ESTHER

Introduction to Esther

The book of Esther relates the first attempt to destroy the entire Jewish people. It is unclear whether the decree described here
was due to religious motivations, or nationalist or racist ones. On the one hand, the enemies of the Jews specifically criticize their
customs and lifestyle.1 On the other hand, the subsequent edict to destroy them applies to all Jews, regardless of their mores,
and gives them no recourse to change or convert.2 In any case, the Jewish people are treated as a unified entity, and therefore it is
fitting that their salvation is celebrated with an eternal national holiday, as described at the end of the book.3
The book of Esther states that it was written by Mordekhai and Esther, perhaps with the assistance of various sages and advisors.
It was designed not merely as a testimony for the Jewish people, but as a semi-official document of the Persian Empire.4 This
accounts for the book’s civil attitude toward King Ahashverosh. It is hard to discern one word of direct criticism of Ahashverosh,
despite the fact that he is one of the central figures in the attempted annihilation of the Jews. It is possible to read this book and
detect undercurrents unflattering to the king, but these are not explicitly stated in the text.
The fact that the book of Esther was also written as a Persian document, to be read by all its subjects,5 may also explain the
absence of any mention of God. Belief in God is undoubtedly at the heart of the book, and yet it is one of the very few books in
the Bible that does not mention the divine name. Although the Septuagint and the Aramaic translations add a section of Esther’s
prayer to God, this does not appear in the original version of the book. And yet, despite the absence of God’s name, the hidden
hand of Divine Providence pulls all the strings in the story: The sequence of events, described so fully and dramatically in this
breathtaking narrative, contains no peripheral incidents. Rather, each detail is linked to another aspect of the plot until the
complex chain of events directed from on high reaches its inevitable conclusion and is revealed to all.
Chronology of Events in the Book of Esther – According to the Sages (Seder Olam)
King Year BCE Main events Prophets of the era
Nebuchadnezzar 422 Destruction of the First Temple Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel
Cyrus the Great 370 Conquest of Babylon by Cyrus the Persian and Darius the Mede
(3 years) Founding of the Persian Empire
Edict of Cyrus Return of Zerubavel (Sheshbatzar) and Yehoshua the High Priest to the
Land of Israel
Rebuilding of the altar and laying of the foundations of the Second Temple (Ezra 3:10)
Ahashverosh son of 367 Death of Cyrus
Darius the Mede Temporary cessation of work on the Second Temple due to political interference by
(14 years) Israel’s enemies (Ezra 4)
363 Crowning of Esther as queen of Ahashverosh, in the third year of his reign
354 Haman’s plot and downfall
Darius 353 Suppression of a revolt in the city of Babylon Haggai, Zechariah
(Artahshasta, 36 years)
348 Completion of work on the Second Temple (Ezra 6:15)
347 Return of Ezra to the Land of Israel (Ezra 7) Malachi
334 Appointment of Nehemiah as governor
Rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and renewal of the Covenant (Nehemiah 10:1)
318 Conquests of Alexander the Great

King Year BCE Main events Prophets of the era

Nebuchadnezzar 586 Destruction of the First Temple Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel
Cyrus the Great 550 Founding of the Persian Empire
539 Conquest of Babylon by Cyrus
538 Edict of Cyrus
Return of Zerubavel (Sheshbatzar) and Yehoshua the High Priest to the Land of Israel
537 Rebuilding of the altar and laying of the foundations of the Second Temple (Ezra 3:10)
Temporary cessation of work on the Second Temple due to interference by Israel’s
enemies (Ezra 4)
Cambyses 530 Succeeded Cyrus as Emperor
525 Conquest of Egypt
Darius the Great 522 Beginning of reign with the suppression of a revolt in the city of Babylon and in Persia
520 Resumption of work on the Second Temple (Ezra 4:24–6:14) Haggai, Zechariah
516 Completion of work on the Second Temple (Ezra 6:15)
Xerxes (Ahashverosh) 486 Accusations against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem (Ezra 4:6) Malachi
483 Crowning of Esther as queen of Ahashverosh, in the third year of his reign
474 Haman’s plot and downfall
Artaxerxes 458 Arrival of Ezra in the Land of Israel (Ezra 7)
(Artahshasta)
445 Appointment of Nehemiah as governor
Rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and renewal of the Covenant (Nehemiah 10:1)
Alexander the Great 331 Conquest of the Persian Empire by Alexander
 Megillat Esther | Chapter 1

Megillat
ESTHER
As a backdrop to the main story, this prelude vividly represents the hedonistic culture that was prevalent
The Feasts and the End of in the kingdoms of Persia and Media, by detailing a series of ostentatious banquets held for the masses,
Vashti’s Reign featuring an abundance of wine and displays of great wealth. However, affairs take a turn for the worse
Esther 1:1–22 when the queen refuses to obey the king, thereby undermining the self-image of the ruler who was
accustomed to being obeyed without question. From this point the story begins to unfold.
1 1 It was in the days of
Ahashverosh,d that Ahash-
verosh who reigned from
India to Kush,b southern
Egypt. The Persian king-
dom, which was at its zenith
at the time. It was divided
into one hundred and
twenty-seven provinces.b
The large regions were un-
der the control of gover-
nors, called satraps, while a
subordinate governor was King of Persia on his throne, based on stone relief, Persepolis
appointed over each state or Khashayarsha I who is considered to
province. be Ahashverosh, stone relief

Palace, Shushan

3 In the third year of his reign, after he had crushed all those
Map of the Persian Empire
who stood in his way,8 he made a large public banquet for all
his princes and his servants. He did not hold his coronation
celebrations immediately upon ascending the throne, possibly
2 It happened that in those days, when King Ahashverosh because he was preoccupied with settling internal disputes.9
sat on the royal throne that was in Shushan the capital Once he had firmly established his reign, he invited the elite of
[habira].b Shushan, also known as Susa, was a city in Elam, Persia and Media,b two separate states that were partly unified,
whose ruins are still extant.6 Inside the city was a royal for- the noblesb and princes of the king who were appointed to be
tress, or a castle [bira], where both the central government and in charge of the provinces before him,
Ahashverosh’s palace were located.7 4 with his showing the riches of his glorious kingdom, and
the honor of his splendid majesty for many days. The feast,

4
‫מגילת אסתר | פרק א‬

‫מגילת‬

‫אסתר‬

‫ד־כו ּׁש ׁ ֶש ַ֛בע וְְ ֶע ְְְ ׂש ִ ֥רים א‬ּ֔ ‫ימי ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֑ר ֹׁוש ֣הוּא ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֗ר ֹׁוש ַה ּמ ֵֹל ְְְ ֙ך ֵמ ֣הֹדּ ּו וְְ ַע‬ ֣ ֵ ‫וַ יְְְ ִ ֖הי ִּב‬ ‫א‬ ‫א‬
‫ ַּבּיָ ִ ֖מים ָה ֵה֑ם ְְּכ ׁ ֶש ֶ֣בת ׀ ַה ֶּמ ֶ֣ל ְְְך ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֗ר ֹׁוש ֚עַ ל ִּכ ֵּס֣א ַמ ְְְלכו ּ֔תֹו ֲא ׁ ֶש֖ר‬:‫ו ֵּמ ָא֖ה ְְמ ִדינָ ֽה‬ ‫ב‬

‫ל־־־ש ָ ֖ריו וַ ֲֽע ָב ָ ֑דיו ֵח֣יל ׀‬

ׂ ָ ‫שה ִמ ׁ ְְְש ֶּ֔תה ְְל ָָכ‬ ֣ ׂ ָ ‫ֹוש ְְל ָָמ ְְְל ֔כֹו ָע‬
֙ ׁ ‫ ִּב ׁ ְְְשנַ ֤ת ׁ ָשל‬:‫ּשן ַה ִּב ָ ֽירה‬ ֥ ַ ׁ ‫ְְּב ׁשו‬ ‫ג‬

‫ת־ע ׁ ֶֹש ֙ר ְְּכ ֣בֹוד ַמ ְְְלכו ּ֔תֹו‬

֙ ‫ ְְּב ַה ְְְרא ֹ֗תֹו ֶא‬:‫ּ ָפ ַ ֣רס ו ָּמ ַ ֗די ַה ּ ַֽפ ְְְר ְְּת ִ ֛מים וְְ ָ ׂש ֵ ֥רי ַה ְְּמ ִדינ֖ ֹות ְְלפָ נָ ֽיו‬ ‫ד‬

BACKground
1:1 |  From India to Kush: The conquests of was not heavy-handed and, although loyalty 1:3 |  Persia and Media: Media was an ancient
Darius, the first king of Persia, also known as and the payment of taxes were enforced, the kingdom in the northeast of Persia, south of the
Darius the Great (550–486 BCE), stretched from king did not seek to oppress the many nations Caspian Sea. From the ninth century BCE it was
the banks of the Indus in the east to the king- that were subjugated to his rule. involved in unremitting conflicts with Assyria.
dom of Ethiopia-Nubia in the south, and Aswan 1:2 |  Shushan the capital: In old Persian this It was only after enacting a pact with Babylon,
in Egypt. He even conquered parts of Greece city was called Susha; Susa in Greek and Latin, toward the end of the seventh century, that the
and the Balkans. and Sush in modern Persian. It was the oldest combined might of the two nations defeated
One hundred and twenty-seven provinces: and most important city of the Proto-Elamite Assyria. In 550 BCE, Cyrus the Great conquered
The Persian Empire was divided into provinces, kingdom in southwest Persia, located on the Media and unified it with Persia. Some attribute
each headed by a satrap [aĥashdarpan]. In old banks of the Shavur River, at the foot of the the difference in the order of the two names,
Persian the word aĥashdarpan means a shield of Zagros Mountains. During the reign of Darius “Persia and Media” or “Media and Persia” (e.g.,
the kingdom (see 3:12). External sources indicate I, Shushan was the political and administrative 10:2; Daniel 5:28, 6:9), to the change of kings
that the number of provinces established by capital of Persia, and one of its four capital cit- from Persian to Median, and vice versa, while
the Persian government were fewer than stated ies, together with Persepolis, Ecbatana, and others claim that these differences reflect the
here, but such provinces were occasionally split Babylon. Cambyses II (died 521 BCE), the son of balance of power between the two states.
into smaller states ruled by subordinate gov- Cyrus II who is also known as Cyrus the Great, The nobles [partemim]: From the Old Persian
ernors. When the internal division into smaller established Shushan as his capital. However the partema, meaning the first, those that are clos-
units is taken into account, they might indeed city lost its prominence after the Alexandrian est to the king.
add up to 127 provinces. The central government conquests at the end of the fourth century BCE.

Discussion
1:1 |  Ahashverosh: Since the Persian name of who documented the wars their people fought this book that could be interpreted as paranoid.
the king was not Ahashverosh, it is difficult to against the Persians. Their accounts indicate Even when the king was sitting “on the throne of
identify this figure. However, it is likely that he that Xerxes I ascended the throne after the his kingdom” (verse 2), nothing could be taken
is the king known in Greek literature as Xerxes Persian kingdom had suffered from civil wars, for granted.
I, or Khshyarsha in Persian. Much of the informa- conspiracies, and betrayals. This may explain
tion about Xerxes I comes from Greek historians, why Ahashverosh undertook actions related in

5
 Megillat Esther | Chapter 1

which was designed to publicly display the king’s riches and 6 The place was decorated
might, lasted one hundred and eighty days. with expensive fabrics:
White,b green [karpas],b
types of fabrics or colors,
and sky-blue fabrics, col-
ored with an expensive dye;
all bound with cords of
fine white linenb and pur-
ple wool.b All these fabrics Decorated tile, palace of the kings of
and cords were spread on Persia, Persepolis, fifth century BCE
silver rodsb and marble
pillars;b and the couches
were of gold and silver, on
a floor of alabaster, mar-
ble, mother-of-pearl, and
Persian soldiers (in straight hats) and Medes (in rounded hats) relief, onyx,b rare and expensive
Persepolis, sixth century BCE precious stones.12
7 Serving drink in vessels of
gold, as befit a royal feast, Mother-of-pearl
5 Upon the completion of those days, during which a banquet and vessels of diverse
was held for people who came from afar, the king made a ban- kinds; the guests were of-
quet for all the people who were present in Shushan the fered vessels of various shapes and colors, in accordance with
capital, from great to small, seven days. He may have treated their status and needs. And abundant royal wine, which was
them to this feast in an attempt to win the trust of the city’s resi- provided at the king’s expense, was in accordance with the
dents, many of whom were government officials.10 This banquet king’s bounty, freely and without concern for the cost.
took place in the court of the garden of the king’s house,b a
courtyard near a garden or orchard, alongside a palace. This was
probably not the king’s main palace but a smaller royal estate
that belonged to him.11

Excavated vessels, Shushan

8 The drinking was as customary, following the accepted rules

of etiquette, and without constraint. Since the king wanted the
people to feel part of the royal feast, they were free to drink as
Plan of the ancient palace, Shushan they pleased. For so did the king establish, command,13 with
all the palace officials, to act in accordance with the wishes

6
‫מגילת אסתר | פרק א‬

‫ ו ִּב ְְְמ ֣לֹואת ׀ ַהּיָ ִ ֣מים‬:‫מֹונ֥ים ו ְְְּמ ַ ֖את יֹֽום‬ ִ ‫ת־יְְקר ִּתפְְְ ֶ ֖א ֶרת ְְ ּגדו ָּּל ֑תֹו יָ ִ ֣מים ַר ִּ֔בים ׁ ְְש‬ ֔ ָ ‫וְְ ֶ ֨א‬ ‫ה‬

