SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:9
Si place al rey, escríbase que sean destruidos; y yo pesaré diez mil talentos de plata en manos de los que manejan la hacienda, para que sean traídos a los tesoros del rey.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Esther 3:9
Verse 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 will be a loss to the revenue, but that loss he is willing to make up out of his own property.
Ten thousand talents of silver is an immense sum indeed; which, counted by the Babylonish talent, amounts to two millions one hundred and nineteen thousand pounds sterling; but, reckoned by the Jewish talent, it makes more than double that sum.
Those who cavil at the Scriptures would doubtless call this one of the many absurdities which, they say, are so plenteously found in them, supposing it almost impossible for an individual to possess so much wealth. But though they do not believe the Bible, they do not scruple to credit Herodotus, who, lib. vii., says that when Xerxes went into Greece, Pythius the Lydian had two thousand talents of silver, and four millions of gold darics, which sums united make near five millions and a half sterling.
Plutarch tells us, in his life of Crassus, that after this Roman general had dedicated the tenth of all he had to Hercules, he entertained the Roman people at ten thousand tables, and distributed to every citizen as much corn as was sufficient for three months; and after all these expenses, he had seven thousand one hundred Roman talents remaining, which is more than a million and a half of English money.
In those days silver and gold were more plentiful than at present, as we may see in the yearly revenue of Solomon, who had of gold from Ophir, at one voyage, four hundred and fifty talents, which make three millions two hundred and forty thousand pounds sterling; and his annual income was six hundred and sixty-six talents of silver, which make four millions seven hundred and ninety-five thousand two hundred pounds English money.
In addition to the above I cannot help subjoining the following particulars:- Crassus, who was mentioned before, had a landed estate valued at one million six hundred and sixty-six thousand six hundred and sixty-six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence.
C. Coecilius Ridorus, after having lost much in the civil war, left by will effects amounting to one million forty- seven thousand one hundred and sixty pounds.
Lentullus, the augur, is said to have possessed no less than three millions three hundred and thirty-three thousand three hundred and thirty-three pounds six shillings and eight pence.
Apicius was worth more than nine hundred and sixteen thousand six hundred and seventy-one pounds thirteen shillings and four pence; who, after having spent in his kitchen eight hundred and thirty-three thousand three hundred and thirty- three pounds six shillings and eight pence, and finding that he had no more left than eighty-three thousand three hundred and thirty-three pounds six shillings and eight pence, considered it so little for his support, that he judged it best to put an end to his life by poison! The superfluous furniture of M. Scaurus, which was burnt at Tusculum, was valued at no less than eight hundred and thirty-three thousand three hundred and thirty-two pounds thirteen shillings and four pence.
Anthony owed, at the ides or March, the sum of three hundred and thirty-three thousand three hundred and thirty-three pounds six shillings and six pence, which he paid before the calends of April.
None of these men were in trade, to account for the circulation of such immense sums through their hands. See DICKSON'S Husband. of the Anc.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 9. If it please the king, let it be written, that they may be destroyed , etc.] 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 a very large sum for him to pay out of his own estate, it being near four millions of our money; it is computed by Brerewood at 3,750,000 pounds; for as to what is suggested by some, that he intended to repay himself out of the spoil of the Jews, it may be observed, that, according to the king’s letter, they that were employed in destroying the Jews were to have the spoil for a prey or booty to themselves, ( Esther 3:13). Now this sum of money he proposed not to put into the hands of them that should slay the Jews, but into the hands of the king’s receivers of the dues, that they might lay it up in the king’s treasury or exchequer.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 7-15 - Without some acquaintance with the human heart, and the history of mankind, we should not think that any prince could consent to dreadful proposal, so hurtful to himself. Let us be thankful for mil and just government. Haman inquires, according to his ow superstitions, how to find a lucky day for the designed massacre! God' wisdom serves its own purposes by men's folly. Haman has appealed to the lot, and the lot, by delaying the execution, gives judgment agains him. The event explains the doctrine of a particular providence ove all the affairs of men, and the care of God over his church. Haman wa afraid lest the king's conscience should smite him for what he ha done; to prevent which, he kept him drinking. This cursed method man often take to drown convictions, and to harden their own hearts, an the hearts of others, in sin. All appeared in a favourable train to accomplish the project. But though sinners are permitted to proceed to the point they aim at, an unseen but almighty Power turns them back How vain and contemptible are the strongest assaults against Jehovah Had Haman obtained his wish, and the Jewish nation perished, what mus have become of all the promises? How could the prophecies concernin the great Redeemer of the world have been fulfilled? Thus the everlasting covenant itself must have failed, before this diabolica project could take place __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
אם 518 על 5921 המלך 4428 טוב 2895 יכתב 3789 לאבדם 6 ועשׂרת 6235 אלפים 505 ככר 3603 כסף 3701 אשׁקול 8254 על 5921 ידי 3027 עשׂי 6213 המלאכה 4399 להביא 935 אל 413 גנזי 1595 המלך׃ 4428
