* that they may be destroyed. Heb. to destroy them. and I
will pay. Heb. and I will weigh.
Ge 23:16
Here Haman is obliged to acknowledge that there would be a
loss to the revenue, which he was willing to make up out of
his own property. Ten thousand talents of silver, counted by
the Babylonish talent, amount to 2,119,000(9c2e); but reckoned by
the Jewish talent, they amount to double that sum. In those
days, silver and gold were more plentiful than at present; and
we have many instances of individuals possessing almost
incredible riches. Herodotus relates, that when Xerxes went
into Greece, Pythius the Lydian had 2,000; talents of silver,
and 4,000,000; of gold darics, which unitedly amount to nearly
5,500,000(9c2e) Plutarch tells us, that after Crassus had
dedicated the tenth of all he had to Hercules, he entertained
the Roman people at 10,000; tables, and distributed to every
citizen as much corn as was sufficient for three months; and,
after all these expenses, he had 7,100; Roman talents left,
which amount to more than 1,500,000(9c2e) Lentulus the augur is
said to have possessed no less than 3,333,333(9c2e) 6s. 8d.
Apicius was worth more than 916,671(9c20)13s. 4d.; and, after
having spent in his kitchen 833,333(9c20)6s. 8d. he considered the
remainder too little for his support, and poisoned himself!
* ten thousand.
Mt 18:24
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