‫ד־ק ָ ֛טן‬ ָ ‫ל־ה ָע֣ם ַה ִּנ ְְְמצְְ ִאי ֩ם ְְּב ׁשו ׁ ֨ ַּשן ַה ִּב ָ ֜ירה ְְל ִמ ָ ּג֧דֹול וְְ ַע‬ ָ ‫שה ַה ֶּ֡מ ֶל ְְְך ְְֽֽל ָָכ‬ ֣ ׂ ָ ‫ָה ֵ ֗א ֶּלה ָע‬
‫ ֣חוּר ׀ ַּכ ְְְר ּ ַפ֣ס ו ְְְּת ֵ֗כ ֶלת ָאח ּו ֙ז ְְּב ַח ְְְב ֵלי־‬:‫יתן ַה ֶּמ ֶֽל ְְְך‬
֖ ַ ‫יָמים ַּב ֲֽח ֕ ַצר ִ ּג ַּנ֥ת ִּב‬֑ ִ ‫ִמ ׁ ְְְש ֶּ ֖תה ׁ ִש ְְְב ַע֣ת‬ ‫ו‬

‫֥ילי ֶכ ֶ֖סף וְְ ַע ּ֣מו ֵּדי ׁ ֵש ׁ֑ש ִמ ּ ֣טֹות ׀ זָ ָה֣ב וָ ֶ֗כ ֶסף ַע֛ל ִ ֽרצְְ פַ ֥ת ַּב ַֽהט־וָ ׁ ֵש ׁ֖ש‬ ֵ ‫ל־ג ִל‬
ּ ְְ ‫֣בוּץ וְְ ַא ְְְר ָ ּג ָ֔מן ַע‬
: ְְְ‫ וְְ ַה ׁ ְְְשקֹות֙ ִּב ְְְכ ֵל֣י זָ ָ֔הב וְְ ֵכ ִל֖ים ִמ ֵּכ ִל֣ים ׁשֹונִ ֑ים וְְ יֵ ֥ין ַמ ְְְל ֛כוּת ָ ֖רב ְְּכיַ ֥ד ַה ֶּמ ֶֽלך‬:‫וְְ ַ ֥דר וְְ ס ָ ֹֽח ֶרת‬ ‫ז‬

‫ל־־־רב ֵּב ֔יתֹו ַל ֲֽע ֖ ׂשֹות ִּכ ְְְרצ֥ ֹון‬ ֣ ַ ‫י־כ֣ן ׀ יִ ַּס֣ד ַה ֶּ֗מ ֶל ְְְך ֚עַ ל ָָּכ‬ ֵ ‫וְְ ַה ׁ ּ ְְש ִתּיָ ֥ה ַכדָּ ֖ ת ֵ ֣אין אֹנֵ ֑ס ִּכ‬ ‫ח‬

BACKground
1:5 |  The court of the garden of the king’s Murex trunculus, while argaman is the general king’s palace. Similar poles are used nowadays
house [bitan]: The royal palace in Shushan, name for a dark reddish-purple or deep purple to spread and secure curtains in tent-shaped
which has been unearthed in archaeological dye produced from the spiny dye-murex, Murex buildings and other such structures.
excavations, was built in the western Syrian brandaris. The liquid used for preparing these Marble pillars [shesh]: In ancient times palace
style. It included four inner garden courtyards, dyes was extracted from a protective secretion courtyards were often surrounded by pillars.
while its northern section contained the palace, of the snails found in minute quantities in their These pillars needed to bear heavy loads, as
bitan, a special building where invitees were hypobranchial glands. Many thousands of snails they supported a ceiling or whole sections of a
greeted. The word bitan is from the Akkadian were required in order to dye a fabric or item of building, under which was a shaded area. There
bitanu, meaning an inner part or inner structure clothing. Consequently, it was used mainly by no- were various forms of such constructions: the
of a palace or temple. It has been surmised that bles and kings. Greek peristyles, the Roman colonnades and
this term developed from the Persian word apa- These two dyes were used for coloring the arcade, and the Judean exedras and porticos.
dana, which denotes an entrance hall of stone curtains in the Tabernacle (Exodus 26, 36–38), the Shesh is white marble, which was preferred for
construction with columns, designed for receiv- fabrics with which the vessels of the Tabernacle monolithic, cylindrical pillars because it can be
ing an audience. Sometimes tents or canopies were covered during journeys (Exodus 39), as smoothed or engraved. It is possible that some
were erected for guests in the hall or courtyard. well as the garments of the High Priest (Exodus of the pillars in Shushan were not covered with a
Between the main gate and the building there 28, 39). Tekhelet was also the dye used for one ceiling; instead fabric curtains were spread and
was also an outer courtyard. During the exca- thread of the ritual fringes (Numbers 15:38–39). tied over them.
vations of the palace at Shushan, a tablet with In the affluent Persian kingdom, the king would
cuneiform script was discovered. The text on this have curtains and clothes that were made en- A floor of alabaster [bahat], marble, mother-
tablet describes the glories of the palace, specif- tirely of tekhelet. of-pearl [dar], and onyx [soĥaret]: The palaces
ically the cost and rarity of the building materi- and royal gardens of the kings of Persia and
Bound with cords of linen [butz]: Butz is flax, Media were paved with ceramic tiles or colorful
als and the expertise of its builders. Linum usitatissimum, busu in Akkadian (see stones, because these were hard and erosion-re-
1:6 |  White [ĥur]: A brilliant-white woven linen Targum Onkelos, Leviticus 16). The Sages like- sistant. Bahat is probably purfir, a hard red stone.
fabric, from ĥiver, meaning pale. Alternatively, wise called the flax of the vestments of the High Dar is mother-of-pearl, a substance produced
this is a perforated [meĥurar] woven material, Priest butz (Mishna Yoma 3:4). These cords were by mollusks as an inner shell layer and formed
similar to netting (see Isaiah 19:9; Genesis 40:15). used to spread the fabrics above the garden of by the hardening of secretions, e.g., the conch
Green [karpas]: Apparently a woven cotton the king’s palace, where the feast was held, and pearl. Alternatively, dar may mean gold, from
fabric, which was brought to the region from to tie them to the silver and marble pillars. Linen the Old Persian darniya. Soĥaret is probably a
India in the time of Sennacherib. It is called kar- cords are particularly strong and therefore well light-bluish precious stone, sikhru in Akkadian
pasa in Sanskrit and kirpas in Persian. suited for this purpose. It seems that the cords and saharet in ancient Egyptian. The Persians
of the Tent of Meeting were also made of linen. were experts in the production of colorfully
Sky-blue [tekhelet]…purple [argaman]: These
are dyes extracted from snails that live in the Silver rods: These are poles of silver or a shiny coated ceramic tiles. Their floors were laid with a
Mediterranean Sea. Tekhelet is a shade of deep white metal that supported the fabric cur- colorful array of white, red, blue, and black tiles,
blue, extracted from the banded dye-murex, tains, which were spread out to provide shade which were often finished with a metallic gold
and decoration in the garden courtyard of the sheen.

7
 Megillat Esther | Chapter 1

of each and every man, rather than forcing them to conform to was very angry, and his fury burned within him. His rage
the norms of the king. The king chose not to invest great effort was provoked by his wife’s audacity in her rejection of his de-
in trying to enforce conformity in his multicultural kingdom; in- mand, which was not issued privately but by an official delega-
stead, he granted its various nations the freedom to preserve their tion. His sensitivity to any slight to his honor was undoubtedly
unique identity, language, and customs. heightened by his inebriated state. Under the circumstances,
9 Also Vashtid the queen made a banquet for the women, in he anticipated that his request would be obeyed immediately
parallel with the great feast for the men, in another wing of the and in full. Perhaps Vashti also delivered messages that alluded
royal palace of King Ahashverosh. The feast for the women to his drunkenness or that mocked him, further enflaming his
was held separately from that of the men to avoid the undesir- anger.16 This is possibly the meaning of the phrase in verse 17
able consequences of mixed festivities.14 Unlike the king’s wild “for the matter [devar] of the queen,” which literally denotes a
feast, the women’s banquet was a more dignified affair. saying or message.
10 On the seventh day of the feast, when the king was merry 13 The king communicated with the wise men, knowledgeable
with wine, he was in good spirits after much drinking. It is of the portents, the astrologists, or his advisors in charge of
hard to tell whether he was actually drunk, partly due to the managing the affairs of the kingdom, who knew what to do in
rather formal tone of the description here. In any case, he, every situation that might arise,17 for so was the practice of the
Ahashverosh, said to Mehuman, Bizzeta, Harbona, Bigta, king before those learned in custom and law,bd to present his
and Avagta, Zetar, and Karkas, the seven special officials problems before his legal counselors.18
[sarisim]b who attended to King Ahashverosh, and who 14 The verse notes that those advisors who were close to him,
were closest to him. It can be assumed that these were actual the king, were Karshena, Shetar, Admata, Tarshish, Meres,
eunuchs [sarisim], not merely servants, as their job required Marsena, and Memukhan, the seven princes of Persia and
them to pass between the men and the women.15 In the raucous Media, who viewed the king’s face, who would meet with
atmosphere of debauchery at the party, the king bragged about him. The king was usually secluded within his palace, and it was
his power, wealth, wisdom, and success. He also boasted of his rare to encounter him face-to-face.19 It was these advisors who
beautiful wife. were seated first in the kingdom as the chief ministers of his
11 The king, not satisfied with mere boasts, commanded his offi- government.
cials to bring Queen Vashti before the king with the royal 15 The legal question under discussion was as follows: As to the
crown, in order to display her beauty to all the peoples and policy: What to do to Queen Vashti, in that she did not fol-
the princes,d as she was of fair appearance. low the utterance of King Ahashverosh at the hand of the
12 Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s word,b delivered officials? What is to be done in light of the queen’s public re-
at the hand of the officials. Her refusal to obey the command fusal to obey the king’s command, which was delivered to her
of the supreme leader, whose authority was absolutely unlim- by an official delegation?
ited, is indicative of her high status. She was unwilling to humil- 16 Memukhan said before the king and the princes that the
iate herself by parading her body before an audience. The king queen’s sin was even worse than might have been thought:

BACKground
1:10 |  Officials [sarisim]: These men held posi- personal services, such as bearing the royal whereas the queen would depart at the conclu-
tions of authority in the royal courts of Assyria goblet of wine, as well as to help restore them sion of the official meal. The queen had the right
and Babylon, and later in the court of the king to the throne in the wake of a conspiracy. Most to choose whether or not to be seen by the king.
of Persia as well. Since they came into contact of the names of the officials recorded here are of Zoroastrian beliefs accorded the king significant
with the women of the royal court, and some Persian origin. religious status and he was considered the mes-
of them were in charge of the harem, they were 1:12 |  Queen Vashti refused to come at the senger of god. This is attested to in the Behistun
castrated. Castration was also assumed to curb king’s word: The principal queen enjoyed a Inscription in its description of Darius. The king
the ambition of courtiers, since one who has lofty status in the palace of the Persian kings. was not permitted to violate these ancient en-
no heirs is unlikely to aspire to rule himself. In She was in control of her daily routine, she was actments unless they were changed by consent.
Persia, such officials could achieve the status of typically educated, and she was even involved 1:13 |  For so was the practice of the king be-
advisors to the king or other senior governmen- in religious matters. Ahashverosh’s request that fore those learned in custom and law: Since
tal posts, and they also served in military roles Vashti be summoned in the middle of a feast was the rights of the Persian queen were based on
and as bodyguards who were personally loyal to counter to common practice. In the Persian pal- ancient law, the discussion about her refusal re-
the king. The Persian kings relied on these offi- aces only women from the harem or concubines quired the presence of legal scholars.
cials for the most sensitive roles, both to provide were invited to participate in drinking parties,

8
 ‫מגילת אסתר | פרק א‬

‫נָשים ֚ ֵּבית ַה ַּמ ְְְל ֔כוּת‬ ֑ ִ ׁ ‫    גם וַ ׁ ְְְש ִּ ֣תי ַה ַּמ ְְְל ָּ֔כה ָע ְְ ֽׂש ָ ֖תה ִמ ׁ ְְְש ֵּ ֣תה‬ ַּ ֚ :‫ִ ֽא ׁיש־־־וָ ִ ֽא ׁיש‬ ‫ט‬

‫ֽב־ה ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך ַּבּיָ ֑יִ ן ָא ַ֡מר ִ֠ל ְְְמהו ָּ֠מן‬ ַ ‫יעי ְְּכ ֥טֹוב ֵל‬ ִ֔ ‫ ַּבּיֹו ֙ם ַה ׁ ּ ְְש ִב‬:‫שר ַל ֶּ ֥מ ֶל ְְְך ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֽר ֹׁוש‬ ֖ ֶ ׁ ‫ֲא‬ ‫י‬

