כִּ֤י נִמְכַּ֙רְנוּ֙ אֲנִ֣י וְעַמִּ֔י לְהַשְׁמִ֖יד לַהֲר֣וֹג וּלְאַבֵּ֑ד וְ֠אִלּוּ לַעֲבָדִ֨ים וְלִשְׁפָח֤וֹת נִמְכַּ֙רְנוּ֙ הֶחֱרַ֔שְׁתִּי כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין הַצָּ֛ר שֹׁוֶ֖ה בְּנֵ֥זֶק הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (ס)
ибо мы и мой народ проданы, чтобы быть уничтоженными, чтобы быть убитыми и погибнуть. Но если бы нас продали за рабов и рабов, я молчал, потому что противник не достоин того, чтобы король подвергся опасности.'
Rashi
For the oppressor has no regard for losses incurred by his majesty. He is not concerned about the king’s loss, for if he had sought your benefit, he should have said, “Sell them as slaves and maidservants and take the money,” or “keep them now to be your slaves, they and their descendants.”
Tze'enah Ure'enah
“Had we only been sold as bondsmen and bondswomen” [7:4]. Esther said: this Haman told you lies. He has written to destroy Israel. That is to say, as if they should be expelled and not killed. However, his intention was that he wanted to kill all of Israel, heaven forbid. Esther said: had we only been sold as bondsmen and bondswomen, it would not have concerned me.