Esther Rabbah 4:9

וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ לַחֲכָמִים יֹדְעֵי הָעִתִּים וגו' (אסתר א, יג), מִי הָיוּ, אָמַר רַבִּי סִימוֹן זֶה שִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל יִשָֹּׂשכָר, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (דברי הימים א יב, לג): וּמִבְּנֵי יִשָֹּׂשכָר יוֹדְעֵי בִינָה לָעִתִּים לָדַעַת מַה יַּעֲשֶׂה יִשְׂרָאֵל וגו'. רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא אָמַר לַקּוּרְסִין, וְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר קָצְרַת אָמַר לָעִבּוּרִין. לָדַעַת מַה יַּעֲשֶׂה יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁהָיוּ יוֹדְעִין לְרַפְּאוֹת אֶת הַקִּירוּס [פרוש קלפה העולה מחמת מכה]. רָאשֵׁיהֶם מָאתַיִם אֵלּוּ מָאתַיִם רָאשֵׁי סַנְהֶדְרָאוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ שִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל יִשָֹּׂשכָר מַעֲמִידִים, וְכָל אֲחֵיהֶם עַל פִּיהֶם, וְכֻלָּם הָיוּ מַסְכִּימִים הֲלָכָה עַל דַּעְתָּן כַּהֲלָכָה לְמשֶׁה מִסִּינַי. אָמַר לָהֶם אוֹתוֹ רָשָׁע, בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁגָּזַרְתִּי עַל וַשְׁתִּי שֶׁתִּכָּנֵס לְפָנַי עֲרֻמָּה וְלֹא נִכְנְסָה, מַה הוּא דִּינָהּ, אָמְרִין לֵיהּ אֲדוֹנֵנוּ הַמֶּלֶךְ, כְּשֶׁהָיִינוּ בְּאַרְצֵנוּ הָיִינוּ שׁוֹאֲלִים בָּאוּרִים וְתֻמִּים, וְעַכְשָׁיו מְטֻלְטָלִין אָנוּ, וְקָרְאוּ לְפָנָיו הַמִּקְרָא הַזֶּה (ירמיה מח, יא): שַׁאֲנַן מוֹאָב מִנְּעוּרָיו וְשֹׁקֵט הוּא אֶל שְׁמָרָיו וְלֹא הוּרַק מִכְּלִי אֶל כֶּלִי וּבַגּוֹלָה לֹא הָלָךְ עַל כֵּן עָמַד טַעְמוֹ בּוֹ וְרֵיחוֹ לֹא נָמָר. אֲמַר לוֹן אִית הָכָא מִינְּהוֹן, אָמְרִין לֵיהּ קָרִיבֵיהוֹן. הֲדָא הוּא דַּאֲמַר: וְהַקָּרֹב אֵלָיו כַּרְשְׁנָא שֵׁתָר אַדְמָתָא תַרְשִׁישׁ מֶרֶס מַרְסְנָא מְמוּכָן שִׁבְעַת שָׂרֵי פָּרַס וּמָדַי וגו', (משלי יא, ח): צַדִּיק מִצָּרָה נֶחֱלָץ וַיָּבֹא רָשָׁע תַּחְתָּיו, צַדִּיק מִצָרָה נֶחֱלָץ, אֵלּוּ שִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל יִשָֹּׂשכָר. וַיָּבֹא רָשָׁע תַּחְתָּיו, אֵלּוּ שִׁבְעַת שָׂרֵי פָּרַס וּמָדַי. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וְהַקָּרֹב אֵלָיו, כְּתִיב (משלי יא, ט): בְּפֶה חָנֵף יַשְׁחִת רֵעֵהוּ וּבְדַעַת צַדִּיקִים יֵחָלֵצוּ, בְּפֶה חָנֵף יַשְׁחִת רֵעֵהוּ, אֵלּוּ שִׁבְעַת שָׂרֵי פָּרַס וּמָדַי. וּבְדַעַת צַדִּיקִים יֵחָלֵצוּ, זֶה חֶלְקוֹ שֶׁל יִשָֹּׂשכָר. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וְהַקָּרֹב אֵלָיו, כְּתִיב (משלי יד, טז): חָכָם יָרֵא וְסָר מֵרָע וּכְסִיל מִתְעַבֵּר וּבוֹטֵחַ, חָכָם יָרֵא וְסָר מֵרָע, זֶה שִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל יִשָֹּׂשכָר, וּכְסִיל מִתְעַבֵּר וּבוֹטֵחַ, אֵלּוּ שִׁבְעַת שָׂרֵי פָּרַס וּמָדַי. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וְהַקָּרֹב אֵלָיו, כְּתִיב (משלי כב, ג): עָרוּם רָאָה רָעָה וְנִסְתָּר וּפְתָיִים עָבְרוּ וְנֶעֱנָשׁוּ, עָרוּם רָאָה רָעָה וְנִסְתָּר, זֶה שִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל יִשָֹּׂשכָר, וּפְתָיִים עָבְרוּ וְנֶעֱנָשׁוּ, אֵלּוּ שִׁבְעַת שָׂרֵי פָּרַס וּמָדָי. “The king said to the wise men, those knowledgeable about the times, for so was the practice of the king before those learned in custom and law” (Esther 1:13).
