71 Now the king and Haman came to drink wine with Esther the queen . 2 And the king said to Esther on the second day also as they drank their wine at the banquet , " What is your petition , Queen Esther ? It shall be granted you. And what is your request ? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done ." 3 Then Queen Esther replied , " If I have found favor in your sight , O king , and if it pleases the king , let my life be given me as my petition , and my people as my request ; 4 for we have been sold , I and my people , to be destroyed , to be killed and to be annihilated . Now if we had only been sold as slaves e , men and women , I would have remained silent , for the trouble would not be commensurate with the annoyance to the king ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Esther 7:1-4
Commentary on Esther 7:1-6
(Read Esther 7:1-6)
If the love of life causes earnest pleadings with those that can only 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; even just complaints must often be kept back. But when we approach the King of kings with reverence, we cannot ask or expect too much. Though nothing but wrath be our due, God is able and willing to do exceeding abundantly, even beyond all we can ask or think.