‫יסים ַה ְְֽמ ׁ ָ ֣ש ְְר ִ֔תים ֶאת־‬ ִ֔ ‫בֹונא ִּבגְְְ ָת֤א וַ ֲֽא ַבגְְְ ָת ֙א זֵ ַ ֣תר וְְ ַכ ְְְר ַּ֔כס ׁ ִש ְְְב ַעת֙ ַה ָּס ִ֣ר‬ ָ ֜ ‫ִּבּזְְ ָ֨תא ַח ְְְר‬
‫ ְְ֠ל ָה ִ֠ביא ֶאת־וַ ׁ ְְְש ִּ ֧תי ַה ַּמ ְְְל ָּכ֛ה ִלפְְְ נֵ ֥י ַה ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך ְְּב ֶכ ֶ֣תר ַמ ְְְל ֑כוּת‬:‫ּ ְְפנֵ ֖י ַה ֶּמ ֶ֥ל ְְְך ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֽר ֹׁוש‬ ‫יא‬

‫ וַ ְְּת ָמ ֵ ֞אן ַה ַּמ ְְְל ָּכ֣ה‬:‫ֽי־טֹוב֥ת ַמ ְְְר ֶ ֖אה ִ ֽהיא‬ ַ ‫ְְל ַה ְְְר ֨אֹות ָה ַֽע ִּמ֤ים וְְ ַה ּ ָשׂ ִרי ֙ם ֶאת־יָָפְְְ ָ֔י ּה ִּכ‬ ‫יב‬

‫יסים וַ ּיִ ְְְקצ֤ ֹף ַה ֶּ֙מ ֶל ְְְ ֙ך ְְמ ֔אֹד וַ ֲֽח ָמ ֖תֹו ָּב ֲֽע ָ ֥רה‬ ֑ ִ ‫שר ְְּביַ ֣ד ַה ָּס ִֽר‬ ֖ ֶ ׁ ‫וַ ׁ ְְְש ִּ֗תי ָלבֹו ֙א ִּב ְְְד ַב֣ר ַה ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך ֲא‬
‫י־־־כ ֙ן דְְּ ַב֣ר ַה ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך ִלפְְְ ֕ ֵני ָָּכל־־־‬
ֵ ‫ֹאמר ַה ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך ַל ֲֽח ָכ ִ ֖מים יֽ ְְֹד ֵע֣י ָה ִֽע ִּ ֑תים ִּכ‬ ֶ ֣‫     וַ ּי‬:‫ֽבֹו‬ ‫יג‬

‫ וְְ ַה ָ ּק ֣רֹב ֵא ָ֗ליו ַּכ ְְְר ׁ ְְשנָ ֤א ׁ ֵש ָת ֙ר ַא ְְְד ָ ֣מ ָתא ַת ְְְר ׁ ֔ ִש ׁיש ֶ ֥מ ֶרס ַמ ְְְר ְְסנָ ֖א ְְממו ָּכ֑ן‬:‫יֽ ְְֹד ֵע֖י דָּ ֥ ת וָ ִ ֽדין‬ ‫יד‬

‫ ְְּכ ָדת֙ ַ ֽמה־־־־‬:‫אשֹנָ ֖ה ַּב ַּמ ְְְל ֽכוּת‬ ׁ ‫ׁ ִש ְְְב ַ֞עת ָ ׂש ֵ ֣רי ׀ ּ ָפ ַ ֣רס ו ָּמ ַ ֗די ר ֵֹאי֙ ּ ְְפנֵ ֣י ַה ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך ַהּיֽ ׁ ְְֹש ִ ֥בים ִ ֽר‬ ‫טו‬

‫ת־מ ֲא ַמ ֙ר ַה ֶּמ ֶ֣ל ְְְך ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֔ר ֹׁוש ְְּביַ ֖ד‬ֽ ַ ‫ֹא־ע ְְ ֽׂש ָ֗תה ֶ ֽא‬ ָ ‫שר ל‬ ֣ ֶ ׁ ‫ַּל ֲֽעשׂ֔ ֹות ַּב ַּמ ְְְל ָּכ֖ה וַ ׁ ְְְש ִּ ֑תי ַע֣ל ׀ ֲא‬
‫ְְממו ָּ֗כן‬ ַ ‫מומכן ִלפְְְ נֵ ֤י ַה ֶּ֙מ ֶל ְְְ ֙ך וְְ ַה ּ ָשׂ ִ ֔רים ֤ל ֹא ַע‬
‫ל־ה ֶּ֙מ ֶל ְְְ ֙ך ְְל ַב ֔ ּדֹו‬ ֗ ‫ֹאמר‬ ֶ ֣‫     וַ ּי‬:‫יסים‬ ֽ ִ ‫ַה ָּס ִֽר‬ ‫טז‬

Discussion
1:9 |  Vashti: This sounds like a Persian name 1:11 |  To display her beauty to the peoples entire legal team in order to discuss the fate of
(see Ibn Ezra, Second Commentary); indeed, in and the princes: Although the book of Esther his wife. His behavior is similar to that of various
a collection of texts of the Persian religion of does not explicitly criticize this order of the lofty dictators over the course of history who sought
Zoroastrianism from the tenth century BCE, Persian king, who was considered a demi-god to preserve the image of a law-abiding ruler,
there are two words that are possibly the source at the time, his demand to show off the queen and who were careful that everything be docu-
of the name: Vashita, the best, and ushiti, the was clearly in poor taste. All the more so if he mented and performed in a very formal manner.
beloved. However, there is no certainty that indeed commanded, as the Sages suggest, that It should be noted that Ahashverosh’s consul-
Vashti herself was Persian. It is clear from the she enter with only the crown upon her head, tation with his ministers is nothing more than a
story that she was more than merely one of the but no other item of clothing, in order to expose matter of etiquette, through which he expresses
king’s many wives and concubines, and that she her beauty before all (see Megilla 12b). his respect for the legal establishment, as in
was well aware of her superior status. According 1:13 |  The practice of the king before those practice, they are at his mercy: He appointed
to a tradition of the Sages, Vashti was originally learned in custom and law: There is a measure them, and he can remove them from their posts
a Babylonian princess (see, e.g., Megilla 10b). of irony here: Later in the story the king alone, and have them executed. Therefore, his legal ad-
There are other instances in the Bible where a and apparently without any hesitation, makes visors were naturally careful to tailor their com-
foreigner who was brought into a royal house decisions that will have dramatic moral and po- ments to fit what they assumed the king would
was given a new name in the language of the litical ramifications. In this situation, by contrast, want to hear, as ultimately the law depended
kingdom (see Genesis 41:45; Daniel 1:7). when he is drunk and angry, he assembles an upon his whim and mood at the time.

9
 Megillat Esther | Chapter 1

It is not the king alone that Queen Vashti the queen has and therefore all the wives, following the dissemination of the
wronged, by failing to obey his instruction; rather, it is all the royal precedent, will confer honor on their husbands, and
princes, and all the peoples, who are in all the provinces will not disobey their commands, from great to small.
of King Ahashverosh. Since she publicly rebelled against 21 The matter was pleasing in the eyes of the king and the
the king, her decision will have ramifications that will spread princes. Memukhan’s appraisal of the fundamental problem
throughout the entire Persian kingdom. and its potentially serious consequences was greeted with ap-
17 For the matter of the queen will get out to all the women, proval. In his speech Memukhan presented his solution not
rendering their husbands contemptible in their eyes. as a royal whim, but rather as an important precedent in the
Although the queen did not issue an explicit declaration to this management of the country. The angry, drunken king was de-
effect and did not preach this type of conduct, her personal ex- lighted at the opportunity to inflate the incident into an event
ample is likely to become the norm, in their saying, by women of national importance. And therefore the king acted in ac-
who seek to copy her: King Ahashverosh said to bring Queen cordance with the word of Memukhan. As noted in the in-
Vashti before him, but she did not come. The queen has cre- troduction, the book of Esther, with its formal style, does not
ated a dangerous precedent. overtly criticize the king. However, in reading between the
18 From this day onward, the princesses, the wives of the offi- lines, Ahashverosh emerges as a ridiculous, easily manipulated
cials and nobles, of Persia and Media who have heard of the figure.
matter of the queen will recount it, they will issue similar 22 He, Ahashverosh, sent scrolls containing the official order
statements, to all the king’s princes, and perhaps the wives to all the provinces of the king, to each and every prov-
of commoners will follow suit as well. Vashti’s refusal will em- ince in its script, and to each and every people in its lan-
bolden these women when they quarrel with their husbands, guage: Every man shall be ruler in his house. The king did
and through this incident there will be ample contempt and not mention Vashti by name, but simply declared that each
wrath, or contempt that should arouse our anger. This is not man should be in charge of his house, and that he should
merely a personal slight, which the king could potentially over- speak the language of his people. People of different nation-
look; rather, the broader consequences of the queen’s refusal alities in his kingdom had intermarried, thereby mixing their
will be severe, as her scandalous behavior, even if not repeated, languages.21 Consequently, the king took this opportunity to
is likely to serve as a model that will be imitated throughout the issue a decree that from this point forward the language of
kingdom. the husband should be the one spoken by all members of his
19 Therefore, if it pleases the king, let the royal edict be issued household.22
before him. The decision should be formally publicized, not
merely as a temporary decree; and furthermore, let it be writ-
ten in the book of the directives of Persia and Media,b not
to be repealed, as despite the king’s power and position, he is
considered to be bound by the laws and proclamations of the
kingdom, at least technically,20 that Vashti will not come be-
fore King Ahashverosh. Memukhan did not specify her fate;
whether she is to be killed, permanently exiled, or simply de-
posed from her position of grace and favor before the king, and
removed from any position of influence. And it should also be
decreed that the king will give her queenship, her official sta-
tus as queen, to her counterpart who is worthier than she.
The king should dispense with her and choose a more suitable
woman to replace her. “To each and every province in its script.”
20 The king’s edictb that he will enact will be heard through- Trilingual inscription of Xerxes I, Van Fortress, Turkey, 485–465 BCE
out his entire kingdom, although it, the kingdom, is vast,

10
‫מגילת אסתר | פרק א‬

‫ל־מ ִדינ֖ ֹות‬ ְְ ‫ל־ה ַ֣ע ִּ֔מים ֲא ׁ ֕ ֶשר ְְּב ָָכ‬ ָ ‫ל־כ‬ ָָּ ‫ל־ה ּ ָשׂ ִרי ֙ם וְְ ַע‬
ַ ‫ל־כ‬ ָָּ ‫ָעֽוְְ ָ ֖תה וַ ׁ ְְְש ִּ ֣תי ַה ַּמ ְְְל ָּכ֑ה ִּכ֤י ַע‬
‫יה֖ן‬ֶ ‫ל־ה ּנ ׁ ֔ ִָשים ְְל ַה ְְְבז֥ ֹות ַּב ְְְע ֵל‬ ַ ‫ל־כ‬ ָָּ ‫ר־ה ַּמ ְְְל ָּכ ֙ה ַע‬ ַ ‫ ִּ ֽכי־יֵ צֵ ֤א ְְד ַב‬:‫ַה ֶּ ֥מ ֶל ְְְך ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֽר ֹׁוש‬ ‫יז‬

‫יה֑ן ְְּב ָָא ְְְמ ָ ֗רם ַה ֶּ ֣מ ֶל ְְְך ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֡ר ֹׁוש ָא ַ֞מר ְְל ָה ִ֨ביא ֶאת־וַ ׁ ְְְש ִּ ֧תי ַה ַּמ ְְְל ָּכ֛ה ְְלפָ נָ ֖יו‬ ֶ ֵ‫ְְּב ֵעֽינ‬
‫ש ְְמע ּ֙ו ֶאת־דְְּ ַב֣ר‬ ֽ ָ ׁ ‫ֹאמ ְְְרנָ ה ׀ ָ ׂש ֣רֹות ּ ָפ ַֽרס־ ּו ָמ ַ ֗די ֲא ׁ ֶש֤ר‬ ֣ ַ ‫ וְְֽֽ ַהּי֨ ֹום ַה ֶּ֜זה ּת‬:‫ֹא־ב ָֽאה‬ ָ ‫וְְ ל‬ ‫יח‬

‫ל־ה ֶּ ֣מ ֶל ְְְך ֗טֹוב יֵ צֵ ֤א ְְד ַבר־‬ ַ ‫ם־ע‬ ַ ‫ ִא‬:‫ַה ַּמ ְְְל ָּ֔כה ְְל ֖כֹל ָ ׂש ֵ ֣רי ַה ֶּמ ֶ֑ל ְְְך ו ְְְּכ ַ ֖די ִּבּזָ י֥ ֹון וָ ָֽקצֶ ף‬ ‫יט‬

‫ֹא־ת ֜בֹוא וַ ׁ ְְְש ִּ֗תי‬ ָ ‫ַמ ְְְלכוּת֙ ִמ ְְּלפָ ֔ ָניו וְְ יִ ָּכ ֵ ֛תב ְְּב ָד ֵ ֥תי ָפ ַֽרס־ו ָּמ ַ ֖די וְְ ֣ל ֹא יַ ֲֽע ֑בֹור ֲא ׁ ֨ ֶשר ֽל‬
‫נִש ַמ ֩ע‬ ְְְ ׁ ְְ‫ ו‬:‫ּת ּה ַה ּט ָֹוב֥ה ִמ ֶּ ֽמ ָּנה‬ ֖ ָ ‫ִלפְְְ נֵי֙ ַה ֶּ ֣מ ֶל ְְְך ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֔ר ֹׁוש ו ַּמ ְְְלכו ָּת ּ ֙ה יִ ֵּ ֣תן ַה ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך ִל ְְְרעו‬ ‫כ‬