Who were they? Rabbi Simon said: This is the tribe of Issachar; that is what is written: “From the children of Issachar, possessors of understanding of the times, to know what Israel should do; [their leaders were two hundred, and all their brethren were at their command]” (I Chronicles 12:33). Rabbi Tanḥuma said: For the [times of] festivals. Rabbi Yosei bar Kotzrat said: For intercalations.¹Determining whether to add a month to the Hebrew calendar in order to keep it synchronized with the solar year. “To know what Israel should do” – that they knew how to cure kiros [lesions]. “Their leaders were two hundred” – these are the two hundred heads of the Sanhedrin that the tribe of Issachar produced. “And all their brethren were at their command” – and everyone agreed that the halakha was in accordance with their opinion as though it were a halakha transmitted to Moses from Sinai.
That wicked one [Aḥashverosh] said to them [his wise men]: ‘Since I decreed that Vashti should enter [the banquet] naked and she did not enter, what is her sentence?’ They said to him: ‘Our master the king, when we were in our homeland, we would consult with the Urim veTumim. Now, we are itinerant,’ and they read this verse before him: “Moav has been tranquil from its youth, and he is settled on his sediments, and was not emptied from vessel to vessel, and into exile he did not go; therefore, his taste has remained in him, and his scent has not dissipated” (Jeremiah 48:11).
“Those close to him [i.e. the relatives for him] were Karshena, Shetar, Admata, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memukhan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who viewed the face of the king, who were seated first in the kingdom” (Esther 1:14).
He [Aḥashverosh] said to them [the wise men for Issachar]: ‘Are there any of them [the Moabites mentioned in the verse above] here?’ They said to him: ‘Their relatives, that is what is stated: “Those close to him [i.e. the relatives for him] were Karshena, Shetar, Admata, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memukhan, the seven princes of Persia and…”’ (Esther 1:14).²The midrash does not read verse 13 as the direct continuation of verse 13. Rather, in verse 13, the king turns to the wise men, who are members of the tribe of Issachar according to the midrash. He asks them about people from Moav, and they tell him that the seven wise men listed in verse 14 are all related, and descendants of Moav.
“A righteous person is delivered from trouble, and a wicked one comes in his stead.” (Proverbs 11:8) “A righteous person is delivered from trouble” – that is the tribe of Issachar. “And a wicked one comes in his stead” – these are the seven princes of Persia and Media.
Alternatively: “Those close to him” – it is written: “The mouth of a hypocrite destroys his neighbor, but with knowledge, the just will be delivered” (Proverbs 11:9). “The mouth of a hypocrite destroys his neighbor” – these are the seven princes of Persia and Media; “but with knowledge, the just will be delivered” – that is the role of Issachar.
Alternatively: “Those close to him” – it is written: “A wise man fears and turns away from evil, but the fool becomes enraged and confident” (Proverbs 14:16). “A wise man fears and turns away from evil” – that is the tribe of Issachar; “but the fool becomes enraged and confident” – these are the seven princes of Persia and Media.
Alternatively, “those close to him” – it is written: “The clever one sees evil and hides, but the naive pass and are punished” (Proverbs 22:3). “The clever one sees evil and hides” – that is the tribe of Issachar; “but the naive pass and are punished” – these are the seven princes of Persia and Media.

