Esther 3:9

9 If it seem good to the king, let him make a decree to destroy them: and I will remit into the king's treasury ten thousand talents of silver.

Esther 3:9 Meaning and 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 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 F24 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.


FOOTNOTES:

F24 De Pret. & Ponder. Vet. Num. c. 5.

Esther 3:9 In-Context

7 And he made a decree in the twelfth year of the reign of Artaxerxes, and cast lots daily and monthly, to slay in one day the race of Mardochaeus: and the lot fell on the fourteenth of the month which is Adar.
8 And he spoke to king Artaxerxes, saying, There is a nation scattered among the nations in all thy kingdom, and their laws differ from all the nations; and they disobey the laws of the king; and it is not expedient for the king to let them alone.
9 If it seem good to the king, let him make a decree to destroy them: and I will remit into the king's treasury ten thousand talents of silver.
10 And the king took off his ring, and gave it into the hands of Aman, to seal the decrees against the Jews.
11 And the king said to Aman, Keep the silver, and treat the nation as thou wilt.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.