‫ל־ה ּנ ׁ ֗ ִָשים יִ ְְּתנ֤ ּו יְְ ָק ֙ר‬ ַ ‫ל־מ ְְְלכו ּ֔תֹו ִּכ֥י ַר ָּב֖ה ִ ֑היא וְְ ָָכ‬ ַ ‫שר־יַ ֲֽע ֶ ׂש ֙ה ְְּב ָָכ‬ ֽ ֶ ׁ ‫ּ ִפ ְְְת ָ֨גם ַה ֶּמ ֶ֤ל ְְְך ֲא‬
ׂ‫יט ֙ב ַהדָּ ָ֔בר ְְּב ֵעינֵ ֥י ַה ֶּ ֖מ ֶל ְְְך וְְ ַה ּ ָשׂ ִ ֑רים וַ ּיַ ַ֥עש‬ ַ ִ‫ וַ ּי‬:‫ד־ק ָ ֽטן‬ ָ ‫יהן ְְל ִמ ָ ּג ֖דֹול וְְ ַע‬ ֶ֔ ‫ְְל ַב ְְְע ֵל‬ ‫כא‬

‫ל־מ ִדינָ ֤ה ו ְְְּמ ִדינָ ֙ה‬ ְְ ‫ל־מ ִדינ֣ ֹות ַה ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך ֶא‬ ְְ ‫ל־כ‬ ָָּ ‫ וַ ּיִ ׁ ְְְש ַל֤ח ְְספָ ִרי ֙ם ֶא‬:‫ַה ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך ִּכ ְְְד ַב֥ר ְְממו ָּכֽן‬ ‫כב‬

‫יתֹו ו ְְְּמ ַד ֵּב֖ר ִּכ ְְְל ׁ ֥שֹון‬ ֔ ‫יש שׂ ֵ ֹ֣רר ְְּב ֵב‬ ֙ ׁ ‫ל־א‬ִ ‫ל־ע֥ם וָ ָע֖ם ִּכ ְְְל ׁשֹונ֑ ֹו ִ ֽל ְְְהי֤ ֹות ָָּכ‬ ַ ‫ִּכ ְְְכ ָת ָ֔ב ּה וְְ ֶא‬

BACKground
1:19 |  And let it be written in the directives a nation’s laws in the structure of a building is comparable discovery during the reign of Darius
of [datei] Persia and Media: Ancient Persian related in the book of Kings as well, which re- is recounted in the book of Ezra (5:17–6:5).
law was called data. The Persians carefully pre- counts that in the days of King Yoshiyahu, a 1:20 |  Edict [pitgam]: In Old Persian, pratig-
served their books of laws, including the oc- Torah scroll was found during repairs to the ama denotes something which goes out to
casional addition. These laws were written in Temple (II Kings 22:8–23:4). This discovery of a meet something else. In this instance, this is a
cuneiform on tablets of clay and silt, as well as forgotten body of law had a profound practical message from the king to the people. This is the
on parchment. Archives have been discovered effect on the society that found it generations source for the Aramaic term pitgama, meaning a
in the most fortified sections of the palace walls after it had been put away, as it led to far-reach- publicized command or decree.
in Persepolis. The phenomenon of preserving ing religious reform throughout the country. A

11
 Megillat Esther | Chapter 2

This section starts by relating the consequences of the incident described in the previous section, as
Esther Is Crowned Queen a search is undertaken to find a queen to replace Vashti. The character of Esther is then introduced,
Esther 2:1–20 and these two narrative strands intertwine into a single plotline.

2 1 After these matters, when the fury of king Ahashverosh had 3 And in keeping with the exalted status of the king, this was to be
abated and he had calmed down, he remembered Vashti, and a large, organized, and respectable project, ensuring that only
what she had done, and what was decreed against her. Since suitable candidates would be sent: Have the king appoint offi-
it is not explicitly stated that she was executed, and imposition cials in all the provinces of his kingdom to perform an initial
of the death penalty for a wife of the nobility was rare, except selection, and they will gather every virgin young woman to
for the most serious crimes, it can be assumed that she was not Shushan the capital, to the harem, to the custody of Hegai,
put to death. Instead, it is likely that Vashti had been exiled, and the king’s official, guardian of the women in the palace; and
Ahashverosh missed her.23 to complement and enhance their natural beauty, their per-
2 The king’s ministers did not merely carry out his commands; fumes and cosmetics will be provided.
they also paid attention to his moods and tried to anticipate his 4 The young woman who will be pleasing in the eyes of the
wishes. The king’s lads, his attendants, said: We can find a re- king at the end of this process will be crowned queen in place
placement for Vashti. Let there be sought for the king virgin of Vashti. The proposal was pleasing in the eyes of the king
young women of fair appearance, as befitting the honor of a and he did so.
king. 5 There was a Jewish [yehudi] man,b from the land of Judah,24
the small, independent province which the Persians called
Yehud, who lived in Shushan the capital, and his name
was Mordekhai, son of Ya’ir, son of Shimi, son of Kish, a
Benjamite,d from the tribe of Benjamin. Although he came
from the land of Judah, he was from the tribe of Benjamin,
6 who had been exiled from Jerusalem in his youth, together
with the first exile that was exiled with Yekhonya king of
Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon exiled.
7 He was rearing Hadasa as her guardian, she was Esther.b
Hadasa was her Hebrew name, while Esther was her Persian or
Babylonian name. She was his uncle’s daughter and was much
younger than him. He had become her guardian as she had no
father or mother. The young woman was of fine form and
fair appearance, and with the death of her father and her
mother, Mordekhai had adopted her as his own daughter.
8 It was when the edict of the king and his new directive was
heard, and when there was the gathering of many young
women to Shushan the capital, to the custody of Hegai, that
Esther was taken to the king’s palace, to the custody of Hegai,
guardian of the women. Most of the young women were pre-
Yehud
sumably delighted to come from their lands to the capital city

Discussion
2:5 |  A Jewish man…a Benjamite: The tribes indicates that he was descended from the royal The Histories II:84). Consequently, it appears that
of Judah and Benjamin inhabited adjacent line of King Saul (see Pirkei deRabbi Eliezer 48; all the candidates, even if they were not Persian,
areas of the Land of Israel. They were both ex- Megilla 16a). This is a significant detail, as in the were required to have some sort of social status.
iled to Babylon, and later returned to the Land culture of Persia and Media it was extremely rare Esther had the reputation of being a woman of
of Israel together (see Nehemiah 11:7, 25–36). to appoint a commoner as queen, as the fifth noble lineage even though her precise origin
Mordekhai’s lineage, specified in this verse, century Greek historian Herodotus explains (see remained secret.

12
‫מגילת אסתר | פרק ב‬

‫    א ַח ֙ר ַהדְְּ ָב ִ ֣רים ָה ֵ ֔א ֶּלה ְְּכ ׁ ֕ש ְְְֹך ֲח ַ ֖מת ַה ֶּמ ֶ֣ל ְְְך ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֑ר ֹׁוש זָ ַכ֤ר ֶאת־‬ ַ :‫ַע ּֽמֹו‬ ‫א‬ ‫ב‬
‫ש ְְר ָת֑יו‬ ֽ ָ ׁ ‫י־ה ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך ְְמ‬
ַ ‫ֹאמ ֥ר ּו נַ ֲֽע ֵ ֽר‬ְְ ֽ‫ וַ ּי‬:‫ֽיה‬ ָ ‫ר־ע ֔ ָ ׂש ָתה וְְ ֵ ֥את ֲא ׁ ֶשר־נִ גְְְ זַ ֖ר ָע ֶל‬ ָ ‫וַ ׁ ְְְש ִּתי֙ וְְ ֵ ֣את ֲא ׁ ֶש‬ ‫ב‬

‫ל־מ ִדינ֣ ֹות‬ ְְ ‫ וְְ יַפְְְ ֵ ֨קד ַה ֶּמ ֶ֣לךְְְ ּ ְְפ ִק ִיד ֮ים ְְּב ָָכ‬:‫טֹובֹות ַמ ְְְר ֶ ֽאה‬ ֥ ‫נְְע ֥רֹות ְְּבתו ּ֖לֹות‬ ָ ְְְ‫ַיְְב ְְְק ׁ ֥ש ּו ַל ֶּמ ֶ֛לך‬ ‫ג‬

‫ל־שו ׁ ַּש֤ן ַה ִּב ָיר ֙ה ֶאל־‬ ׁ ‫טֹובת ַמ ְְְר ֶ ֜אה ֶא‬ ַ֨ ‫ה־בתו ֠ ָּלה‬ ְְ֠ ‫ת־כל־נַ ֲֽע ָ ֽר‬
ָָּ ‫ַמ ְְְלכוּתֹו֒ וְְ יִ ְְְק ְְּבצ֣ ּו ֶא‬
‫ וְְ ַה ַ ּֽנ ֲֽע ָ ֗רה‬:‫יהֽן‬ ֶ ‫ָשים וְְ נָ ֖תֹון ַּת ְְְמ ֻ ֽר ֵק‬ ֑ ִ ׁ ‫ֵּב֣ית ַה ּנ ׁ ֔ ִָשים ֶאל־יַ ֥ד ֵהגֵ ֛א ְְס ִ ֥ריס ַה ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך ׁש ֵ ֹ֣מר ַה ּנ‬ ‫ד‬

ׂ‫יט֧ב ַהדָּ ָב֛ר ְְּב ֵעינֵ ֥י ַה ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך וַ ּיַ ַ֥עש‬ ַ ִ‫יט ֙ב ְְּב ֵעינֵ ֣י ַה ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך ִּת ְְְמ ֖ל ְְְֹך ַּ ֣ת ַחת וַ ׁ ְְְש ִּ ֑תי וַ ּי‬ ַ ‫ֲא ׁ ֶש֤ר ִּת‬
‫ן־ש ְְְמ ִ ֛עי ב‬ ִ ׁ ‫ירה ו ׁ ְְְּש ֣מֹו ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַ֗כי ֶּב֣ן יָ ִ ֧איר ֶּב‬ ֑ ָ ‫ּשן ַה ִּב‬֣ ַ ׁ ‫      ִ ֣א ׁיש יְְ הו ִ ּ֔די ָהיָ ֖ה ְְּב ׁשו‬:‫ֵּכֽן‬ ‫ה‬

‫שר ָָהגְְְ ְְל ָ֔תה ִ ֖עם יְְ ָָכנְְְיָ ֣ה‬ ֣ ֶ ׁ ‫ם־ה ּג ָֹל ֙ה ֲא‬
ַ ‫ ֲא ׁ ֶש֤ר ָָהגְְְ ָל ֙ה ִמ ֣ירו ׁ ָּש ַ֔ליִ ם ִע‬:‫ן־ק ׁיש ִ ֥א ׁיש יְְ ִמ ִינֽי‬ ֖ ִ ‫ֶּב‬ ‫ו‬

‫ת־ה ַד ָּ֗סה ִה֤יא ֶא ְְְס ֵּת ֙ר‬ ֲ ‫ וַ יְְְ ִ֨הי א ֵֹ֜מן ֶא‬:‫שר ֶהגְְְ ָ֔לה נְְ ֽבו ַּכ ְְְדנֶ ַּצ֖ר ֶמ ֶ֥לךְְְ ָּב ֶבֽל‬ ֣ ֶ ׁ ‫ֶמ ֶֽלךְְְ ־יְְ הו ָ ּ֑דה ֲא‬ ‫ז‬

‫יה‬
֙ ָ ‫טֹוב֣ת ַמ ְְְר ֶ ֔אה ו ְְְּב ֤מֹות ָא ִ֙ב‬ ַ ְְ‫ת־ת ַֹא ֙ר ו‬ ּ֙ ַ‫ַּבת־דּ ֹ֔דֹו ִּכ֛י ֵ ֥אין ָל ּ֖ה ָ ֣אב וָ ֵא֑ם וְְ ַה ַ ּנ ֲֽע ָ ֤רה יְְפ‬
‫נְְע ֥רֹות‬ ַ ‫ וַ יְְְ ִ֗הי ְְּב ִה ׁ ּ ָש ַמ֤ע דְְּ ַב‬:‫וְְ ִא ָּ֔מ ּה ְְל ָק ָח ּ֧ה ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכ֛י ֖לֹו ְְל ַבֽת‬
ָ ‫ר־ה ֶּ֙מ ֶל ְְְ ֙ך וְְ ָד ֔תֹו ֽ ּו ְְְב ִה ָ ּק ֵ֞בץ‬ ‫ח‬

‫ל־ב֣ית ַה ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך ֶאל־יַ ֥ד ֵהגַ ֖י‬ ֵּ ‫ירה ֶאל־יַ ֣ד ֵהגָ ֑י וַ ִּת ָּל ַ ֤קח ֶא ְְְס ֵּת ֙ר ֶא‬ ֖ ָ ‫ּשן ַה ִּב‬ ֥ ַ ׁ ‫ל־שו‬
ׁ ‫ַר ּ֛בֹות ֶא‬

