For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?
Verse 6. To see the destruction of my kindred?] She had now informed the king that she was cousin to Mordecai, and consequently a Jewess; and though her own life and that of Mordecai were no longer in danger, Haman being dead, yet the decree that had gone forth was in full force against the Jews; and if not repealed, their destruction would be inevitable.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
My heart will sink under it, and I shall never be able to survive it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people?…. I cannot bear it; it will break my heart; I shall die to see all my people massacred throughout the realm; the thought of it is shocking and shuddering; to see it, intolerable: or “how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?” the same thing in different words, and somewhat more express and explanative. She explains the evil coming upon her people of the utter destruction of them, not barely an oppression, but an extermination of them; and she makes use of a word expressive of their relation to her, as more endearing, being her kindred; she and they being, as it were, of the same family, and with whom she could not but sympathize in distress.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Est 8:6 For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?
Ver. 6. For how can I endure to see the evil, &c. ] She had her life already given her at her petition; but unless she might have her people at her request, who were sold as well as herself, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish, Est 7:3-4 , her life would be unto her a joyless, that is, a lifeless life, Mortis enim habet vices quae trahitur vita gemitibus. It is rather a death than a life that is spent in heaviness and horror. And this would be Esther’s case if her people should be massacred, as was designed and decreed; such was her holy sympathy and endeared affection to her countrymen and fellow citizens of heaven, that she could not live to behold such a sad and bloody spectacle:
Absit ut excisa possim super vivere Troia,
said Anchises to his son neas, that would have saved his life in that common destruction of his country: Far be it from me to outlive Troy. Curtius telleth us, that Alexander the Great, when he was extremely thirsty, and had water offered to him, he would not receive it, but put it by with this brave speech, Nec solus bibere sustineo, nec tam exiguum dividere omnibus possum, There is not enough for all my soldiers to share with me, and to drink it alone I cannot find in my heart, I will never do it. Compare herewith this speech of Esther, and you will find it far the better, as being full of those precious graces (whereunto Alexander was a perfect stranger), humility, prudence, faith, zeal toward God, and ardent love toward his people. Oh how great is the number of those today (saith Lavater here), qui ne micam Spiritus Estherae habent, who have not the least parcel of Esther’s spirit, but are all for themselves, and for their own interests!
Or how can I endure to see
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
evil. Same word as “mischief”, Est 8:3.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
For how: Gen 44:34, Jer 4:19, Jer 9:1, Luk 19:41, Luk 19:42, Rom 9:2, Rom 9:3, Rom 10:1
endure to see: Heb. be able that I may see
the evil: Est 7:4, Neh 2:3
Reciprocal: Gen 21:16 – Let Jos 2:12 – that ye will Jos 2:18 – thy father Est 4:8 – request Jer 39:6 – before