וְהַקָּרֹב אֵלָיו (אסתר א, יד), הֵן הִקְרִיבוּ הַפֻּרְעָנוּת לְעַצְמָן, כַּרְשְׁנָא, שֶׁהָיָה מְמֻנֶּה עַל הַכַּרְשִׁינִין. שֵׁתָר, שֶׁהָיָה מְמֻנֶּה עַל הַיַּיִן. אַדְמָתָא, שֶׁהָיָה מְמֻנֶּה עַל אַטֻּנַס שֶׁבָּאָרֶץ. תַרְשִׁישׁ, שֶׁהָיָה מְמֻנֶּה עַל הַבַּיִת. מֶרֶס, שֶׁהָיָה מְמָרֵס אֶת הָעוֹפוֹת. מַרְסְנָה, זֶה הָיָה מְמָרֵס אֶת הַסְּלָתוֹת. מְמוּכָן, זֶה הָיָה הָאִיסְפַּקְסִיטוֹן שֶׁבְּכֻלָּם. שֶׁהָיְתָה אִשְׁתּוֹ מְתַקֶּנֶת לָהֶן כָּל מַה שֶּׁהָיוּ צְרִיכִין. אָמְרוּ מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אִם מִתְקַיֶּמֶת עֲצָתוֹ שֶׁל רָשָׁע זֶה, מִי מַקְרִיב לְפָנֶיךָ. כַּרְשְׁנָא, מִי מַקְרִיב לְפָנֶיךָ פַּר בֶּן שָׁנָה. שֵׁתָר, מִי מַקְרִיב לְפָנֶיךָ שְׁתֵּי תוֹרִים. אַדְמָתָא, מִי בּוֹנֶה לְפָנֶיךָ מִזְבַּח אֲדָמָה, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (שמות כ, כא): מִזְבַּח אֲדָמָה תַּעֲשֶׂה לִי. תַרְשִׁישׁ, מִי לוֹבֵשׁ בִּגְדֵי כְּהֻנָּה וּמְשַׁמֵּשׁ לְפָנֶיךָ, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (שמות כח, כ): תַּרְשִׁישׁ שֹׁהַם וְיָשְׁפֶה. מֶרֶס, מִי מְמָרֵס לְפָנֶיךָ אֶת הָעוֹפוֹת. מַרְסְנָא, מִי מְמָרֵס לְפָנֶיךָ אֶת הַסְּלָתוֹת. מְמוּכָן, מִי מֵכִין לְפָנֶיךָ אֶת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (עזרא ג, ג): וַיָּכִינוּ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ עַל מְכוֹנֹתָו. אוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה אָמַר לָהֶן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, בָּנַי הֵם, רֵעַי הֵם, קְרוֹבַי הֵם, אוֹהֲבַי הֵם, בְּנֵי אוֹהֲבִי הֵם, שֶׁהוּא אַבְרָהָם, דִּכְתִיב (ישעיה מא, ח): זֶרַע אַבְרָהָם אֹהֲבִי. מְרוֹמֵם אֲנִי קַרְנָם, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (תהלים קמח, יד): וַיָּרֶם קֶרֶן לְעַמּוֹ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, כַּרְשְׁנָא, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בּוֹזֵק אֲנִי לִפְנֵיהֶם כַּרְשִׁינִין וּמַשִּׁירָן מִן הָעוֹלָם. שֵׁתָר, מַשְׁקֶה אֲנִי לָהֶם כּוֹס שֶׁל תַּרְעֵלָה. אַדְמָתָא תַרְשִׁישׁ, מַתִּיר אֲנִי דָּמָן כַּמַּיִם. מֶרֶס, מַרְסְנָא, מְמוּכָן, מְמָרֵס אֲנִי מְסָרֵס וּמְמַעֵךְ אֶת נַפְשָׁם בְּתוֹךְ מְעֵיהֶם, וְכִי הֵיכָן הָיְתָה אִיסְקוֹזוּת שֶׁל כֻּלָּן מְתֻקֶּנֶת, אָמַר רַבִּי הוֹשַׁעְיָא מִישַׁעְיָה הַנָּבִיא, הֵיאַךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (ישעיה יד, כא): הָכִינוּ לְבָנָיו מַטְבֵּחַ בַּעֲוֹן אֲבוֹתָם בַּל יָקֻמוּ וְיָרְשׁוּ אָרֶץ וגו'. “Those close to him” (Esther 1:14) – they brought the calamity close to themselves. “Karshena” – who was appointed over the vetch³A plant used as animal feed. [karshinin]; “Shetar” – who was appointed over the wine [shetiya];⁴Shetiya means drink. “Admata” – who was appointed over land [adama] surveying; “Tarshish” – who was appointed over the house [which was tiled with tarshish – beryl]; “Meres” – who would blend [memares] the [spices for the] fowl; “Marsena” – who would blend [memares] the fine flours; “Memukhan” – the chief food supplier, whose wife would prepare everything they needed.⁵It is not clear whether there is a play on words also with the name Memukhan. Perhaps his role is related to the word mukhan, meaning prepared.