BACKground
2:5 |  A Jewish man: This refers to one who administrative areas, centered around five cities: flowers of the myrtle, with their many stamens,
came from the land of Judah, or Persian prov- Jerusalem; Beit HaKerem, possibly present-day resemble ancient drawings of stars. Some sug-
ince of Yehud. The province of Yehud was es- Bethlehem; Mitzpa, in the region of Benjamin; gest that the name Esther is derived from that of
tablished at the end of the fifth century BCE, Beit Zur, in present-day Gush Etzion; and Ke'ila, the Babylonian goddess Ishtar, while the name
after Cyrus the Great’s famous edict allowing the near present-day Beit Guvrin (see Nehemiah 3). Mordekhai is based on the Babylonian god
Jewish exiles in Babylonia to return to their land 2:7 |  Esther: Esther is a Persian name, from as- Marduk. In this context, it is interesting to note
and rebuild the Temple. This was the smallest of tra, which means a star in Indo-European lan- that documents from ancient Shushan, dating
all the provinces in the Persian Empire, cover- guages (see Megilla 13a), perhaps referring to back to the reign of Xerxes I, who died in 465
ing an area of only 1600 sq km. It was headed the planet Venus (see Targum, 10:13), whereas BCE and whom some identify with Ahashverosh,
by a satrap, appointed from the ranks of the her Hebrew name was Hadasa, from hadas mention a royal treasurer called Marduka.
returning exiles. The province was divided into meaning myrtle, It should be noted that the

13
 Megillat Esther | Chapter 2

and meet the king. They were eager to be selected by him, as they from her body,27 and six months with various perfumes, and
knew that the chosen woman would become the queen of the with women’s cosmetics;
empire. Esther, however, was taken against her will.25 13 and with that the young woman would come to the king, af-
9 The young woman was pleasing in his eyes. Hegai, who was ter she had completed all of the treatments. One of the rules of
in charge of the women of the royal household, and was famil- her arrival was that whatever she would say or request in order
iar with the king’s tastes, considered Esther a serious candidate to enhance her beauty would be given to her to come with
for the role of queen.26 She exhibited grace before him. In ad- her from the harem to the king’s palace. She was entitled to
dition to her beauty, he became aware of her unique personal ask for a special ornament, or escort, or even an entire retinue,
charms and her endearing personality, and therefore he took and her every wish would be granted.
special care of her needs: He hastened to provide her with a 14 She would come in the evening to the king and stay the night,
supply of cosmetics, and her portions of food to which she and return in the morning to the second harem,d to the cus-
was entitled, and the seven young women it was requisite to tody of Shaashgaz, the king’s official, guardian of the con-
provide her from the king’s palace. It was unbecoming for a cubines.28 She would not go back to the compound where the
candidate for queen of Persia to venture forth by herself, and candidates were being groomed, but rather to the harem of the
therefore she was given seven maidservants. And he elevated concubines, where all the young women went after they had
her status, as he promoted her and her young women to the been with the king.29 She would not come to the king any-
best place of the harem. more, unless the king desired her, and she was called by
10 Throughout this entire period Esther did not disclose her name. If the king remembered her, he would instruct his minis-
people or her birthplace. She had hidden her ethnic origin ter to call her again, and if not, she would remain with the other
and her place of birth, because Mordekhai commanded her concubines in the harem.
that she should not disclose it,d her identity. Even after she 15 With the arrival of the turn of Esther, daughter of Avihayil,
left his house, and when she later rose to a position of greatness, who had been the uncle of Mordekhai, who had taken her as
she remained obedient to Mordekhai. a daughter for him, to come to the king, she did not request
11 On each and every day, Mordekhai would walk before the anything except that which Hegai, the king’s official, guard-
courtyard of the harem, to know Esther’s well-being, and ian of the women, said. The other young women made an ef-
what would be done with her. As her guardian, Mordekhai had fort to impress the king, whereas Esther refrained from taking
a personal affection for Esther and was concerned for her welfare. such measures on her own initiative and merely accepted the
Therefore he frequently made inquiries as to her well-being. recommendations of the expert, Hegai. And Esther found fa-
12 The young women’s preparation for their encounter with the vor in the eyes of everyone who saw her.
king followed a clearly defined 16 Esther was taken to King Ahashverosh to his royal palace
process: When each and ev- in the tenth month, which is the month of Tevet, in the sev-
ery maiden’s turn arrived to enth year of his reign. This was four years after Ahashverosh
come to King Ahashverosh, at had dismissed Vashti. During this period the young women had
the end of her having twelve been gathered and had undergone meticulous preparation be-
months according to the cus- fore presentation to the king.
tom of the women, when she 17 The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she
had been readied for the king by found favor and grace in his eyes more than all the virgins.
completing the standard beauty He placed the royal crown on her head, and he crowned
regimen as instructed, a process her queen in place of Vashti. It is surprising that in Persia and
lasting twelve months, for so Media a woman who was not of royal blood would be selected
were prescribed the days for as queen. As stated above,30 it seems likely that although Esther
their treatment: Six months concealed her origins, she was believed to come from a noble
she was anointed with myrrh family.
oil, which was designed, among 18 The king made a great banquet for all his princes and his
other purposes, to remove hair servants, the banquet of Esther. He did not suffice with a
Ivory perfume bottle, private celebration to mark the appointment of the new queen,
Persepolis but rather he issued an announcement to all the nations. Since

14
‫מגילת אסתר | פרק ב‬

‫יה‬ ָ ‫ת־ת ְְְמרו ֶ ּ֤ק‬ ַּ ‫יטב ַה ַ ּנ ֲֽע ָ ֣רה ְְב ֵעינָיו֮ וַ ִּת ּ ָשׂ ֣ א ֶח ֶ֣סד ְְלפָ נָיו֒ ֠ ַו ַיְְְב ֵ֠הל ֶא‬ ַ֨ ‫ וַ ִּת‬:‫ָשים‬ֽ ִ ׁ ‫ׁש ֵ ֹ֥מר ַה ּנ‬ ‫ט‬

‫ת־ל ּ֖ה ִמ ֵּב֣ית ַה ֶּמ ֶ֑ל ְְְך‬ ָ ‫נֹות ָ ֙ה ָל ֶ֣תת ָ֔ל ּה וְְ ֵאת֙ ׁ ֶש ַ֣בע ַה ּנ ְְָע ֔רֹות ָה ְְֽר ֻאי֥ ֹות ָל ֶֽת‬ ֶ֙ ‫ת־מ‬ ֽ ָ ‫וְְ ֶא‬
‫ת־ע ָּמ ּ֖ה וְְ ֶאת־‬ ַ ‫ֹא־ה ִ ּג ָ֣ידה ֶא ְְְס ֵּ֔תר ֶא‬ ִ ‫ ֽל‬:‫ָשים‬ ֽ ִ ׁ ‫יה ְְל ֖טֹוב ֵּב֥ית ַה ּנ‬ ָ ‫רֹות‬ ֛ ֶ ‫וַ יְְְ ׁ ַש ֶ ּנ ָ֧ה וְְ ֶאת־נַ ֲֽע‬ ‫י‬

‫ ו ְְְּב ָָכל־יֹ֣ום וָ יֹ֔ום ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכי֙ ִמ ְְְת ַה ֵּ֔ל ְְְך‬:‫ֹא־ת ִ ּגֽיד‬ ַ ‫שר ֽל‬ ֥ ֶ ׁ ‫֖יה ֲא‬ ָ ‫ֽמ ַֹול ְְְד ָּ ֑ת ּה ִּכ֧י ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכ֛י צִ ָ ּו֥ה ָע ֶל‬ ‫יא‬

‫ת ֩ר‬ ֹ ּ ‫ ו ְְְּב ַה ִ֡ ּג ַיע‬:‫שה ָּב ּֽה‬ ֖ ׂ ֶ ‫ת־ש ֣לֹום ֶא ְְְס ֵּ֔תר ו ַּמה־ּיֵ ָֽע‬ ְְ ׁ ‫ָשים ָל ַ ֙ד ַעת֙ ֶא‬ ֑ ִ ׁ ‫ֽית־ה ּנ‬
ַ ‫ִלפְְְ נֵ ֖י ֲחצַ ֣ר ֵּב‬ ‫יב‬

‫ל־ה ֶּמ ֶ֣ל ְְְך ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֗ר ֹׁוש ִמ ֵ ּק ֩ץ ֱהי֨ ֹות ָ֜ל ּה ְְּכ ָד֤ת ַה ּנ ׁ ִָשי ֙ם ׁ ְְשנֵ ֣ים‬ ַ ‫נַ ֲֽע ָ ֨רה וְְ נַ ֲֽע ָ ֜רה ָל ֣בֹוא ׀ ֶא‬
‫יה֑ן ׁ ִש ׁ ּ ָש֤ה ֳֳח ָד ׁ ִשי ֙ם ְְּב ׁ ֶש ֶ֣מן ַה ּ֔מֹר וְְ ׁ ִש ׁ ּ ָש֤ה ֳֳח ָד ׁ ִשי ֙ם‬ ֶ ‫שר ֔ח ֶֹד ׁש ִּכ֛י ֵּכ֥ן יִ ְְְמ ְְל ֖א ּו יְְ ֵ ֣מי ְְמ ֽרו ֵּק‬ ֣ ׂ ָ ‫ָע‬
‫ֹאמר‬ ַ֜ ‫ל־א ׁ ֨ ֶשר ּת‬ ֲ ‫ל־ה ֶּמ ֶ֑לךְְְ ֵאת֩ ָָּכ‬ ַ ‫ ו ָּב ֶ֕זה ַה ַ ּֽנ ֲֽע ָ ֖רה ָּב ָ ֣אה ֶא‬:‫ָשים‬ ֽ ִ ׁ ‫ַּב ְְּב ָ ׂש ִ֔מים ו ְְְּב ַת ְְְמרו ֵ ּ֖קי ַה ּנ‬ ‫יג‬

‫ ָּב ֶ ֣ע ֶרב ׀ ִ ֣היא ָב ָ ֗אה ּ֠ו ַב ּ֠ב ֶֹקר‬:‫ד־ב֥ית ַה ֶּמ ֶֽל ְְְך‬ ֵּ ‫ָשים ַע‬ ֖ ִ ׁ ‫יִ ָּנ ֤ ֵ ֽתן ָל ּ ֙ה ָל ֣בֹוא ִע ָּ֔מ ּה ִמ ֵּב֥ית ַה ּנ‬ ‫יד‬

‫ֽילגְְְ ׁ ִ ֑שים‬ ַ ‫ש ַע ׁ ְְְשגַ ֛ז ְְס ִ ֥ריס ַה ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך ׁש ֵ ֹ֣מר ַה ּ ִפ‬ ֽ ַ ׁ ‫ל־ב֤ית ַה ּנ ׁ ִָשי ֙ם ׁ ֵש ֔ ִני ֶאל־יַ ֧ד‬ ֵּ ‫ִ ֣היא ׁ ָש ָ֞בה ֶא‬
‫ ו ְְְּב ַה ִ ּג ַ֣יע ּֽתֹר־‬:‫שם‬ ֽ ֵ ׁ ‫נִק ְְר ָ ֥אה ְְב‬ ְְְ ְְ‫ם־חפֵ ֥ץ ָּב ּ֛ה ַה ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך ו‬ ָ ‫ל־ה ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך ִּכ֣י ִא‬ ַ ‫ֹא־ת ֥בֹוא עֹו ֙ד ֶא‬ ָ ‫ֽל‬ ‫טו‬

‫ל־ה ֶּ֗מ ֶלךְְְ ֤ל ֹא ִב ְְְק ׁ ָש ֙ה‬ ַ ‫ח־לֹו ְְל ַ֜בת ָל ֣בֹוא ֶא‬ ֨ ‫יחיִל ׀ דּ֣ ֹד ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַ֡כי ֲא ׁ ֶש ֩ר ָל ַֽק‬ ֣ ַ ‫ת־א ִב‬
ֲ ‫ֶא ְְְס ֵּ ֣תר ַּב‬
‫ָשים וַ ְְּת ִה֤י ֶא ְְְס ֵּת ֙ר נ ֵ ׂ ֹ֣שאת‬ ֑ ִ ׁ ‫יס־ה ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך ׁש ֵ ֹ֣מר ַה ּנ‬ ַ ‫ֹאמר ֵהגַ ֥י ְְס ִ ֽר‬ ֛ ַ ‫שר י‬ ֥ ֶ ׁ ‫ת־א‬
ֲ ‫דָּ ָ֔בר ִ֠ ּכי ִ ֣אם ֶא‬
‫ל־ב֣ית ַמ ְְְלכו ּ֔תֹו‬ ֵּ ‫רֹוש ֶא‬ ֙ ׁ ֵ‫ל־ה ֶּמ ֶ֤ל ְְְך ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשו‬ ַ ‫ וַ ִּת ָּל ַ ֨קח ֶא ְְְס ֵּ֜תר ֶא‬:‫יה‬ ָ ‫ֵ֔חן ְְּב ֵעינֵ ֖י ָָּכל־ר ֶ ֹֽא‬ ‫טז‬

‫ וַ ּיֶֽ ֱא ַ֨הב ַה ֶּמ ֶ֤ל ְְְך ֶאת־‬:‫ת־ש ַ֖בע ְְל ַמ ְְְלכו ּֽתֹו‬ ֶ ׁ ַ‫ּא־ח ֶֹד ׁש ֵט ֵב֑ת ִּב ׁ ְְְשנ‬ ֣ ‫ַּב ֥ח ֶֹד ׁש ָה ֲֽע ִ ׂש ִ ֖ירי הו‬ ‫יז‬

