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Selected Verse: Esther 7:4 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Es 7:4	Strong Concordance	For we are sold [04376], I and my people [05971], to be destroyed [08045], to be slain [02026], and to perish [06]. But if [0432] we had been sold [04376] for bondmen [05650] and bondwomen [08198], I had held my tongue [02790], although the enemy [06862] could not countervail [07737] the king's [04428] damage [05143].
	King James	For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
ESTHER PLEADS FOR HER OWN LIFE AND THE LIFE OF HER PEOPLE. (Est 7:1-6) we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed--that is, by the cruel and perfidious scheme of that man, who offered an immense sum of money to purchase our extermination. Esther dwelt on his contemplated atrocity, in a variety of expressions, which both evinced the depth of her own emotions, and were intended to awaken similar feelings in the king's breast. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue--Though a great calamity to the Jews, the enslavement of that people might have enriched the national treasury; and, at all events, the policy, if found from experience to be bad, could be altered. But the destruction of such a body of people would be an irreparable evil, and all the talents Haman might pour into the treasury could not compensate for the loss of their services.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

ESTHER PLEADS FOR HER OWN LIFE AND THE LIFE OF HER PEOPLE. (Est 7:1-6)

we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed--that is, by the cruel and perfidious scheme of that man, who offered an immense sum of money to purchase our extermination. Esther dwelt on his contemplated atrocity, in a variety of expressions, which both evinced the depth of her own emotions, and were intended to awaken similar feelings in the king's breast.

But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue--Though a great calamity to the Jews, the enslavement of that people might have enriched the national treasury; and, at all events, the policy, if found from experience to be bad, could be altered. But the destruction of such a body of people would be an irreparable evil, and all the talents Haman might pour into the treasury could not compensate for the loss of their services.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
The king now learned, perhaps for the first time, that his favorite was a Jewess. Although the enemy ... - i. e. "although the enemy (Haman) would not (even in that case) compensate (by his payment to the treasury) for the king's loss of so many subjects."

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Sold - By the cruelty of that man who offered a great sum to purchase our destruction. Countervail - His ten thousand talents would not repair the king's loss, in the customs and tributes which the king receives from the Jews, within his dominions.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
To be destroyed, to be slain - She here repeats the words which Haman put into the decree. See Est 3:13. Could not countervail the king's damage - Even the ten thousand talents of silver could not be considered as a compensation to the state for the loss of a whole nation of people throughout all their generations.

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¹ So the king [04428] and Haman [02001] came [0935] to banquet [08354] with Esther [0635] the queen [04436].
² And the king [04428] said [0559] again unto Esther [0635] on the second [08145] day [03117] at the banquet [04960] of wine [03196], What is thy petition [07596], queen [04436] Esther [0635]? and it shall be granted [05414] thee: and what is thy request [01246]? and it shall be performed [06213], even to the half [02677] of the kingdom [04438].
³ Then Esther [0635] the queen [04436] answered [06030] and said [0559], If I have found [04672] favour [02580] in thy sight [05869], O king [04428], and if it please [02895] the king [04428], let my life [05315] be given [05414] me at my petition [07596], and my people [05971] at my request [01246]:
⁴ For we are sold [04376], I and my people [05971], to be destroyed [08045], to be slain [02026], and to perish [06]. But if [0432] we had been sold [04376] for bondmen [05650] and bondwomen [08198], I had held my tongue [02790], although the enemy [06862] could not countervail [07737] the king's [04428] damage [05143].
⁵ Then the king [04428] Ahasuerus [0325] answered [0559] and said [0559] unto Esther [0635] the queen [04436], Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume [04390] in his heart [03820] to do [06213] so?
⁶ And Esther [0635] said [0559], The adversary [0376] [06862] and enemy [0341] is this wicked [07451] Haman [02001]. Then Haman [02001] was afraid [01204] before [06440] the king [04428] and the queen [04436].

¹³ And the letters [05612] were sent [07971] by [03027] posts [07323] into all the king's [04428] provinces [04082], to destroy [08045], to kill [02026], and to cause to perish [06], all Jews [03064], both young [05288] and old [02205], little children [02945] and women [0802], in one [0259] day [03117], even upon the thirteenth [07969] [06240] day of the twelfth [08147] [06240] month [02320], which is the month [02320] Adar [0143], and to take the spoil [07998] of them for a prey [0962].