The ministering angels said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘If the counsel of that wicked one [Aḥashverosh] is realized, who will sacrifice offerings before You?’ “Karshena” – who will sacrifice the year-old [shana] bull before You? “Shetar” – who will sacrifice two doves [shenei torim] before You? “Admata” – who will build an earthen [adama] altar before You? As it is written: “You shall make for me an earthen altar” (Exodus 20:21). “Tarshish” – who wears priestly vestments and serves before You? As you say: “A beryl [tarshish], and an onyx, and a chalcedony” (Exodus 28:20). “Meres” – who will blend [memares] spices for the fowl before You? “Marsena” – who will blend [memares] the fine flour before You? “Memukhan” – who will establish [mekhin] the altar before You? As you say: “They established [vayakhinu] the altar on its foundations” (Ezra 3:3).
At that moment, the Holy One blessed be He said regarding Israel: They are My children, they are My companions, they are My intimates, they are My beloved, they are the descendants of My beloved, who is Abraham, as it is written: “Descendants of Abraham who loved me” (Isaiah 41:8). I will exalt their horn, as you say: “He exalted the horn for his people” (Psalms 148:14).⁶“Horn” in this verse is a metaphor for glory or renown.
Another interpretation: “Karshena” – the Holy One blessed be He said: I will spread vetch [karshinin] before them and will eradicate them [mashiran] from the world. “Shetar” – I will give them to drink [lishtot] a cup of poison [tarela]; “Admata Tarshish” – I will make their blood [damam] flow as free as water [like the sea of Tarshish]. “Meres, Marsena, Memukhan” – I will stir [memares], twist [mesares], and crush [mema’ekh] their lives within their bowels. Where was the doom of all of them arranged? Rabbi Hoshaya said: It is from Isaiah the prophet, that is as you say: “Prepare a slaughter for his sons for the iniquity of their fathers, that they not rise and inherit the earth…” (Isaiah 14:21).

שִׁבְעַת שָׂרֵי פָּרַס וּמָדַי, רַב וּשְׁמוּאֵל, רַב אָמַר בְּמַלְכוּת אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר בְּמַלְכוּת בֵּלְשַׁצַּר הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר. עַל דַּעְתֵּיהּ דְּרַב דְּאָמַר בְּמַלְכוּת אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ, נִיחָא, עַל דַּעְתֵּיהּ דִּשְׁמוּאֵל דְּאָמַר בְּמַלְכוּת בֵּלְשַׁצַּר, כֵּיצַד הָיוּ כָּל אוֹתָן הַשָּׁנִים, אָמַר רַבִּי הוּנָא עַל יְדֵי שֶׁלֹא נִשְׁתַּמְּשׁוּ בִּכְלֵי בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (דניאל ה, ב): בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר אֲמַר בִּטְעֵם חַמְרָא וגו' שֶׁמִּתּוֹךְ כֵּן בֵּהּ בְּלֵילְיָא קְטִיל בֵּלְאשַׁצַּר מַלְכָּא כַשְׂדָּאָה. “The seven princes of Persia and Media” – Rav and Shmuel, Rav said: Scripture is referring to the kingdom of Aḥashverosh, and Shmuel said: Scripture is referring to the kingdom of Belshatzar. According to Rav, who said the kingdom of Aḥashverosh, it works out well. According to Shmuel, who said the kingdom of Belshatzar, how were they [still in power after] all those years? Rabbi Huna said: It was because they [these seven princes] did not make use of the Temple vessels [when Belshatzar did]; that is what is written: “Belshatzar, as he tasted the wine, [said to bring the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the Temple which was in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his consorts and his concubines, might drink from them.]” (Daniel 5:2), and as a result: “On that night, Belshatzar the Chaldean king was killed” (Daniel 5:30).