֙‫ר־מ ְְְלכוּת‬ ַ ‫ל־ה ְְּבתו ּ֑לֹות וַ ּיָ ֶ ׂ֤שם ֶּכ ֶֽת‬ ַ ‫א־חן וָ ֶח ֶ֛סד ְְלפָ נָ ֖יו ִמ ָָּכ‬ ֥ ֵ ׂ‫ל־ה ּנ ׁ ֔ ִָשים וַ ִּת ּ ָש‬ ַ ‫ֶא ְְְס ֵּת ֙ר ִמ ָָּכ‬
‫ל־ש ָרי ֙ו וַ ֲֽע ָב ָ ֔דיו‬ ׂ ָ ‫ וַ ַּ֨י ַעשׂ ַה ֶּ֜מ ֶל ְְְך ִמ ׁ ְְְש ֶּ ֣תה גָ ֗דֹול ְְל ָָכ‬:‫ֹאש ּה וַ ּיַ ְְְמ ִל ֶיכ ָ֖ה ַּ ֥ת ַחת וַ ׁ ְְְש ִּ ֽתי‬ ָ ֔ ׁ ‫ְְּבר‬ ‫יח‬

Discussion
2:10 |  Because Mordekhai commanded her identity secret for an opportune moment, al- be disrespectful to the monarch if she were to
that she should not disclose it: The text does though of course he did not know how neces- be given to another man (Ibn Ezra). An exam-
not explain Mordekhai’s motives, but presum- sary it would be to do so. He realized that it was ple of this in the Bible concerns Avishag the
ably he thought that Esther could potentially in his interests to have a sleeper agent in the Shunamite, King David’s companion, whom his
be a secret agent. It can be safely assumed that palace, who would be ready to act at a time of son Adoniyahu requested from King Solomon as
Mordekhai initially preferred her to marry an need. a wife for himself after David’s death. It can be
upstanding Jewish man, but when she was forc- 2:14 |  To the second harem: After a woman has inferred from Solomon’s incensed reaction that
ibly taken to the house of the king, he quickly spent the night with the king, she is considered a woman who has shared the king’s bed was
adapted to the new situation (see Rashi; Rav his property, and she is therefore transferred to forbidden to any other man, including a mem-
Yosef Kara). As one who held a position in the a special residence for his concubines. It would ber of the royal family (I Kings 1:1–4, 2:13–25; see
royal court, Mordekhai wanted to keep Esther’s commentary on II Samuel 20:3).

15
 Megillat Esther | Chapter 2

everyone had heard about the removal of Vashti, the king de- people as Mordekhai had commanded her; Esther would
cided to declare publicly that her replacement had been found. perform the directive of Mordekhai, as it was when she was
He awarded an abatement for the provinces; he lowered the reared by him, in her childhood.
taxes so that his subjects would be satisfied and participate in
his joy. And furthermore, he gave gifts in accordance with the
king’s bounty, in order to improve the general welfare of his
subjects and encourage their devotion.
19 With the gathering of the virgins a second time; it seems
that some of the candidates who had been garnered had not
yet had been presented to the king, and therefore the process
continued in some form even after Esther had been chosen;31
Mordekhai was sitting at the king’s gate,bd that is, he held a
respectable position in the royal court, from which he was able
to follow the events at the palace.32
20 It had been some time since she had entered the house of the
king, and still Esther did not disclose her birthplace or her Gates of the palace of the kings of Persia, Persepolis, fifth century BCE

At this stage, an apparently random incident of marginal importance is presented. However, it

Discovery of an Assassination later becomes clear how this event is a pivotal link in the chain of events.
Plot against the King
Esther 2:21–23

21 In those days, as Mordekhai was sitting at the king’s gate, message on to Ahashverosh, since Mordekhai himself did not
two of the king’s officials, Bigtan and Teresh, among the have direct contact with the king, as he was a mere official or
doorkeepers, became angry, and sought to do violence representative of the Jews in the royal court. And Esther re-
to King Ahashverosh, to assassinate him. The royal court in ported the rebellion to the king in the name of Mordekhai,
Persia was rife with intrigue, plots, and conspiracies at that with whom the king was unfamiliar.
time. Various individuals laid claim to the throne. It is hard to 23 The matter was investigated, and it was revealed that Bigtan
know which of the Persian kings ruled legally, by virtue of their and Teresh were indeed involved in the plot, and the two of
lineage, and which ascended to power by means of the military them were hanged on a gibbet.b It seems that hanging was the
forces with which they surrounded themselves. preferred method of execution by the Persian monarchy, as it
22 The matter, the plot that was being hatched, became known served to display publicly the offenders’ dishonorable end. It,
to Mordekhai. One suggestion is that Mordekhai discovered the two men’s attempt to assassinate King Ahashverosh on that
the plot because the men conversed in a language they thought date, as well as how he was saved, was recorded in the book of
no one knew, but which Mordekhai could understand.33 And the chronicles before the king.
he, Mordekhai, told Queen Esther about it, for her to pass the

Discussion
2:19 |  Mordekhai was sitting at the king’s Israel from Babylonia (see Ezra 2:2; Megilla 16b). serve in a kind of diplomatic role, representing
gate: The name Mordekhai appears in the list It is possible that after he arrived in the Land of the interests of the province of Judah in the
of those who initially immigrated to the Land of Israel, Mordekhai was sent back to Shushan to king’s court.

16
‫מגילת אסתר | פרק ב‬

‫ ו ְְְּב ִה ָ ּק ֵב֥ץ‬:‫ֵ ֖את ִמ ׁ ְְְש ֵּ ֣תה ֶא ְְְס ֵּ ֑תר וַ ֲֽהנָ ָח֤ה ַל ְְּמ ִדינֹות֙ ָע ֔ ָ ׂשה וַ ּיִ ֵּ ֥תן ַמ ְְְ ׂש ֵ ֖את ְְּכיַ ֥ד ַה ֶּ ֽמ ֶל ְְְך‬ ‫יט‬

‫ ֵ ֣אין ֶא ְְְס ֵּ֗תר ַמ ֶ ּ ֤ג ֶדת ֽמ ַֹול ְְְד ָּת ּ ֙ה וְְ ֶאת־‬:‫ר־ה ֶּמ ֶֽל ְְְך‬ ַ ‫ש ַע‬ ֽ ַ ׁ ‫ְְּבתו ּ֖לֹות ׁ ֵשנִ ֑ית ו ָָּמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכ֖י י ׁ ֵֹש֥ב ְְּב‬ ‫כ‬

‫שר ָהֽיְְ ָ ֥תה‬ ֛ ֶ ׁ ‫ת־מ ֲא ַמ֤ר ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכי֙ ֶא ְְְס ֵּ ֣תר ע ֔ ָ ֹׂשה ַּכ ֲֽא‬ ֽ ַ ‫֖יה ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ָכ֑י וְְ ֶא‬ ָ ‫שר צִ ָ ּו֥ה ָע ֶל‬ ֛ ֶ ׁ ‫ַע ָּ֔מ ּה ַּכ ֲֽא‬
‫ר־־־ה ֶּמ ֶ֑ל ְְְך ָקצַ ֩ף‬ ַ ‫ש ַע‬ ֽ ַ ׁ ‫יֹוש֣ב ְְּב‬
ֵ ׁ ‫      בּיָ ִ ֣מים ָה ֵ֔הם ו ָָּמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכ֖י‬ ַּ :‫ְְב ָָא ְְְמנָ ֖ה ִא ּֽתֹו‬ ‫כא‬

:‫יס֤י ַה ֶּ֙מ ֶל ְְְ ֙ך ִמ ׁ ּ ֽש ְְֹמ ֵ ֣רי ַה ַּ֔סף וַ ַיְְְב ְְְק ׁש ּ֙ו ִל ׁ ְְְש ֣ל ַֹח ָי֔ד ַּב ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֽר ֹׁש‬
ֵ ‫נֵי־־־ס ִֽר‬
ָ ‫ִּבגְְְ ָ֨תן וָ ֶ֜ת ֶר ׁש ׁ ְְש‬
:‫שם ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ָכֽי‬ ֥ ֵ ׁ ‫ֹאמר ֶא ְְְס ֵּ ֛תר ַל ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך ְְּב‬ֶ ‫וַ ּיִ ָ ּו ַ ֤דע ַהדָּ ָב ֙ר ְְל ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַ֔כי וַ ּיַ ֵ ּג֖ד ְְל ֶא ְְְס ֵּ ֣תר ַה ַּמ ְְְל ָּכ֑ה וַ ּ֧ת‬ ‫כב‬

‫ל־ע֑ץ וַ ּיִ ָּכ ֵ֗תב ְְּב ֵס֛פֶ ר דִּ ְְְב ֵ ֥רי ַהּיָ ִ ֖מים ִלפְְְ נֵ ֥י‬ ֵ ‫נֵיה֖ם ַע‬ ֶ ‫וַ ֻיְְְב ַ ּ ֤ק ׁש ַהדָּ ָב ֙ר וַ ּיִ ָּמ ֔ ֵצא וַ ּיִ ָּת ֥ל ּו ׁ ְְש‬ ‫כג‬

BACKground
2:19 |  The king’s gate: A special structure for 2:23 |  And the two of them were hanged on Esther is actually impalement, in which a sharp
the king’s gate appears in the floor plans of the a gibbet: Researchers maintain that the prac- wood pole is inserted into the chest or between
palace in Shushan, which have been preserved tice of public hanging as a method of execution the legs of the condemned until it emerges on
(see image alongside 1:5). Those who sought originated in ancient Persia. This manner of the other side of the body. The Persians inher-
the king or his counselors were permitted to killing is a simple procedure that does not re- ited this method of execution from the Assyrians
approach no further than the gatehouse, where quire an expert hangman and does not involve and Babylonians.
they would wait to be received or to hear an an- the actual shedding of blood. However, some
swer to their request. claim that the hanging referred to in the book of

17
 Megillat Esther | Chapter 3

In this section Mordekhai refuses to accept the authority of Haman, the most distinguished minister in
Haman and the Plot to Persia. Haman, affronted at this personal slight, convinces the king to permit the systematic annihilation
Destroy the Jews of all of Mordekhai’s nation, the Jews, in his empire.
Esther 3:1–15
3 1 After these matters, the appointment of Esther and the foiled Haman sought to destroy all the Jewsd in the entire king-
plot of Bigtan and Teresh, King Ahashverosh promoted from dom of Ahashverosh, the people of Mordekhai. Despite
among his ministers Haman son of Hamedata the Agagite,bd Haman’s many duties, as he was a senior minister of a massive
and he elevated him, raised his status, and he placed his seat empire, he developed an obsession with the Jews, because they
above all the princes who were with him. Advancing one par- were Mordekhai’s nation, and he sought a way to eliminate
ticular minister to the status of a close confidant of the king was them all.
not unheard of, as attested in other documents of the period.34 7 Haman was determined to destroy all the Jews, and he plotted
2 All the king’s servants, his ministers and attendants, who how to bring this idea to fruition. In the first month, which
were at the king’s gate, were bowing and prostrating them- is the month of Nisan, during the twelfth year of King
selves to Haman, for so had the king commanded concern- Ahashverosh, he had cast a pur, a Persian word,38 which
ing him; but Mordekhai would not bow and would not is the lot [goral] in Hebrew. This was a means of divination
prostrate himself,d for an undetermined reason.35 or amusement, through which one would determine the best
3 The king’s servants, who were at the king’s gate, said to course of action to take
Mordekhai: Why are you violating the king’s command- and the ideal time to take
ment that all must bow before Haman? it.39 The lot was cast before
4 It was, when they spoke to him day after day, and he did Haman. Kings in ancient
not listen to them, that they told this to Haman. Perhaps times often sought signs of
Haman had not noticed Mordekhai’s refusal up to that point, future events, for good or
as a large crowd would pass before him, all bowing,36 but those evil.40 Haman wanted to
present, seeking to stir up trouble, informed Haman in order to find the right date, and to
see whether Mordekhai’s words would prevail, whether he that end he made calcula-
would remain firm in his decision not to bow to Haman, for he tions and cast lots for each
had told them that he was a Jew and therefore he would not day and for each month, to The lot of Yahalu, who was was
prostrate himself to Haman.37 the twelfth month, which the administrator of the royal
5 Haman too saw that Mordekhai was not bowing and not is the month of Adar. He household of Shalmaneser III,
prostrating himself to him, and Haman was filled with fury came to the conclusion that Assyria, ninth century BCE
over what he considered a public insult. the best time to bring about
6 Haman could have punished Mordekhai for his behavior, or the downfall of the Jews was
tried to do away with him, but he disdained to do violence the month of Adar, presumably in the upcoming year.
to Mordekhai alone; merely harming Mordekhai himself was 8 Since Haman had no independent authority, he needed to in-
not enough for him, for he had been told of Mordekhai’s peo- cite Ahashverosh to approve his initiative. Haman said to King
ple. This indicates that in those times there was no external sign Ahashverosh: There is one peopled that is scattered and
that made it easy to differentiate between Jews and non-Jews. dispersedb among the peoples in all the provinces of your

BACKground
3:1 |  Haman son of Hamedata the Agagite: It part of Haman’s father’s name, means giving mention in Persian manuscripts of a Persian of-
is possible that the name Haman is derived from or serving in Persian. Persian mythology also ficer called Humadat, while the name Aggaga
the name of the chief Elamite God, Humman. describes a sacred bird called homa or huma, exists in the Elamite language. Haman’s family
Both Haman’s name and that of his father start whose supposed characteristics were similar to may have taken on Elamite names in order to
with the same letters, and these initial sounds those of the phoenix, specifically long life and hide their foreign roots.
could be related to haoma, the Persian name for resistance to fire. A child might be called by
consecrated food and drink. Datha, the second this name as a form of a blessing. There is also

