcumque rex voluerit honorare. 12But Mardochai returned to the palace gate: and Aman made haste to go to his house, mourning and having his head covered:Indi Mardocheo tornò alla porta del palazzo, e Aman si affrettò di andare a casa sua piangendo, e col capo coperto:And Mardocheus returned to the palace gate: and Aman made hast to goe into his house, mourning and his head couered:Reversusque est Mardochæus ad januam palatii: et Aman festinavit ire in domum suam, lugens et operto capite: 13And he told Zares his wife, and his friends, all that had befallen him. And the wise men whom he had in counsel, and his wife answered him: If Mardochai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou canst not resist him, but thou shalt fall in his sight.E raccontò a Zares sua moglie, ed agli amici tutto quello, che gli era avvenuto. Ma i sapienti, da' quali prendeva consiglio, e la moglie gli risposero: Se Mardocheo, a cui hai principiato a star sotto, è di stirpe Giudea, non potrai contrastare con lui, ma andrai per terra sugli occhi di lui.and he told Zares his wife, and his frendes al things, that had chaunced him. To whom the wise men whom he had in counsel, and his wife answered: If Mardocheus be of the Iewes seede, before whom thou hast begune to fal, thou canst not resist him, but thou shalt fal in his sight.narravitque Zares uxori suæ, et amicis, omnia quæ evenissent sibi. Cui responderunt sapientes quos habebat in consilio, et uxor ejus: Si de semine Judæorum est Mardochæus, ante quem cadere cœpisti, non poteris ei resistere, sed cades in conspectu ejus.
14As they were yet speaking, the king’s eunuchs came, and compelled him to go quickly to the banquet which the queen had prepared.Mentr'ei parlava tuttora, vennero gli eunuchi del re, e lo obbligarono di andar subito al convito preparato dalla regina.As they were yet speaking, the kings eunuches came, and compelled him to goe quickly to the banket, which the queene had prepared.Adhuc illis loquentibus, venerunt eunuchi regis, et cito eum ad convivium, quod regina paraverat, pergere compulerunt.
6:1
Year of the World 3495.
Haydock
Sleep. Anxious what Esther could desire. Septuagint, "But the Lord removed sleep from the king that night." (Haydock)
Providence watched over the welfare of his people.
Tirinus
Chronicles. The kings took particular care (Calmet) to have their benefactors mentioned in history and rewarded. (Herodotus 8:85.) Assuerus had not recourse to musicians, etc., wisely (Tirinus) reflecting that history is the most pleasing and useful amusement. (Cicero, etc.) (Tirinus)
Worthington
God directed him on this occasion, as his eye never sleepeth. (Josephus) (Worthington)
6:3
Calmet
No reward at all. He received some presents from the king; (chap. 12:5.) but these were so inconsiderable in the opinion of the courtiers, that they esteemed them as nothing at all; (Challoner) and they were not specified in the history. (Calmet)
6:4
Calmet
Inner court. To which only such favourites and noblemen had access. (Herodotus 3:72., and 84.) This king had himself come thither with six others, when they conspired to destroy Smerdis. Hebrew, etc., read, "the outward court," in which Aman was, till he heard the king was awake, and called for him. (Calmet)
6:8
Cyrop. viii
Apparel. Greek, "of byssus," which was very superb, Esther 15:9. The king alone could wear the tiara upright. The nobles wore it hanging backwards. Cyrus allowed his nobility to appear in purple, but he would have only his own robes striped with white. (Cyrop. viii.; Curtius iii.)
The kings often made presents of garments, etc., to ambassadors, and to those who were styled "their relations."
Horse: 200 such appeared in the train of Cyrus, with golden bits, which none were permitted to use without special leave.
Head. Greek seems to refer this to the horse, which might indeed have a sort of crown. But the golden one was more probably worn by the person honoured, Esther 8:15.
6:9
Haydock
Nobles. Literally, "tyrants." (Haydock)
Vigil
But this word was not formerly odious; as it only denoted "a prince." Pars mihi pacis erit dextram tetigisse tyranni. (Vigil, Aeneid vii.)
