John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. And said, if it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes , etc.] This heap of phrases, which signify much the same thing, are used to work upon the king’s affections, and to show how submissive she was to his will: let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king’s provinces . She wisely takes no notice of any concern the king had in them, but suggests as that she looked upon them as forged by Haman, who put the king’s name and seal to them, without his knowledge and consent.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 3-14 - It was time to be earnest, when the church of God was at stake. Esther though safe herself, fell down and begged for the deliverance of he people. We read of no tears when she begged for her own life, but although she was sure of that, she wept for her people. Tears of pit and tenderness are the most Christ-like. According to the constitutio of the Persian government, no law or decree could be repealed of recalled. This is so far from speaking to the wisdom and honour of the Medes and Persians, that it clearly shows their pride and folly. Thi savours of that old presumption which ruined all, We will be as gods It is God's prerogative not to repent, or to say what can never be altered or unsaid. Yet a way was found, by another decree, to authoriz the Jews to stand upon their defence. The decree was published in the languages of all the provinces. Shall all the subjects of an earthl prince have his decrees in languages they understand, and shall God' oracles and laws be locked up from any of his servants in an unknow tongue?
Original Hebrew ותאמר559 אם518 על5921 המלך4428 טוב2896 ואם518 מצאתי4672 חן2580 לפניו6440 וכשׁר3787 הדבר1697 לפני6440 המלך4428 וטובה2896 אני589 בעיניו5869 יכתב3789 להשׁיב7725 את853 הספרים5612 מחשׁבת4284 המן2001 בן1121 המדתא4099 האגגי91 אשׁר834 כתב3789 לאבד6 את853 היהודים3064 אשׁר834 בכל3605 מדינות4082 המלך׃4428