18
 ‫מגילת אסתר | פרק ג‬

‫ת־ה ָמ֧ן‬ָ ‫     א ַ ֣חר ׀ ַהדְְּ ָב ִ ֣רים ָה ֵ ֗א ֶּלה ִ ּגדַּ ל ֩ ַה ֶּ֨מ ֶל ְְְך ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֜ר ֹׁוש ֶא‬ ַ :‫ַה ֶּמ ֶֽל ְְְך‬ ‫א‬ ‫ג‬
:‫שר ִא ּֽתֹו‬ ֥ ֶ ׁ ‫ל־ה ּ ָשׂ ִ ֖רים ֲא‬ַ ‫ת־כ ְְְס ֔אֹו ֵמ ַ֕על ָָּכ‬ ִּ ‫נַשׂ ֵא֑ה ּו וַ ָּ֙י ֶ ׂש ֙ם ֶא‬ ְְ ּ ְְְ‫ֽן־ה ְְּמ ָ ֛ד ָתא ָה ֲֽאגָ גִ ֖י וַ ֽי‬
ַ ‫ֶּב‬
‫י־כ֖ן צִ ָ ּוה־‬ ֵ ‫ש ַער ַה ֶּ֗מ ֶל ְְְך ּֽכ ְְֹר ִע֤ים ו ִ ּֽמ ׁ ְְְש ַּ ֽת ֲחוִ י ֙ם ְְל ָה ָ֔מן ִּכ‬ ֣ ַ ׁ ‫ר־ב‬
ְְּ ‫ל־ע ְְְב ֵ ֨די ַה ֶּ֜מ ֶל ְְְך ֲא ׁ ֶש‬ ַ ‫וְְ ָָכ‬ ‫ב‬

‫ש ַער‬ ֥ ַ ׁ ‫ר־ב‬
ְְּ ‫ֹאמ ֜ר ּו ַע ְְְב ֵ ֥די ַה ֶּמ ֶ֛ל ְְְך ֲא ׁ ֶש‬ ְְ ֨‫ וַ ּי‬:‫֣לֹו ַה ֶּמ ֶ֑ל ְְְך ו ָָּ֨מ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַ֔כי ֥ל ֹא יִ ְְְכ ַ ֖רע וְְ ֥ל ֹא ִי ׁ ְְְֽש ַּ ֽת ֲחוֶ ֽה‬ ‫ג‬

‫ְְּכ ָָא ְְְמ ָ ֤רם‬ ‫באמרם ֵא ָלי ֙ו יֹ֣ום וָ י֔ ֹום‬ ֤ ‫ וַ יְְְ ִ֗הי‬: ְְְ‫עֹובר ֵ ֖את ִמצְְְ וַ ֥ת ַה ֶּמ ֶֽלך‬ ֵ֔ ‫ַה ֶּמ ֶ֖לךְְְ ְְל ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ָכ֑י ַמ ֙ ּדו ַ ּ֙ע ַא ָּ ֣תה‬ ‫ד‬

‫ֽי־ה ִ ּג֥יד ָל ֶה֖ם‬ ִ ‫יה֑ם וַ ִ ּּיַג֣יד ּו ְְל ָה ָ֗מן ִל ְְְראֹות֙ ֲהיַ ַֽע ְְְמד ּ֙ו דִּ ְְְב ֵ ֣רי ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַ֔כי ִּכ‬ ֶ ‫וְְ ֥ל ֹא ׁ ָש ַ ֖מע ֲא ֵל‬
:‫י־אין ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַ֔כי ּכ ֵ ֹ֥ר ַע ו ִ ּֽמ ׁ ְְְש ַּ ֽת ֲחוֶ ֖ה ֑לֹו וַ ּיִ ָּמ ֵל֥א ָה ָמ֖ן ֵח ָמֽה‬ ֣ ֵ ‫ וַ ּיַ ֣ ְְְרא ָה ָ֔מן ִּכ‬:‫ר־הוּא יְְ הו ִ ּֽדי‬ ֥ ‫ֲא ׁ ֶש‬ ‫ה‬

‫ת־ע֣ם ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ָכ֑י וַ ַיְְְב ֵּ ֣ק ׁש ָה ָ֗מן‬ ַ ‫ֽי־ה ִ ּג֥יד ּו ֖לֹו ֶא‬ ִ ‫וַ ִּי ֶ֣בז ְְּב ֵע ֗ ָיניו ִל ׁ ְְְש ֤ל ַֹח יָ ֙ד ְְּב ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכ֣י ְְל ַב ֔ ּדֹו ִּכ‬ ‫ו‬

‫ ַּב ֤ח ֶֹד ׁש‬:‫ל־מ ְְְל ֥כוּת ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֖ר ֹׁוש ַע֥ם ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ָכֽי‬ ַ ‫שר ְְּב ָָכ‬ ֛ ֶ ׁ ‫ל־הּיְְ הו ִ ּ֛דים ֲא‬ ַ ‫ת־כ‬ ָָּ ‫ְְל ַה ׁ ְְְש ִ ֧מיד ֶא‬ ‫ז‬

‫נִיסן ִּב ׁ ְְְשנַ ת֙ ׁ ְְש ֵּ ֣תים ֶע ְְְ ׂש ֵ ֔רה ַל ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֑ר ֹׁוש ִה ּ ִפ֣יל ּפ ּו ֩ר‬ ָ֔ ‫ּא־ח ֶֹד ׁש‬ ֣ ‫אשֹו ֙ן הו‬ ׁ ‫ָה ִֽר‬
‫ּא־ח ֶֹד ׁש‬ ֥ ‫שר ה ו‬ ֖ ׂ ָ ‫ֽים־ע‬
ָ ֵ‫֨הוּא ַהגּ ָ ֹ֜ורל ִלפְְְ נֵ ֣י ָה ָ֗מן ִמּי֧ ֹום ׀ ְְלי֛ ֹום ו ֵּמ ֛ח ֶֹד ׁש ְְל ֥ח ֶֹד ׁש ׁ ְְשנ‬
‫ם־א ָ֗חד ְְמפֻ ּזָ ֤ר ו ְְְּמפ ָֹר ֙ד ג‬ ֶ ‫ֹאמר ָה ָמ ֙ן ַל ֶּמ ֶ֣ל ְְְך ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֔ר ֹׁוש יֶ ׁ ְְְשנ֣ ֹו ַע‬ ֶ ֤‫      וַ ּי‬:‫ֲא ָ ֽדר‬ ‫ח‬

Discussion
3:1 |  The Agagite: This probably means that he bowing down to Haman an act of humiliation it awakened a primal enmity that he and his
was a descendant of Agag, the Amalekite king for all Jews (see also Yalkut Shimoni 954). It is also people had nurtured against Israel from time
(see the Aramaic targumim; Masekhet Soferim possible that his refusal to lower himself before immemorial.
13; Aggadat Esther 3). The Agag mentioned in Haman was due to the personal enmity between 3:8 |  There is one people: The fact that Haman
the Bible lived during the period of Saul (see the men. According to tradition, they had a prior had to inform Ahashverosh about the Jews
I Samuel 15:8–9). It is possible, however, that acquaintance, and Mordekhai despised Haman indicates that the king knew very little about
Agag was the standard royal name for all kings personally (see Megillat Setarim; Megilla 15a-16a). them. Although the Jews were his subjects,
of the Amalekites (see Rashbam, and Ramban, Some say that he refused to bow down because and they even had a small state of their own in
Numbers 24:7; see also Jerusalem Talmud, Haman presented himself as a god, or because the area surrounding Jerusalem, it is doubtful
Yevamot 2:6). Haman might have changed his he hung an idol from his clothing (see Ibn Ezra; whether Ahashverosh had ever thought about
original Amalekite name to one that sounded Ralbag; Megilla 10b, 19a; Sanhedrin 61b). this tiny nation. The 127 provinces over which
more Persian. 3:6 |  Haman sought to destroy all the Jews: he reigned, some of which were perhaps large
3:2 |  But Mordekhai would not bow and This phenomenon of a personal hatred that and strong, contained many peoples and tribes.
would not prostrate himself: It would seem swells until it is directed at an entire people is Even if Ahashverosh had been a conscientious
that Mordekhai’s refusal to bow before Haman unusual and puzzling. The background of this and organized ruler, he would not have been
was not motivated by religious concerns. After enmity is related to Haman’s Amalekite roots. intimately familiar with the Jewish people.
all, it is related about other righteous figures that Although not a large nation, Amalek hated the However, it is known that he accepted letters of
they bowed down and prostrated themselves be- nation of Israel from the beginning of its history accusation in which the Samaritans libeled the
fore ministers and kings, and this was not consid- as a people (see Exodus 17:8–16). Consequently, Jews (see Ezra 4:6), and therefore it is likely that
ered a sin (see Genesis 42:6; Exodus 18:7; I Samuel Haman’s confrontation with Mordekhai was Haman’s comments evoked his existing nega-
24:8; I Kings 1:23). Perhaps Mordekhai, who was not the only reason for his extreme reaction; tive associations, making him receptive to the
from Judean nobility, considered the idea of idea of their destruction.

19
 Megillat Esther | Chapter 3

kingdom, as they do not even fill an entire country;41 and their 11 The king said to Haman: The silver that you offered to donate
laws, their practices, their ways of life, are different from ev- is given to you; it shall remain in your possession, as the king-
ery people’s. A significant proportion of the commandments dom will accept the loss; and the people are also given to you,
of the Torah serve to keep Jews apart from gentiles and prevent to do with them as it is pleasing in your eyes, in accordance
them from engaging in idolatry. And while the Jews observe with your wishes.
their own laws, they do not follow the king’s laws; and there- 12 Haman acted with great haste. He began taking practical steps
fore it is not worthwhile for the king to tolerate them. They at the beginning of Nisan, and by the thirteenth of the month
are a small nation of no importance, and an annoyance that dis- everything was ready for the
rupts the harmony of your kingdom. Therefore, it is not in your next stage of his plan: The
interest to tolerate them. king’s scribes were sum-
9 If it pleases the king to accept my proposal, let it be written moned in the first month,
as an official order to eliminate themd and I will weigh ten on the thirteenth day of it,
thousand talents of silverbd into the hands of the king’s and it was written in accor-
craftsmen. I volunteer to give ten thousand silver talents of dance with everything that
my own to those who can turn the silver into coins or silver Haman commanded to the
bullion, to bring to the king’s treasuries.b The donation to king’s satraps,b who pre-
the king’s treasuries would compensate Ahashverosh for any sided over the larger regions,
possible financial costs incurred by the course of action sug- and to the governorsb who
gested by Haman, as the king were over each and every
might fear the loss of so many province, the smaller areas,
taxpayers. and to the princes of each
Illustration of Assyrian scribes,
10 Apathetic as he was to the and every people, to each based on stone relief, Nimrod, Iraq,
fate of the Jews, Ahashverosh and every province in its eighth century BCE
was apparently enthused by script, and to each and ev-
the generous gift of his chief ery people in its language.b
minister. Therefore, the king In the name of King Ahashverosh it, the missive with the de-
removed his ring with the cree, was written, and it was sealed with the king’s ring.
royal seal from his hand,d 13 The scrolls were sent in the hand of the couriers to all the
and he gave it to Haman son Ring seal, Shushan, third century king’s provinces, in which it was written that the king per-
of Hamedata the Agagite, BCE mits his subjects to destroy, to kill, and to eliminate all the
the adversary of the Jews. Jews, from lad to elder, children and women, in one day,
This was not merely a verbal on the thirteenth of the twelfth month, which is the month
agreement, as Ahashverosh granted Haman practical permis- of Adar. The instructions were sent almost a year in advance,
sion and authority to sign in the king’s name.42 perhaps in order to establish the facts on the ground as soon

Discussion
3:9 |  Let it be written to eliminate them: national memory. The attack recorded here is scaremongering and informing on them to the
Haman’s proposal and his conduct toward of a different kind entirely. Haman’s speech is authorities, as well general abuse and threats of
Mordekhai is the first documented case of ac- an ancient model for anti-Semitic propaganda, destruction (see Nehemiah 2–6).
tual anti-Semitism. In previous generations which has been used, with minor variations, by Ten thousand talents of silver: If this is refer-
various nations had fought against the king- many anti-Semites in subsequent generations. ring to sacred talents mentioned in the book
dom of Israel, but those were not anti-Semitic Parenthetically, it may be noted that one can of Exodus, then a silver talent weighed roughly
wars. The Israelites suffered in Egypt because also see signs of anti-Semitism in the strug- 30 kg. According to this calculation, Haman
they were strangers, and perhaps because the gle against the immigrants from Babylonia on proposed to give the king some 300 metric
ruling authorities felt threatened by their pres- the part of Sanbalat the Horonite, the leader tons of silver. It is unusual for such a large sum
ence. Likewise, different nations clashed with of the Samaritans, which occurred at roughly to be in the possession of a private individual.
the Israelites during the period of the judges the same time as the events described in this Haman was clearly an immensely wealthy man
and the First Temple, and yet these battles were book. He and his men sought to sabotage the who also boasted a stable position in the gov-
due to conflicts of interest. Consequently, most rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple through ernment, as the chief minister of an empire (see
of those wars were not etched in the collective mockery, the weakening of the Jews’ resolve, 5:11; Bemidbar Rabba 22:6).

