MEGILLAT ESTHER I מגילת אסתר

(1) NOW IT came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus—this is Ahasuerus who reigned, from India to Ethiopia, over a hundred and twenty seven provinces— (2) that in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the castle, (3) in the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the army of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him; (4) when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty, many days, even a hundred and fourscore days. (5) And when these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the castle, both great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace; (6) there were hangings of white, fine cotton, and blue, bordered with cords of fine linen and purple, upon silver rods and pillars of marble; the couches were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of green, and white, and shell, and onyx marble. (7) And they gave them drink in vessels of gold—the vessels being diverse one from another—and royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king. (8) And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel; for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.

(9) Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus. (10) On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Bizzetha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that ministered in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, (11) to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to look on. (12) But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by the chamberlains; therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him. (13) Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times—for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment; (14) and the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and sat the first in the kingdom: (15) ’What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, forasmuch as she hath not done the bidding of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?’ (16) And Memucan answered before the king and the princes: ‘Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the peoples, that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus. (17) For this deed of the queen will come abroad unto all women, to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when it will be said: The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not. (18) And this day will the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the deed of the queen say the like unto all the king’s princes. So will there arise enough contempt and wrath. (19) If it please the king, let there go forth a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, that Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus, and that the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. (20) And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his kingdom, great though it be, all the wives will give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.’ (21) And the word pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan; (22) for he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and speak according to the language of his people.

"On the seventh day, when the king's heart was merry with wine."

Because until then his heart was not merry with wine? Rava said: the seventh day was Shabbat. For when Israel eats and drinks, they begin with words of Torah and with words of praise. But when worshippers of the stars eat and drink, they begin with nothing but words of frivolity. And thus it was at the banquet of the wicked one. Some would say 'praiseworthy are the Median women', others would say 'praiseworthy are the Persian women'. Ahashverosh said to them: The vessel that I use is neither Median nor Persian; rather, it is Chaldean. Do you wish to see her? They said to him: yes, but only if she is naked. Because with a measure that a man measures, they measure for him.

This teaches that Vashti, the wicked one, would bring the daughters of Israel, strip them naked, and make them do work on Shabbat. For it was written: "After these things, when the anger of king Ahashverosh abated, he remembered Vashti and what she had done, and what had been decreed against her." (מידה כנגד מידה) As she had done, thus was it decreed against her. "And Queen Vashti refused." You know, she was shameless, as Master said: the two of them intended to commit transgressions. What is the reason that she did not come? Rabbi Yose bar Hanina said: This teaches that leprosy (tzara'at) broke out on her.

(16) And Memucan answered before the king and the princes: ‘Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the peoples, that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

Memukhan is Haman. And why was he called Memukhan? Because he was destined (mukhan) for retribution. Rav Kahana said: from here [we see] that a common man leaps to the head [of the line]. (in other words, an ignoramous is always the first to speak)

RASHI SAYS

What is the retribution? (מידה כנגד מידה)That Haman gets hung from the gallows he builds for Mordechai.

(1) After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was assuaged, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her. (2) Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him: ‘Let there be sought for the king young virgins fair to look on; (3) and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the castle, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hegai the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their ointments be given them; (4) and let the maiden that pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti.’ And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.

(5) There was a certain Jew in Shushan the castle, whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair the son of Shimei the son of Kish, a Benjamite, (6) who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives that had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. (7) And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter; for she had neither father nor mother, and the maiden was of beautiful form and fair to look on; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter. (8) So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was published, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the castle, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken into the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. (9) And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her ointments, with her portions, and the seven maidens, who were meet to be given her out of the king’s house; and he advanced her and her maidens to the best place in the house of the women.

• It was taught: Rabbi Meir says that her name is Esther. Then why was she called Hadassah? Because of the reputation of the righteous, who are called myrtles (hadasim). And thus it says (Zechariah 1:8) "And he was standing among the myrtles".
• Rabbi Yehudah says that Hadassah was her name. Then why was she called Esther? Because she would hide (setarah) her affairs. As was said, "Esther did not tell anything about her people, etc."
• Rabbi Nahmaniah says that her name was Hadassah. Then why was she called Esther? Because the nations of the world would call her Istahar (Venus). Ben Azzai says that Esther was neither tall nor short, but medium -- like a myrtle.
• Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korach said that Esther was greenish, and a chord of lovingkindness (hesed) ran through her.

(10) Esther had not made known her people nor her kindred; for Mordecai had charged her that she should not tell it. (11) And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what would become of her. (12) Now when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that it had been done to her according to the law for the women, twelve months—for so were the days of their anointing accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six month with sweet odours, and with other ointments of the women — (13) when then the maiden came unto the king, whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king’s house. (14) In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, who kept the concubines; she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and she were called by name. (15) Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.

(16) So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tevet, in the seventh year of his reign. (17) And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. (18) Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther’s feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the bounty of the king. (19) And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, and Mordecai sat in the king’s gate— (20) Esther had not yet made known her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her; for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him—

(21) in those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those that kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus. (22) And the thing became known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther told the king thereof in Mordecai’s name. (23) And when inquisition was made of the matter, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree; and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.

Rabbi Yohanan said: Bigtan and Teresh were two Tarsians, and they conversed in the Tarsian language. They were saying, "From the day that this [woman] came we have not slept. Come, let us put poison into the bowl in order that he will die." But they did not know that Mordechai was one who sat in the Chamber of Hewn Stone or that he knew seventy languages. One said to the other, "But my post and your post are not equal." [The other] said to him, "I will watch my post and your post." And so it is written "And the matter was investigated and was found..." Because they were not found at their posts.