רֹאֵי פְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ. שְׁתֵּי מִשְׁפָּחוֹת הָיוּ נִכְנָסוֹת אֵצֶל רַבִּי, אַחַת שֶׁל רַבִּי הוֹשַׁעְיָא וְאַחַת שֶׁל בֵּית רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בֶּן פַּזִּי, כְּשֶׁנִּתְחַתֵּן רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בֶּן פַּזִּי לְרַבִּי בִּקְּשׁוּ לִכָּנֵס תְּחִלָּה וְלֹא הִנִּיחָן רַבִּי אַמֵּי, אָמַר לָהֶם כְּתִיב (שמות כו, ל): וַהֲקֵמֹתָ אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן כְּמִשְׁפָּטוֹ אֲשֶׁר הָרְאֵיתָ, וְכִי יֵשׁ מִשְׁפָּט לָעֵצִים, אֶלָּא קֶרֶשׁ שֶׁזָּכָה לִנָּתֵן בַּצָּפוֹן יִנָּתֵן בַּצָּפוֹן, וְשֶׁזָּכָה לִנָּתֵן בַּדָּרוֹם יִנָּתֵן בַּדָּרוֹם. בְּעוֹן דִּימַנּוּן מֵאֵיכָן, אֲמַר לוֹן רַבִּי סִימוֹן מִן דָּרוֹמָא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שופטים א, ב): וַיֹּאמֶר ה' יְהוּדָה יַעֲלֶה. אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי מָנֵי הֲדָא בַּמִּלְחָמָה בְּרַם בְּמִנּוּי רוֹאֵי פְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ הַיּוֹשְׁבִים רִאשׁוֹנָה, אַף הָכָא כֵּן רֹאֵי פְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ. “Who viewed the face of the king” – there were two families [who had permission] to appear before Rabbi Yehuda haNasi; that of Rabbi Hoshaya, and that of the household of Rabbi Yehuda ben Pazzi. After the family of Rabbi Yehuda ben Pazzi married into the family of Rabbi Yehuda haNasi, they sought to enter first, but Rabbi Ammi would not allow them to do so. He said to them, it is written: “You shall establish the Tabernacle in accordance with its law [kemishpato] that you were shown on the mountain” (Exodus 26:30).⁷Kemishpato in this verse is usually understood to mean in the appropriate manner. Is there law for wood? Rather, a beam that was privileged to be placed in the north shall be placed in the north, and a beam that was privileged to be placed in the south shall be placed in the south.⁸Likewise, the arrangements of precedence for appearing before Rabbi Yehuda haNasi are fixed.
When they wanted to appoint new judges, from where did they do so? Rabbi Simon said to them: From the south, as it is stated: “The Lord said: Judah will go up”⁹Judah is in the south of the Land of Israel. Judges should be appointed from the lands to the south. (Judges 1:2). Rabbi Mani said: That is in war; however, regarding appointments: “Who viewed the face of the king, who were seated first in the kingdom” ¹⁰The judges should be chosen from those who live in proximity to the Nasi and the Sanhedrin. (Esther 1:14).

כְּדָת מַה לַּעֲשׂוֹת (אסתר א, טו), אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק לַחֲזִירְתָּה כְּדָת, וּלְאֻמָּה קְדוֹשָׁה שֶׁלֹא כַדָּת אֶלָּא בְּאַכְזָרִיּוּת. בַּמַּלְכָּה וַשְׁתִּי, עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה בַּמַּלְכָּה שֶׁאֵינָהּ וַשְׁתִּי. “According to the law, what shall be done to Vashti the queen, who has not done the bidding of Aḥashverosh the king [conveyed] by the officials?” (Esther 1:15).
Rabbi Yitzḥak said: For a pig,¹¹Vashti. according to the law, and for a holy nation, not according to the law, but with cruelty.¹²Haman’s later plan to annihilate the Jews was not justified by law. “To Vashti the queen” – all the more so to a queen who is not Vashti.¹³According to the midrash, Vashti was from royal stock. Any other queen would be punished more harshly.

וַיֹּאמֶר מְמוּכָן לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וְהַשָֹּׂרִים (אסתר א, טז), מָה רָאָה מְמוּכָן לִקְפֹּץ בְּעֵצָה תְּחִלָּה, מִכָּאן שֶׁהֶדְיוֹט קוֹפֵץ בָּרֹאשׁ. רַבִּי פִּנְחָס וְרַבִּי חִלְקִיָּה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי סִימוֹן וְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, חַד אָמַר דִּינֵינוּ כְּדִינֵיהֶם, וָחֳרִינָא אָמַר אֵין דִּינֵנוּ כְּדִינֵיהֶם, מַאן דְּאָמַר דִּינֵינוּ כְּדִינֵיהֶם, כְּדִתְנַן דִּינֵי מָמוֹנוֹת הַטְּהָרוֹת וְהַטֻּמְאוֹת מַתְחִילִין מִן הַגָּדוֹל, וְדִינֵי נְפָשׁוֹת מַתְחִילִין מִן הַצַּד. וּמַאן דְּאָמַר אֵין דִּינֵינוּ כְּדִינֵיהֶם, מַה מְּקַיֵּם וַיֹּאמֶר מְמוּכָן, נִרְאִין דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יְהוּדָה נִרְאִין דִּבְרֵי מְמוּכָן. