John Trapp on Esther 3:9

Verſe 9. If it pleaſe the King] Here he ſheweth himſelf a right Courtier, and ſpeaketh ſilken words, the ſooner to inſinuate. But if Solomon had been by, he would have ſaid,Prov. 26.25. When he ſpeaketh faire, beleeve him not, for there are ſeven abominations in his heart.

Let it be written that they may be deſtroyed] As Mithridates King of Pontus, by writing one bloody letter only,Val Max. deſtroyed foureſcore thouſand Citizens of Rome, diſperſed up and down Aſia for traffick ſake. That was bad, but this was worſe that Haman motioned, and well-near effected.Rup. l. 8. de virt. verb. c. 7. And ſurely never did the old red dragon (ſaith Rupertus) lift up his head ſo fiercely and furiouſly againſt the woman, that is, againſt the Church of God, as in this place. Therefore is Haman to be reckoned among thoſe cruel enemies, who ſaid,Pſal. 83. Come and let us deſtroy them from being a Nation, that the name of Iſrael may be no more remembred. But let them rage and kill up the Saints as much as they can, the ſheep will ſtill be more in number then the wolves, the doves then the hawkes. Plures efficimur quoties metimur, Tertull. Apoll. ſaith Tertullian, the more you crop us, the faſter we grow.

And I ſhall pay ten thouſand talents of ſilver] A vaſt ſumme, three thouſand ſeven hundred fifty thouſand pound ſterling. At ſo great charge would this butcher be, to ſatisfie his luſt, and to have his penmworths upon Gods poor people. So in the Gun-powder treaſon, (beſides their paines, digging like moles in their vault of villany) Digby offered to bring in fifteen hundred pounds, Treſſam two thouſand, Piercy foure thouſand out of the Earle of Northumberlands rents: beſides ten ſwift horſes to ſtead them when the blow was paſt. But where ſhould Haman have all this money, may ſome ſay? I anſwer, Firſt if he were of the ſeed-royal of Amalek (as tis thought) he might have much left him by his Anceſtours. Secondly, being ſo great a Favourite to the King of Perſia, he had doubtleſſe many profitable offices, and ſo might lay up gold as duſt,Job 22.24. and ſilver as the ſtones of the brooks. Did not Wolſey ſo here in Henry the eighth's time? Thirdly, he had already devoured in his hopes, the goods and ſpoiles of all the ſlain Jewes, which he doubted not but the King would beſtow upon him, for his good ſervice. Like as Henry the ſecond of France, gave his Miſtreſſe Diana Valentina, all the confiſcations of goods made in the Kingdome for cauſe of hereſie. Hereupon many good men were burned for religion,Hiſt. of Counc. of Trent. 387. as it was ſaid, but indeed it was to ſatiate her covetouſneſſe.

To the hands of thoſe, &c.] Vulg. Arcarsis gazae tuae.

To bring it into the Kings treaſuries] That he might not be damnified in the tributes formerly paid by the Jewes for their liberty of conſcience. Kings uſe to take care, that their incomes and revenues be not empaired or diminiſhed. It is ſaid of Solyman the great Turk, that ſeeing a company of many thouſands of his Chriſtian ſubjects fall down before him, and hold up the forefinger (as their manner of Converſion to the Turkiſh religion is) he asked what moved them to turn? they replied, it was to be eaſed of their heavy taxations.S. H. Bl. Voyage p. 181. He not willing to loſe in tribute for an unſound acceſſion in religion, rejected their Converſion, and doubled their taxations.