Tirinus
Abuse of power caused it to become hateful. (Tirinus)
6:10
Calmet
Spoken. The distinction was not for one day only. Mardochai might afterwards wear the tiara, etc. God thus clearly manifested that he would resist the proud, and give grace to the humble. (St. James 4:6.) The exaltation of Joseph in Egypt, (Calmet) and lately of Daniel at the court at Babylon, (Tirinus) was hardly less wonderful, Genesis xli., and Daniel vi. (Calmet)
Calmet
We may easily conceive the astonishment which would fill the breast of Aman, as well as of Mardochai, on this occasion. The Greek published by Usher, has expressed these sentiments; (Haydock) and the Chaldean has added many embellishments, which are of no authority. (Calmet)
6:12
6:13
Worthington
Wise men. Probably the magi, who concluded, from the first miscarriage, that the undertaking would prove abortive, (Calmet) as they were also informed of God's protection given repeatedly to the Jews. Septuagint, "because the living God is with him." (Chaldean) They might have heard of the fate of Sennacherib and of Holofernes, (Calmet) or of God's promises, (Genesis xiii., and xv.) unless they were guided by human prudence. (Worthington)
6:14
Tirinus
As. Thus from morning till noon, (Tirinus) or night, had this petty god (Haydock) been forced to stoop to the meanest offices, and durst not say a word in opposition. (Tirinus)
Haydock
He would gladly have now absented himself from the feast, (Menochius) with the idea of which he had been enraptured. (Haydock)
6:3
No reward at all.... He received some presents from the king, chap. 12.5; but these were so inconsiderable in the opinion of the courtiers, that they esteemed them as nothing at all.
6:1
Gods eye which neuer slepeth saw whath Aman intended: and for execution of his owne diuiue iustice, vsed this meanes b•y subtracting slepe that time from the king and inspiring his mind to heare the histories read, and to reward good seruice, donne. Ioseph.
6:6
Ambicious men are most blinde in conceite of their owne deserts, and fortunes.
6:13
Either they had read Gods promise to the Iewes. Gen 13. 15. &c. or coniectured this by humaine prudence.
6:1
san Girolamo † 420 d.C. Against the Pelagians 3.6
… and avoid them perpetually, and claim for himself a name which belongs to the might of God? For if He and I are both without sin, what difference is there between me and God? One more proof only I will adduce, that I may not weary you and my hearers.
Giovanni Cassiano † 435 d.C. The Conferences of John Cassian 1.19
… or turns our purpose and will to better actions, as in the case where the king Ahasuerus, being chastened by the Lord, was prompted to ask for the books of the annals, by which he was reminded of the good deeds of Mordecai, and promoted him to a position of the highest honour and at once recalled his most cruel sentence concerning the slaughter of the Jews.
6:2
san Giovanni Crisostomo † 407 d.C. A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles 38
… or if ever, having fallen into sickness, he has recovered when all had given him over: for this avails much for attaching us to God. For if that Mordecai, when the services done by him were brought to the king’s remembrance, found them to be so available, that he in return rose to that height of splendor (
6:10
sant'Ambrogio † 397 d.C. On the Duties of the Clergy 3.21
123. Why did Queen Esther expose herself to death and not fear the wrath of a fierce king? Was it not to save her people from death, an act both seemly and virtuous? The king of Persia himself also, though fierce and proud, yet thought it seemly to show honour to the man who had given information about a plot which had been laid against himself,
6:11
Afraate † 346 d.C. Aphrahat: Select Demonstrations 21.20
… and Jesus received great glory from His Father, instead of His persecutors who were of the foolish People. Mordecai trod upon the neck of Haman, his persecutor; and as for Jesus, His enemies shall be put under His feet. Before Mordecai, Haman proclaimed, Thus shall it be done to the man, in honouring whom the king is pleased ;
6:13
Afraate † 346 d.C. Aphrahat: Select Demonstrations 6.3
… For Asa knew his craftiness and removed his mother from her high estate, and cut in pieces her idol and cast it down. John was greater than all the prophets, yet Herod slew him because of the dancing of a daughter of Eve. Haman was wealthy and third in honour from the King, yet his wife counselled him to destroy the Jews.