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר תְּלָתָא אָמוֹרָאִין, חַד אָמַר עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהָיְתָה מְסַטַּרְתּוֹ בַּקּוּרְדָּקִין שֶׁלָּהּ עַל פָּנָיו לְכָאן וּלְכָאן. וָחֳרִינָא אָמַר עַל יְדֵי שֶׁלֹא הִזְמִינָה אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ לִסְעוּדַת נָשִׁים. וָחֳרִינָא אָמַר עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהָיְתָה לוֹ בַּת, וְהָיָה מְבַקֵּשׁ לְהַשִֹּׂיאָהּ לַמַּלְכוּת. מַאן דְּאָמַר עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהָיְתָה מְסַטַּרְתּוֹ בַּקּוּרְדָּקִין שֶׁלָּהּ עַל פָּנָיו לְכָאן וּלְכָאן, שֶׁאָמַר, לֹא עַל הַמֶּלֶךְ לְבַדּוֹ עָוְתָה וַשְׁתִּי הַמַּלְכָּה. וּמַאן דְּאָמַר עַל יְדֵי שֶׁלֹא הִזְמִינָה אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ לַסְּעוּדַת נָשִׁים, שֶׁאָמַר כִּי יֵצֵא דְּבַר הַמַּלְכָּה עַל כָּל הַנָּשִׁים לְהַבְזוֹת בַּעְלֵיהֶן בְּעֵינֵיהֶן, הָדָא הִיא דְּלָא הֲוַת תַּמָּן. מַאן דְּאָמַר עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהָיְתָה לוֹ בַּת וְהָיָה מְבַקֵּשׁ לְהַשִֹּׂיאָהּ לַמַּלְכוּת, שֶׁאָמַר וּמַלְכוּתָהּ יִתֵּן הַמֶּלֶךְ לִרְעוּתָהּ הַטּוֹבָה מִמֶּנָּה. “Memukhan said before the king and the princes: It is not against the king alone that Vashti the queen has sinned; rather, it is against all the princes and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of Aḥashverosh the king” (Esther 1:16).
What did Memukhan see that led him to leap and offer counsel first? [One can learn] from here that the ignorant leap first. Rabbi Pinḥas and Rabbi Ḥilkiya in the name of Rabbi Simon, and Rabbi Elazar, and Rabbi Yoḥanan. One said: Our legal system is like their legal system, and one said: Our legal system is not like their legal system. The one who said our legal system is like their legal system, it is as we learned (Sanhedrin 32a): In monetary laws, and in matters of ritual impurity and purity, one commences from the greatest judge. In capital laws, one commences from the side.¹⁴Meaning., the lowest ranking judge. The one who said that our legal system is not like their legal system, what is the significance of “Memukhan said?” [It is comparable to:] The statement of Rabbi Yehuda appears to be correct. [Likewise:] The statement of Memukhan appears to be correct.¹⁵There is no indication who spoke first, and the reason only Memukhan’s counsel is mentioned is because his counsel was that which was accepted.
Rabbi Yoḥanan said there are three amora’im [who explained why Memukhan sought to depose Vashti]. One said: Because she would slap him with her slippers on this side and that. Another said: Because she did not invite his wife to the women’s banquet. And the other said: Because he had a daughter and he sought to marry her to royalty. The one who said: Because she would slap him with her slippers on this side and that, it is as he said: “It is not against the king alone that Vashti has committed an offense” (Esther 1:16). And the one who said: Because she did not invite his wife to the women’s banquet, it is as he said: “For the queen’s deed will get out to all the women, rendering their husbands contemptible in their eyes” (Esther 1:17); that [indicates that] she was not there. And the one who said: Because he had a daughter and he sought to marry her to royalty, as he said: “And may the king grant her queenship to another who is worthier than she” (Esther 1:19).¹⁶This opinion is alluded to by the fact that Memukhan brings up the possibility of a better queen.

כִּי יֵצֵא דְּבַר הַמַּלְכָּה (אסתר א, יז), אָמַר רַב שְׁמוּאֵל, בְּלָא דְּדֵין הֲוַת צְרִיכָה. “For the queen’s deed will get out to all the women, making their husbands contemptible in their eyes; that King Aḥashverosh said to bring Queen Vashti before him, but she did not come” (Esther 1:17).
Rav Shmuel said: Even without this, she needed [to be banished].

וְהַיּוֹם הַזֶּה תֹּאמַרְנָה שָׂרוֹת פָּרַס (אסתר א, יח), רַב וּשְׁמוּאֵל, רַב אָמַר כְּדַי הַבִּזָּיוֹן הַזֶּה לַקְּצִיפָה הַזֹּאת. וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר, כְּדַי הַקִּצָּפוֹן לְבִזָּיוֹן זֶה. אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא כְּדַאי הוּא הַבִּזָּיוֹן, שֶׁבִּיזָה אָבִיהָ אֶת כְּלֵי בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, לַקִּצָּפוֹן, שֶׁקָּצַף עָלֶיהָ וַהֲרָגָהּ. “This day, the ladies of Persia and Media, who have heard of the queen’s deed, will tell it to all the king’s princes, and there will be no end [kedaiy] of humiliation and wrath” (Esther 1:18).
