Esther 3:9 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Esther 3:7-15

Haman values himself upon that bold and daring thought, which he fancied well became his great spirit, of destroying all the Jews?an undertaking worthy of its author, and which he promised himself would perpetuate his memory. He doubts not but to find desperate and bloody hands enough to cut all their throats if the king will but give him leave. How he obtained leave, and commission to do it, we are here told. He had the king's ear, let him alone to manage him. I. He makes a false and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 3:9

If it please the king, let it be written, that they may be destroyed ,.... That is, a law made, signed and sealed, for their destruction, and letters written and sent everywhere, ordering it to be put in execution: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those who have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasury ; this he proposed, to prevent any objection that might be made from the loss of tribute paid by this people to the king; and this was... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 3:9

Let it be written that they may be destroyed - Let it be enacted that they may all be put to death. By this he would throw all the odium off himself, and put it on the king and his counsellors; for he wished the thing to pass into a law, in which he could have but a small share of the blame. I will pay ten thousand talents of silver - He had said before that it was not for the king's profit to suffer them; but here he is obliged to acknowledge that there... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 3:7-15

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 3:7-15

Superstition and cynicism. Haman now proceeds to carry out the terrible plan of revenge on which he had resolved. Some important steps had to be taken before he could reach his end. These seem to us strange and incongruous. We may learn from them— I. THAT THE FREEDOM WHICH " NEITHER FEARS GOD NOR REGARDS MAN " MAY BE A SLAVE TO SUPERSTITION . Haman was a fatalist. He consulted Pur, or the lot, as to the day which would be favourable for his intended... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 3:8-15

HAMAN PERSUADES AHASUERUS TO PUBLISH A DECREE COMMANDING THE DESTRUCTION OF ALL THE JEWS IN HIS KINGDOM ON THE ENSUING THIRTEENTH DAY OF ADAR ( Esther 3:8-15 ). Having formed his own resolve, it remained for Haman to bring his proposal before Ahasuerus in such a shape as should secure his acquiescence in it. For this purpose he thought it best, first, to raise a prejudice against the Jews by representing them as bad subjects, causing trouble... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 3:9

If it please the king, lot it be written that they may be destroyed, and I will pay , etc. This startling proposition, to which the king might well have demurred, for even Xerxes could scarcely have regarded such a massacre as a light matter, is followed immediately, and before the king has time to reflect, by the tempting offer of such a bribe as even a king could not view with indifference. Xerxes had once, if we may trust Herodotus, declined to accept from a subject a gift of money equal... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 3:9

The price of blood. Never was a more nefarious bargain proposed than this. That Haman not only plotted to destroy the Jews, but even offered to buy their lives, this is indeed a proof of the cruelty and baseness of his nature. I. CRUELTY APPEALS TO AVARICE . Favourites always amass money; often by the most unscrupulous means. Tyrants always want money to spend on their pleasures and their ostentation. Haman offers to Ahasuerus a large sum to secure his assent to the destruction... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Esther 3:9

Ten thousand talents of silver - According to Herodotus, the regular revenue of the Persian king consisted of 14,560 silver talents; so that, if the same talent is intended, Haman’s offer would have exceeded two-thirds of one year’s revenue (or two and one-half million British pound sterling). Another Persian subject, Pythius, once offered to present Xerxes with four millions of gold darics, or about four and one-half pounds. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 3:9

Esther 3:9. Let it be written that they may be destroyed Let a written edict from the king be published for that purpose; and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver Whether these were Hebrew, or Babylonish, or Grecian talents, we cannot certainly know. But whichsoever they were, it was a vast sum to be paid by a private person, being probably above three millions sterling, and shows how outrageously he was bent on the destruction of the Jews. But undoubtedly Haman expected to get that... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Esther 3:7-15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Esther 3:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Esther 3:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 3:7-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 3:7-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 3:8-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 3:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Esther 3:9

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Esther 3:9

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Esther 3:9

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