¹⁸ But Balaam responded to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the command of the Lord my God to do anything small or great.

³ “What is it, Queen Esther?” the king asked her. “Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be given to you.”^(A)

²³ So he swore^(A) oaths^(B) to her: “Whatever you ask me I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”^(C)