Rav and Shmuel: Rav said: The humiliation is deserving [kedaiy] of this wrath. Shmuel said: The wrath is deserving [kedaiy] of this humiliation. Rabbi Ḥanina said: As her father dishonored the Temple vessels, the humiliation [of Vashti] is deserving of the wrath [that was its result], that was wrathful towards her and killed her.

וְנִשְׁמַע פִּתְגָם הַמֶּלֶךְ וגו' (אסתר א, כ), רַבִּי לֵוִי וְרַבִּי יִצְחָק, רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר פִּתְגָם גָּדוֹל אָנוּ עֲתִידִים לִשְׁמֹעַ מִזּוֹ שֶׁנִּכְנְסָה לַמַּלְכוּת, מַהוּ (אסתר ד, ג): אֵבֶל גָּדוֹל לַיְּהוּדִים. וְרַבִּי יִצְחָק אָמַר פִּתְגָם גָּדוֹל אָנוּ עֲתִידִים לִשְׁמֹעַ מִזּוֹ שֶׁנִּכְנְסָה לַמַּלְכוּת, מַהוּ (אסתר ח, יז): שִׂמְחָה וְשָׂשׂוֹן לַיְּהוּדִים. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן וְנִשְׁמַע פִּתְגָם מֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְלָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁאָמַר בְּחָכְמָתוֹ וּבִתְבוּנָתוֹ (שמות יז, יד): מָחֹה אֶמְחֶה אֶת זֵכֶר עֲמָלֵק. כִּי רַבָּה הִיא, רַב וּשְׁמוּאֵל חַד אֲמַר הֲדָא מַלְכוּתָא רַבְּתָא לַהֲדָא חֲטִיתָא, וְחַד אֲמַר הֲדָא חֲטִיתָא רַבְּתָא לַהֲדָא מַלְכוּתָא, וְכָל הַנָּשִׁים יִתְּנוּ יְקָר לְבַעְלֵיהֶן וגו'. “The king’s decree about what he will do will be heard throughout his entire kingdom, vast as it is, and all wives will give honor to their husbands, from great to small” (Esther 1:20).
Rabbi Levi and Rabbi Yitzḥak, Rabbi Levi said: We are destined to hear a great decree from that one who will become queen. What is that? “There was great mourning among the Jews” (Esther 4:3). Rabbi Yitzḥak said: We are destined to hear a great decree from that one who will become queen. What is that? “There was joy and gladness for the Jews” (Esther 8:17). Rabbi Yehuda son of Rabbi Simon said: The decree of the King of kings will be heard, who said in His wisdom and His understanding: “I will expunge the memory of Amalek” (Exodus 17:14).
“Vast as it is” – Rav and Shmuel, one said: This kingdom is too vast for this sin; and one said: This sin is too great for this kingdom.¹⁷Rav and Shmuel disagree as to whether the word ‘vast’ in the verse refers to the kingdom, or to Vashti’s sin. “And all the wives will give honor to their husbands…”

וַיִּיטַב הַדָּבָר בְּעֵינֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וְהַשָֹּׂרִים (אסתר א, כא), גָּזַר וְהִכְנִיס רֹאשָׁהּ בְּדִיסְקוּס. “The matter was pleasing in the eyes of the king and the princes, and the king did as Memukhan had said” (Esther 1:21).
He issued the decree and brought in her head on a platter.

