John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. Then Esther the queen answered and said , etc.] Not rolling herself at the king’s knees, as Severus writes; but rather, as the former Targum, lifting up her eyes to heaven, and perhaps putting up a secret ejaculation for direction and success: if I have found favour in thy sight, O king ; as she certainly had heretofore, and even now: and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition ; not riches, nor honour, nor any place or post at court, or in any of the king’s dominions for any friend of her’s, was her petition; but for her own life, that that might not be taken away, which was included in the grant the king had made to Haman, though ignorantly, to slay all the Jews, she being one of them: and my people at my request ; that is, the lives of her people also, that was her request; her own life and her people’s were all she had to ask.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - If the love of life causes earnest pleadings with those that can onl kill the body, how fervent should our prayers be to Him, who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell! How should we pray for the salvation of our relatives, friends, and all around us! When we petition great men, we must be cautious not to give them offence; eve just complaints must often be kept back. But when we approach the Kin of kings with reverence, we cannot ask or expect too much. Thoug nothing but wrath be our due, God is able and willing to do exceedin abundantly, even beyond all we can ask or think.
Original Hebrew ותען6030 אסתר635 המלכה4436 ותאמר559 אם518 מצאתי4672 חן2580 בעיניך5869 המלך4428 ואם518 על5921 המלך4428 טוב2895 תנתן5414 לי נפשׁי5315 בשׁאלתי7596 ועמי5971 בבקשׁתי׃1246
