929/Esther's Negative Consent

(8) When the king’s order and edict was proclaimed, and when many girls were assembled in the fortress Shushan under the supervision of Hegai, Esther too was taken into the king’s palace under the supervision of Hegai, guardian of the women.

(15) When the turn came for Esther daughter of Abihail—the uncle of Mordecai, who had adopted her as his own daughter—to go to the king, she did not ask for anything but what Hegai, the king’s eunuch, guardian of the women, advised. Yet Esther won the admiration of all who saw her. (16) Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, in his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

“And when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter” (Esther 2:7). A tanna taught a baraita in the name of Rabbi Meir: Do not read daughter [bat], but rather home [bayit]. And so it states: “But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and reared: And it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his bread, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was like a daughter [kevat] to him” (II Samuel 12:3). Because it lay in his bosom, it “was like a daughter to him”? Rather, Like a home [bayit] i.e., a wife. So too, here, Mordecai took her for a home, i.e., a wife.

(7) When a parent sells a daughter as a slave, she shall not go free as other slaves do. (8) If she proves to be displeasing to her master, who designated her for himself, he must let her be redeemed; he shall not have the right to sell her to outsiders, since he broke faith with her. (9) And if the master designated her for a son, he shall deal with her as is the practice with free maidens.

When Ravin came from Eretz Yisrael to Babylonia, Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Even when it is not a time of persecution, the Sages said only in private. But in public, even a minor mitzva, he must be killed and not transgress. What is a minor mitzva? Rava bar Yitzḥak says that Rav says: Even to change the strap of a sandal. ...But wasn’t the incident involving Esther, a public sin? Abaye says: Esther was like natural ground. Rava says their own personal pleasure, it is different.

(27) He came upon her in the open; though the engaged girl cried for help, there was no one to save her. (28) If a man comes upon a virgin who is not engaged and he seizes her and lies with her, and they are discovered, (29) the party who lay with her shall pay the girl’s father fifty [shekels of] silver, and she shall be his wife. Because he has violated her, he can never have the right to divorce her.

(14) On the contrary, if you keep silent in this crisis, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another quarter, while you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows, perhaps you have attained to royal position for just such a crisis.” (15) Then Esther sent back this answer to Mordecai: (16) “Go, assemble all the Jews who live in Shushan, and fast in my behalf; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens will observe the same fast. Then I shall go to the king, though it is contrary to the law; and if I am to perish, I shall perish!”

“Go, gather together all the Jews... not according to the custom” (Esther 4:16). Rabbi Abba said: It will not be according to my usual custom, for every day until now when I submitted myself to Ahasuerus it was under compulsion, but now of my own free will. “And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16). Just as I was lost to my father’s house, so too, shall I be lost to you.

(8) When the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet room, Haman was lying prostrate on the couch on which Esther reclined. “Does he mean,” cried the king, “to ravish the queen in my own palace?” No sooner did these words leave the king’s lips than Haman’s face was covered.

Rabba said that a virgin who is married on Wednesday will submit to intercourse with the prefect [hegmon] first. Is that danger? It is coercion. danger is involved, as there are virtuous women who give their lives rather than be violated, and they will come to mortal danger. And if so, let the Sages instruct that in cases of coercion it is permitted to submit? because there are licentious women. And furthermore, there are also women married to priests.

(16) The Jews enjoyed light and gladness, happiness and honor.

(11) the sound of mirth and gladness, the voice of bridegroom and bride, the voice of those who cry, “Give thanks to GOD of Hosts, for GOD—whose steadfast love is eternal—is good!” as they bring thanksgiving offerings to the House of GOD. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as of old—said GOD.

(4) For thus said GOD: “As for the eunuchs who keep My sabbaths, Who have chosen what I desire And hold fast to My covenant— (5) I will give them, in My House And within My walls, A monument and a name Better than sons or daughters. I will give them an everlasting name That shall not perish.

(29) Then Queen Esther daughter of Abihail wrote a second letter of Purim for the purpose of confirming with full authority the aforementioned one of Mordecai the Jew.