וַיִּשְׁלַח סְפָרִים אֶל כָּל מְדִינוֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ (אסתר א, כב), אָמַר רַב הוּנָא אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ דַּעַת סְרוּחָה הָיְתָה לוֹ, מִנְהָג שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם אָדָם מְבַקֵּשׁ לֶאֱכֹל עֲדָשִׁים וְאִשְׁתּוֹ מְבַקֶּשֶׁת לֶאֱכֹל אֲפוּנִים, יָכוֹל הוּא לְכוּפָהּ, לָא מַה דְּהִיא בָּעְיָא עָבְדָה. אָמַר רַבִּי פִּנְחָס וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה שְׂחוֹק בָּעוֹלָם, בְּנֹהַג שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם מָדִיִּי נוֹשֵׂא פַּרְסִית וְהִיא מְדַבֶּרֶת בְּלָשׁוֹן מָדִיִּי, פַּרְסִי נוֹשֵׂא מָדִיִּית וְהִיא מְדַבֶּרֶת בְּלָשׁוֹן פַּרְסִי, אֲבָל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא דִּבֶּר עִם יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּלָּשׁוֹן שֶׁלָּמְדוּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שמות כ, ב): אָנֹכִי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ, לָשׁוֹן יָחֳנָךְ. אָמַר רַבִּי נָתָן דְּבֵית גּוּבְרִין, אַרְבַּע לְשׁוֹנוֹת נָאִין הֵן שֶׁיִּשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהֶן עוֹלָם, לַעַז לְזֶמֶר, פַּרְסִי לְאֶלְיָה, עִבְרִי לְדִבּוּר, רוֹמִים לְקָרֵב. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים אַף אַשּׁוּרִית לִכְתָב. עִבְרִית, יֵשׁ לָהּ דִּבּוּר וְאֵין לָהּ כְּתָב. אַשּׁוּרִית. יֵשׁ לָהּ כְּתָב וְאֵין לָהּ דִּבּוּר, בָּחֲרוּ לָהֶם כְּתַב אַשּׁוּרִית וְלָשׁוֹן עִבְרִית. בּוּרְגָנִי אֶחָד אָמַר בָּרְרוּ לְהוֹן לָשׁוֹן רוֹמִי מִלָּשׁוֹן יְוָנִי. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר גְּנַאי הוּא לָהּ שֶׁחוֹתֶמֶת שֶׁאֵינָהּ שֶׁלָּה. וְרַב חָנִין בַּר אָדָא אָמַר אַף עַל פִּי כֵן (דניאל ז, יט): וְטִפְרַהּ דִּי נְחָשׁ, אֵינָהּ חוֹתֶמֶת אֶלָּא בִּלְשׁוֹנָהּ. אָמַר רַב שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן מִכָּאן אָדָם צָרִיךְ לִשְׁנוֹת אֶת פָּרָשִׁיּוֹתָיו, אִלּוּ לֹא שָׁנָה לָנוּ משֶׁה אֶת הַתּוֹרָה מֵהֵיכָן אָנוּ יוֹדְעִין (דברים יד, ז): הַשְּׁסוּעָה, וְאִלּוּ לֹא שָׁנָה לָנוּ דָּנִיֵּאל אֶת הַחֲלוֹם, מֵהֵיכָן אָנוּ יוֹדְעִין וְטִפְרַהּ דִּי נְחָשׁ. “He sent scrolls to all the king’s provinces, to each province in its script, and to each people in its language; for every man to be the ruler in his house, and speak the language of his people” (Esther 1:22).
Rav Huna said: Aḥashverosh had a warped sensibility. The way of the world is that if a man wishes to eat lentils and his wife wishes to eat peas, can he compel her? No, she will do whatever she wants. Rabbi Pinḥas said: Moreover, he became a laughingstock throughout the world. The way of the world is if a Median man marries a Persian woman, is she to speak the Median language? And if a Persian man marries a Median woman, is she to speak the Persian language?¹⁸If the wife does not know the language, how is she to speak it? However, the Holy One blessed be He spoke with the people of Israel in the language that they learned; that is what is written: “I am [anokhi] the Lord your God” (Exodus 20:2),¹⁹According to Pesikta deRav Kahana, ‘anokhi’ means ‘I am’ in Egyptian and that is why God used it instead of the more usual ‘ani’. an expression of yeḥonekha.²⁰This is perhaps a reference to Genesis 43:29, where Joseph, the ruler of Egypt, blesses Benjamin, saying: ‘May God show grace to you [yeḥonekha], my son.’
Rabbi Natan of Beit Guvrin said: There are four languages that are the most beautiful that the world uses: Greek for song, Persian for elegy, Hebrew for speech, Latin for intimacy; some say: Assyrian for writing. Hebrew has speech, but does not have a script. Assyrian has a script, but does not have speech. They chose for themselves Assyrian script and Hebrew speech.²¹The characters used for writing Hebrew are known as ‘Assyrian script.’
A certain villager said they selected for themselves the Latin language from the Greek language.²²Latin is derived from Greek. Rabbi Yehuda son of Rabbi Simon said: It is a disgrace for them that its mark is not its own. Rav Ḥanin bar Ada said: Nevertheless, “its claws were of bronze”²³The animal described in Daniel is understood to refer to Rome. (Daniel 7:19), its seals are only with its language.²⁴Perhaps this means that although Greek was spoken in the Roman empire, official documents were in Latin. Rav Shmuel bar Naḥman said: From here it is derived that a person is required to review his Torah portions. Had Moses not reviewed the Torah, from where would we know the meaning of “hashesua”²⁵This is understood to be a distinct animal with two backs and two spines, and not a description of cloven hooves.? (Deuteronomy 14:7). Likewise, had Daniel not reviewed his dream for us, from where would we know “its claws of bronze”?