Kniha Ester

Biblia - Sväté písmo

(CPDV - Anglický - Catholic PD)

Est 9, 1-30

1 So, on the third day, she put away her ornate apparel, and surrounded herself with glory. 2 And when she was shining in a royal manner, and had called upon God, the Guide and Savior of all, she took two maids with her. 3 And she was leaning upon one of them, as if, out of delicateness and great tenderness, she were not able to bear carrying her own body. 4 And the other maid followed her lady, carrying her garment flowing on the ground. 5 Yet she had a rosy color pouring over her face, for, with gracious and bright eyes, she restrained a sorrowful soul and very great fear. 6 And so, entering hesitantly through a series of doors, she stood opposite the king, where he sat upon his royal throne, clothed in royal robes, and shining with gold and precious stones. And he was terrible to behold. 7 And when he had lifted up his face, and with burning eyes had shown the fury of his heart, the queen collapsed, and her color turned pale, and she rested her exhausted head upon her handmaid. 8 And God changed the king’s spirit into gentleness; quickly and apprehensively, he leapt from his throne, and lifting her up in his arms until she came to herself, he coaxed her with these words: 9 “What is the matter, Esther? I am your brother, do not be afraid. 10 You will not die. For this law has not been established for you, but for all others. 11 So approach and touch the scepter.” 12 And since she remained silent, he took the golden scepter and placed it on her neck, and he kissed her and said, “Why do you not speak to me?” 13 She answered, “I saw you, my lord, as an angel of God, and my heart was disturbed for fear of your glory. 14 For you, my lord, are great and wonderful, and your face is full of grace.” 15 And while she was speaking, she collapsed again, because she was out of breath. 16 But the king was troubled, and all his servants consoled her. Alternate text from the Hebrew, verses 17-18: 17 And so, on the third day, Esther had put on her royal apparel and was standing in the atrium of the king’s house, which was inside, opposite the king’s hall, while he was sitting on his throne in the council room of the palace, opposite the entrance of the house. 18 And when he saw Esther the queen standing there, she pleased his eyes, and he extended toward her the golden scepter, which he held in his hand, and she approached and kissed the top of his scepter. 19 And the king said to her, “What do you wish, queen Esther? What is your request? Even if you ask for half of the kingdom, it will be given to you.” 20 But she responded, “If it pleases the king, I beg you to come with me today, and Haman with you, to the feast that I have prepared.” 21 And immediately the king said, “Call Haman quickly, so that he may obey Esther’s will. And so the king and Haman came to the feast, which the queen had prepared for them. 22 And the king said to her, after he had drunk wine abundantly, “What are you asking for that should be given to you? And which things do you require? Even if you request half of my kingdom, you will obtain it.” 23 Esther answered him, “My petition and prayer is this: 24 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to give me what I ask, and to fulfill my petition, let the king and Haman come to the feast which I have prepared for them, and tomorrow I will open my mind to the king.” 25 And so Haman went out that day joyful and cheerful. And when he saw that Mordecai was sitting in front of the gate of the palace, and that he alone did not get up for him, but did not so much as move from the place where he sat, he was very indignant. 26 But, concealing his anger and returning into his house, he gathered to him his friends and Zeresh, his wife. 27 And he explained to them the greatness of his riches, and the influence of his sons, and how, with such glory, the king had elevated him above all his rulers and servants. 28 And after this, he said, “Also, queen Esther has called no one else to the feast with the king, except me. And I will be dining with the king again tomorrow. 29 And though I have all these things, I consider that I have nothing as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting in front of the king’s gate.” 30 And Zeresh his wife and his other friends answered him, “Order a great beam to be prepared, having a height of fifty cubits, and in the morning speak to the king, so that Mordecai may be hanged from it, and so you will go joyfully with the king to the feast.” This advice pleased him, and so he ordered a high cross to be prepared.

Verš 25

And so Haman went out that day joyful and cheerful. And when he saw that Mordecai was sitting in front of the gate of the palace, and that he alone did not get up for him, but did not so much as move from the place where he sat, he was very indignant.

Est 8:8 - And now they are not content to oppress us with a very difficult servitude, but attributing the strength of their hands to the power of their idols,

Est 9,4-13 - Tieto verše podávajú výklad Mardochejovho sna, ktorý vyrozpráva zasa 11,2–12. Podľa myšlienkového poradia by sa žiadalo, aby nám svätopisec najprv vyrozprával sen a potom jeho výklad. Preto poradie gréckeho textu si zasluhuje prednosť, keď sen Mardochejov (11,2–12) podáva pred 1,1.

Est 9,9 - "Robil veľké divy a zázraky": Boh všetko podivuhodne riadi a spravuje. Všetko vedie bezpečne k tomu cieľu, na ktorý Boh jednotlivé veci ustanovil.

Est 9,13 - Počínanie Židov treba posúdiť zo stanoviska vtedajších zvyklostí. Ester má na mysli záujmy svojho ľudu, a tak myslí, že v záujme svojho národa je dovolené aj krviprelievanie a vraždenie nepriateľov. Kresťanstvo vykazuje aj tomuto citu spravodlivú mieru, keď žiada uplatniť lásku k blížnemu a chráni zásady objektívnej spravodlivosti.

Est 9,16 - Židia tak uhájili svoje životy, že zabili asi 75 000 ľudí. Podľa počtu krajín Perzskej ríše zodpovedalo by to priemernému číslu 600 na každý správny okres. Niektoré rukopisy majú iba 15 000. Svätopisec podáva počínanie Židov v takom svetle, akoby neboli mali iný prostriedok na svoju obranu. Treba ľutovať každú nevinne vyliatu krv, nech to robí ktokoľvek a za čokoľvek.

Est 9,17 - Sviatok Purim si Židia nevypožičali od pohanov. Nikde v dejinách židovstva niet ani najmenšej stopy o tom, že by prísnejší zákonníci boli brojili proti tomuto sviatku. Prísny postoj zákonníkov proti všetkému, čo by bolo pohanského pôvodu, rozhodne by sa bol aspoň ozval proti údajne pohanskému pôvodu tohto sviatku, ak by si ho boli Židia vypožičali od pohanov. Je pravda, že slávnosť Purim dostala u Židov povahu až skoro neviazanej samopaše. Gréci slávili do roka 5 rozličných sviatkov; bolo by otázkou, prečo by si boli Židia volili len jediný radostný deň od pohanov, a nie aj niektorý iný?

Est 9,29 - Prvý spis odporúčal Židom sláviť sviatok Purim. Napísal ho Mardochej (verš 20). Druhý spis dala napísať Ester. Pravdepodobne zopakoval všetko, čo bol napísal Mardochej o celej udalosti. "A Žid Mardochej" je asi neskoršie vsunutá poznámka.

Est 9,32 - Sviatok, ktorý slávili v dobe machabejskej dňa 17. adara, volali dňom Mardochejovým (2 Mach 15,37). Neskorší Židia konali 13. adara pôst, 14. adara zasa radostné hodovanie. V priestupnom roku (keď mal rok 13 mesiacov) slávili v 12. mesiaci malý Purim a v 13. mesiaci veľký Purim. Nijaké bohoslužby ani zvláštne obety vtedy nekonali. Neskoršie počali sa schádzať v synagóge navečer 13. adara a prečítali tam knihu Ester.