6:1
1. NOCTEM ILLAM DUXIT REX INSOMNEM. Deo per Angelum id procurante et dirigente, ut Assuerus legeret suos annales, indeque recordaretur beneficii sibi a Mardochaeo praestiti, eumque honoraret: simul ut Assueri exemplo moraliter doceret reges et principes, noctes totas non stertere in lecto, sed publicis maximisque Reipublicae negotiis invigilare, ac pro iis Deum obsecrare. Scitum est illud Homeri: Οὐ χρὴ παννύχιον εὕδειν βουληφόρον ἄνδρα. Non decet virum consiliarium totam noctem dormire. « Illud vero, inquit, libro I De Regno Persarum, Brisonius, nunquam satis laudatum institutum apud Persas viguit, ut, quemadmodum refert libro ad imperitum principem Plutarchus, quotidie cubiculariorum unus eam ad rem constitutus, mane cubiculum regis intrans, clamaret: Surge, o Rex, et negotia cura, quae te Mesoromasdes curare voluit. » Est autem « Mesoromasdes, » ut ait initio Laertius, Sol, qui ab illis dicebatur Mithres. Constantinus Magnus, ait Eusebius, lib. IV vitae ejus, cap. xiii, « suam ipsius mentem quodam quasi afflatu et instinctu divinarum rerum exaggerans, totas saepe noctes sine somno traduxit, et cum per otium liceret, orationes scribebat, idque ad summam usque senectutem. » Ferrandus Carthusianus, lib. ad Regimum, Duci hoc dogma commendat Regula v: « Sacerdotum postulationibus liber patescat aditus, frequentetur oratio, lectionis studium, quamvis undique occupationibus inundantibus, igne desiderii spiritualis remota tepiditate fervescat. » Novi Praelatum insignem, qui diem negotiis et gubernationi, noctem orationi et studiis impendebat. JUSSITQUE SIBI AFFERRI HISTORIAS ET ANNALES. Digna haec rege laus, ut sua acta recognoscat et relegat, ac, si quid omissum est, praesertim in bene meritis praemiandis, suppleat. Ita Alexander Severus Imperator, teste Lampridio, ne quid irremuneratum maneret, quaecumque munera contulisset, scriptis diligenter mandabat. Si quis nihil aut minimum ab eo petiisset, illum appellabat, dicens: « Quid est quod nihil petis? an me tibi vis fieri debitorem? pete, ne privatus de me queraris. » Porro accurata Annalium et Diariorum memoria consignata et custodita fuisse beneficia, quae in reges Persarum conferrentur, testatur Herodotus, lib. IV, agens de Dario (qui est noster Assuerus) Hystaspis filio recognoscente. Et Thucydides, lib. 1, narrat Xerxem Darii filium dixisse Pausaniae: « Tibi beneficium nostra in domo semper inscriptum erit. » Enimvero Persarum reges, ut Xenophon lib. VIII Cyrop. docet, ministros, seu officiales quosdam habebant, qui regum aures, et oculi appellabantur. Apuleius, lib. I. Mundo, aulae Persicae fastum ex Aristotele describens: « Sed inter eos, ait, aures regiae, et Imperatoris oculi, quidam homines vocabantur; per officiorum genera Rex ille ab hominibus Deus esse credebatur, cum omnia, quae ubicumque gererentur, ille Otasentarum delatione discebat. »
6:4
4. AMAN QUIPPE INTERIUS ATRIUM DOMUS REGIAE INTRAVERAT. Hebraice et Chaldaice est exterius; nam interius nisi a rege vocatis ingredi non licebat. Interius ergo, id est intra palatium in atrio, quod respectu intimi cubiculi regii erat exterius, sed respectu extimi erat interius. Erant enim in Palatio atria varia, quorum alia aliis erant interiora, vel exteriora. UT SUGGERERET REGI, ET JUBERET MARDOCHAEUM AFFIGI PATIBULO. Festinabat Aman ac lucem praeverterat, ut matutinus, primusque regem adiret, peteretque Mardochaeum suspendi, antequam Rex aliis occuparetur, ut summum desiderium suum de vindicando sui contemptu, per necem crucis infamem Mardochaei contemptoris expleret. Superbia enim aeque ac ira et indignatio non sinebant eum quiescere, donec vindictam hanc sumeret. Sed Deus, justus superbiae et injustitiae judex ac vindex, vindictam omnem Amani in ipsum retorsit, idque per partes gradatim, donec ipsum in eadem ipsa cruce quam Mardochaeo erexerat, suspenderet. In Amano ergo liquet quam verum sit illud: « Noxa caput sequitur. » Et: Raro antecedentem scelestum / Deseruit pede poena claudo: Superbos enim sternit et fulminat Altissimus.
6:7
7 et 8. HOMO, QUEM REX HONORARE CUPIT, DEBET INDUI VESTIBUS REGIIS, ET IMPONI SUPER EQUUM, QUI DE SELLA REGIS EST (in quo sedere et equitare solet rex, ut habent Hebraeus et Septuaginta. Sella enim est quasi sedile sedentis in equo), ET ACCIPERE REGIUM DIADEMA SUPER CAPUT SUUM. Diadema erat fascia byssina, qua reges caput circumligabant. Diadema erat insigne purpureum alba fascia et lapidibus pretiosis distinctum, ait Curtius, lib. III et VI. Verisimile est cum diademate coronam quoque regiam impositam fuisse capiti Mardochaei; haec enim erat proprium regis insigne, quod ambiebat, et quaerebat sibi Aman, putans haec non alteri, quam sibi a rege parari; atque hanc jussu regis gestasse Mardochaeum, patet cap. viii, vers. 15. Porro corona haec apud Persas habebat radios instar mithrae, id est solis, quem ipsi ut Deum et regem colebant. Volebant enim reges apud Persas divinis honoribus coli, quasi mithrae et soles quidam terrestres. Sed haec omnia Aman ignorans, contra mentem suam praeparavit hosti suo Mardochaeo, quem postulabat ad crucem; idque eum valde cruciavit, quod scilicet ipse sententiam dictasset, juxta quam rex Mardochaeum summo et regio afficeret honore, quem per ipsummet Aman quasi dictatorem juberet Mardochaeo conferri. Sic David, Salomonem filium creans regem et successorem, ait: « Tollite vobiscum servos Domini vestri, et imponite Salomonem filium meum super mulam meam, » etc. Et: « Veniet, et sedebit super solium meum, et ipse regnabit pro me. »
6:10
10. FESTINA, ET SUMPTA STOLA ET EQUO FAC, UT LOCUTUS ES, MARDOCHAEO JUDAEO. « Stola, » id est veste regia, ut dixerat Aman versu 8, quam Septuaginta et Chaldaeus vocant stolam byssinam. Unde et Xenophon, lib. VIII, Cyri regis tunicam purpuream semialbam vocat: « Aliis vero, inquit, semialbam gestare non licet. » Intellige regem misisse Amano, ut torquem quoque aureum, et acinacem aureum, et armillas aureas daret Mardochaeo. Moris enim fuit his insignibus ornari eum, quem rex honorare voluisset, ut patet lib. III Esdrae cap. IX, et ex Josepho, lib. XI Antiq. cap. IV, et ex Aemilio Probo in Artaxerxe. QUI SEDET ANTE FORES. Ibi tum sedebat Mardochaeus quasi vilis et abjectus, sed post hunc honorem a rege sibi delatum, introductus est in aulam palatii, factusque regi familiaris et palatinus, ut patebit cap. xvi, vers. 13.
6:11
11. CLAMABAT (Aman): HOC HONORE CONDIGNUS EST, QUEMCUMQUE REX VOLUERIT HONORARE. Vide hic subitam summamque rerum commutationem, qua Mardochaeus neci destinatus in regiam dignitatem attollitur, fitque quasi alter rex, idque a suo hoste Amano; qui proinde hic habuit dolores et angores plurimos et maximos. Primo enim torsit eum honor hic, quem speraverat, sibi ablatus. Secundo, quod is translatus esset in hostem suum capitalem Mardochaeum. Tertio, quod ipse hoc honore eum deberet afficere. Quarto, quod ipse qui prius adorabatur ab omnibus ut Deus, jam esset equiso et praeco Mardochaei vilis Judaei. Quinto, quod inopinato simul haec omnia in eum irruerent. Fabulantur Rabbini filiam Amani in caput patris transeuntis matulam effudisse, putantem se in caput Mardochaei illam effundere, ideoque Amanum dixisse: « Et tu quoque, filia mea, confudisti me. »
6:12
12. LUGENS ET OPERTO CAPITE ob pudorem, dolorem et angorem vehementem; pudebat enim eum faciem apertam ostendere, qui jam equisonem Mardochaei egerat, cum antea coleretur ut Deus.
6:13
13. SI DE SEMINE JUDAEORUM EST MARDOCHAEUS, ANTE QUEM CADERE COEPISTI, NON POTERIS EI RESISTERE, SED CADES IN CONSPECTU EJUS. Dixerunt hoc amici Amano, vel divino quodam etiam instinctu, ait Serarius instar Sibyllarum et Caiphae, Joan. xi, vel humana quadam sapientia, solertique conjectura sumpta ex eo quod Judaeos plures vidissent praefracto duroque ingenio, qui non quiescebant, donec hostes suos pessumdedissent, quodque Pharaonem, Chananaeos aliosque inimicos Judaeorum ab ipsis per Mosen, Josue, Davidem, etc. contritos ex communi fama audissent. Addit Lyranus id eos dixisse ex Genes. cap. xii, vers. 15 et seq. ubi Deus promittit Abrahae et Jacobo posterorum constantiam, felicitatem, et de hostibus victoriam; Genesim enim et Pentateuchum ab Hebraeis in Perside captivis fuisse in linguam Persicam conversum. Hoc incertum est, non tamen improbabile.
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · Douay-Rheims originale (Douai 1609-10), trascrizione EEBO-TCP (CC0) · La Sacra Bibbia, tradotta dalla Volgata da Antonio Martini (1769-1781) (LaParola (laparola.net), Martini OSIS text, Public domain (LaParola's electronic edition marks it 'Dominio pubblico')). Pubblico dominio.