20
‫מגילת אסתר | פרק ג‬

‫ל־עם וְְ ֶאת־דָּ ֵת֤י ַה ֶּ֙מ ֶל ְְְ ֙ך‬ ָ֗ ‫יהם ׁשֹנ֣ ֹות ִמ ָָּכ‬ ֶ֞ ‫ּתךָ וְְ ָ ֽד ֵת‬ ֑ ֶ ‫ֵּב֣ין ָה ַֽע ִּ֔מים ְְּב ֖כֹל ְְמ ִדינ֣ ֹות ַמ ְְְלכו‬
‫ל־ה ֶּ ֣מ ֶל ְְְך ֔טֹוב יִ ָּכ ֵ ֖תב ְְל ַא ְְּב ָ ֑דם‬ ַ ‫ם־ע‬ ַ ‫ ִא‬:‫ִיחם‬ ֽ ָ ‫ין־שֹוֶ ֖ה ְְל ַה ּנ‬ ׁ ‫ֵאינָ ֣ם ע ֔ ִ ֹׂשים וְְ ַל ֶּ ֥מ ֶל ְְְך ֵ ֽא‬ ‫ט‬

‫ל־גנְְְ זֵ ֥י‬
ּ ִ ‫אכה ְְל ָה ִ ֖ביא ֶא‬ ָ֔ ‫ֹשי ַה ְְּמ ָל‬ ֣ ׂ ֵ ‫ר־כ ֶסף ֶא ׁ ְְְשקֹול֙ ַעל־יְְ ֵדי֙ ע‬ ֶּ֗ ‫וַ ֲֽע ֨ ֶ ׂש ֶרת ֲא ָל ֜ ִפים ִּכ ַּכ‬
‫ֽן־ה ְְּמ ָ ֛ד ָתא ָה ֲֽאגָ גִ ֖י צ ֵ ֹ֥רר‬ ַ ‫ת־ט ַּב ְְְע ּ֖תֹו ֵמ ַע֣ל ֑יָדֹו וַ ּֽיִ ְְּת ֗ ָנ ּה ְְל ָה ָמ֧ן ֶּב‬ ַ ‫ וַ ּיָ ַ֧סר ַה ֶּמ ֶ֛ל ְְְך ֶא‬:‫ַה ֶּמ ֶֽל ְְְך‬ ‫י‬

: ָ‫ֹאמר ַה ֶּ֙מ ֶל ְְְ ֙ך ְְל ָה ָ֔מן ַה ֶּכ ֶ֖סף נָ ֣תוּן ָל ְְְ֑ך וְְ ָה ָ֕עם ַל ֲֽע ֥ ׂשֹות ּ֖בֹו ַּכ ּ ֥טֹוב ְְּב ֵעינֶ ֽיך‬ ֶ ֤‫ וַ ּי‬:‫ַהּיְְ הו ִ ּֽדים‬ ‫יא‬

‫ל־א ׁ ֶשר־‬ ֲ ‫יֹום ּבֹו֒ וַ ּיִ ָּכ ֵ ֣תב ְְּֽֽכ ָָכ‬

֮ ‫שר‬ ֣ ׂ ָ ‫ֹושה ָע‬ ָ ֨ ׁ ‫אשֹון ִּב ׁ ְְְשל‬ ֗ ׁ ‫וַ ּיִ ָֽ ּק ְְרא ּ֩ו ֽסֹפְְ ֵ ֨רי ַה ֶּ֜מ ֶל ְְְך ַּב ֣ח ֶֹד ׁש ָה ִֽר‬ ‫יב‬

‫ל־מ ִדינָ ֣ה ו ְְְּמ ִד ֗ ָינה וְְ ֶאל־‬ ְְ ‫שר ׀ ַע‬ ֣ ֶ ׁ ‫ל־ה ּ ַפ ֞חֹות ֲא‬ ַ ‫ֽי־ה ֶּ֠מ ֶל ְְְך וְְֽֽ ֶא‬ ַ ֠ ֵ‫צִ ָ ּו֣ה ָה ָ֡מן ֶ ֣אל ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשדַּ ְְְר ּ ְְפנ‬
‫ֹש‬֙ ׁ ‫ש ֵרי ַע ֙ם וָ ָ֔עם ְְמ ִדינָ ֤ה ו ְְְּמ ִדינָ ֙ה ִּכ ְְְכ ָת ָ֔ב ּה וְְ ַע֥ם וָ ָע֖ם ִּכ ְְְל ׁשֹונ֑ ֹו ְְּב ׁ ֨ ֵשם ַה ֶּמ ֶ֤ל ְְְך ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ר‬ ָׂ֤
‫ל־מ ִדינ֣ ֹות‬ ְְ ‫ל־כ‬ ָָּ ‫נִש ֨ל ַֹוח ְְספָ ִ ֜רים ְְּביַ ֣ד ָ ֽה ָרצִ ֮ים ֶא‬ ְְְ ׁ ְְ‫ ו‬:‫נִ ְְְכ ָּ֔תב וְְ נֶ ְְְח ָּ ֖תם ְְּב ַט ַּב ַ֥עת ַה ֶּ ֽמ ֶל ְְְך‬ ‫יג‬

‫נָשי ֙ם‬ ִ ׁ ְְ‫טף ו‬ ֤ ַ ‫ל־הּיְְ הו ִ ּ֠דים ִמ ֨ ַּנ ַער וְְ ַעד־זָ ֵ ֜קן‬ ַ ֠ ‫ת־כ‬ ָָּ ‫ַה ֶּ֒מ ֶל ְְְ֒ך ְְל ַה ׁ ְְְש ִ֡מיד ַל ֲֽה ֣רֹג ו ְְְּל ַא ֵּב֣ד ֶא‬
:‫ּא־ח ֶֹד ׁש ֲא ָ ֑דר ו ׁ ְְְּש ָל ָל֖ם ָל ֽבֹוז‬ ֣ ‫ֽים־ע ָ ׂש֖ר הו‬ ָ ֵ‫שר ְְל ֥ח ֶֹד ׁש ׁ ְְשנ‬ ֛ ׂ ָ ‫ֹושה ָע‬ ֥ ָ ׁ ‫ְְּביֹ֣ום ֶא ָ֔חד ִּב ׁ ְְְשל‬

BACKground
3:8 |  Scattered and dispersed: The Assyrian kings and those close to them began focusing on the missive that Haman had signed with his
kings first exiled the ten tribes of Israel on filling their own private coffers. It is known seal (see commentary on 9:25).
to northwest Mesopotamia, after which that Alexander the Great looted more than 3000 3:12 |  The king’s satraps [aĥashdarpenei]:
Nebuchadnezzar exiled Judah to central and metric tons of silver and gold from the treasuries The Persian word is xsaça-pā-vana, which orig-
southern Mesopotamia. In both cases, Israelites of the king of Persia. inally denoted a shield of the kingdom, but this
often achieved high social and political status, The king’s treasuries [ginzei]: In Persian, gan- meaning was broadened to include the rulers of
and they also dealt in international trade. In this zaka is a small treasure chamber. This word is administrative units of the Persian Empire.
manner they spread across the Persian Empire, also the source of the Hebrew terms ganzakh,
from Afghanistan and India to Libya, southern The governors [hapaĥot]: Peĥa, or pihatu in
archive, and gizbar, treasurer. The basic meaning Akkadain, is an official of a lower status than a
Egypt, and western Anatolia. Jews apparently of this word is minister of finance, as the suffix
served on Phoenician ships and conducted busi- satrap. A paĥavva, which is a province ruled by a
bar means minister. peĥa, was part of the larger kingdom.
ness with Sidonian merchants, and they may
have even reached the distant trading stations 3:10 |  The king removed his ring from his To each and every province in its script, and
in northern Africa and Spain. hand: Royal commands were generally etched to each and every people in its language:
in cuneiform script on tablets of clay or silt, According to the standard procedure of the
3:9 |  Ten thousand talents of silver: In accor- which were authorized with the stamp of a seal
dance with the estimated weight of 28.8 kg for Persian monarchy, the king would dictate his or-
that left a sunken impression. Some seals were der in Persian, while the Aramean scribes would
one sacred talent, Haman proposed to transfer fashioned as part of a ring, while others were
to the king approximately 288 metric tons of sil- write in Aramaic. The missives were sent to the
hung on a chain around the neck. It is possible local scribes of each province, who would read
ver. The ruling authorities of the Persian Empire that the king did not need to be literate, as all his
collected taxes from the residents of all the the Aramaic and verbally translate it into the lo-
orders were written by scribes, who would read cal language. In this instance the missives were
territory under their control, even the distant out the texts to him when necessary (see 6:1).
islands (see 10:1), and thereby amassed a leg- sent in different languages due to the impor-
Later this enabled Mordekhai to insinuate that tance of their content, amplified by their price:
endary fortune. After a period of growth during the king did not know exactly what was written
the reigns of Cyrus the Great and Darius I, the The ten thousand talents of silver that was being
provided.

21
 Megillat Esther | Chapter 4

as possible, and so that the missives would reach the farthest Jews were not to be found in every remote corner of the Persian
corners of the empire in time. Due to Haman’s strong belief in Empire, for bureaucratic reasons the announcement was sent to
adhering to the lots that were cast, he was resolute in keeping each province, as a general directive of the king had to reach the
the determined date, at which point the Jews would be deemed entire kingdom.
legitimate targets, and to plunder their spoils, their prop- 15 The couriers, the runners with the decree in hand, went out ur-
erty. The king did not put this decision into effect through the gently by the word of the king, and the directive was issued
strength of his army. He simply stated that on such-and-such a in Shushan the capital. The king and Haman sat to drink and
date the Jews would no longer enjoy the protection of the law, toast the success of their plot. Ahashverosh and Haman were so
assuming that the various nations would take the opportunity delighted that the plan had been put into motion that they held
to put Haman’s plan into practice. a small feast; and meanwhile the city of Shushan, mainly its
14 The text43 of the document, b the pronouncement, was to is- Jewish community, which was based around Mordekhai,44 was
sue a directive in each and every province, publicized for all confounded by the sudden harsh decree.
the peoples, to be ready for that day. Although it is likely that

It was Mordekhai’s refusal to bow before Haman that was the pretext for the decree to destroy the Jews.
Mordekhai and Esther When the decree is publicized he reacts without delay, calling upon Esther, his secret representative in the
React to the Decree king’s palace, to thwart it. The conversation between Mordekhai and Esther reveals both their profound
Esther 4:1–17 concerns about the king’s directive, as well as their faith and trust in God. At the start of this section,
Mordekhai cries out in distress, and at its conclusion, Esther asks for all the Jews to gather together and fast.
Even if they are uncertain whether their prayers will be accepted, they both believe that their fervent supplications and their fasting will influence the
unfolding events.
4 1 Mordekhai, who was an official stationed near the palace, as they were not considered to have any interests in governmen-
knew everything that was done, as he was presumably one of tal matters. And as Esther wanted to hear from Mordekhai what
the first to read a copy of the decree that had been distributed was happening, and since she knew that he could not enter while
throughout the kingdom. He understood the severity of the sit- wearing sackcloth, she sent garments to clothe Mordekhai and
uation and its implications for the future of the Jews, even be- to remove his sackcloth, but he would not accept them, refus-
fore the rest of the Jews living in Shushan knew what had tran- ing to take off his sackcloth.
spired. He was seriously concerned by the likely effectiveness 5 Esther called Hatakh, who was from among the king’s offi-
of Haman’s propaganda, as well as his control over events in the cials, whom he had set before her. Hatakh was no ordinary
royal court. And consequently, Mordekhai rent his garments, servant, as he had been granted explicit authority to help the
as a sign of mourning, and donned sackcloth and placed queen with whatever she might need. And she commanded
ashes upon his head. He went out in the midst of the city and him concerning Mordekhai, in order to know what this is,
cried a loud and bitter cry, both a cry of prayer and entreaty to and why this is. What is the reason for his behavior, and what
God45 as well as a cry of protest against the authorities. is his request?48
2 He came up to before the king’s gate; but although he was 6 Hatakh went out to Mordekhai to the city square that was
generally authorized to enter, he did not approach further, as in before the king’s gate. Since Mordekhai did not approach the
accordance with the royal dress code,46 one may not come to king’s gate, Hatakh came out to the square outside it, where he
the king’s gate in a sackcloth garment. asked Mordekhai to explain his conduct.
3 And in each and every province, any place where the word of 7 Mordekhai told him everything that had happened to him.
the king and his directive reached, there was great mourning This is not necessarily referring to his refusal to bow down to
among the Jews, fasting, weeping, and keening; sackcloth Haman, as he might have considered Haman’s decree no more
and ashes were draped by the multitudes; alternatively, sack- than his manifestation of a tradition of hatred for Jews he had in-
cloth and ashes were laid out in the streets for public use. herited from his ancestors, the tribe of Amalek. And he informed
4 Esther’s young women and her officials came and told her of Hatakh of the matter of the money that Haman had said to
Mordekhai’s actions. Those who were close to Esther knew about weigh for the king’s treasuries concerning the Jews, in order
her relationship with him, as Mordekhai would inquire about her to destroy them. In addition to the decree of annihilation itself,
welfare every day, and it was she who had passed on Mordekhai’s word had spread of the enormous sum that Haman had proposed
warning about the plot on the king’s life.47 And the queen was to the king in his determination to destroy all the Jews.
greatly shocked, as she had not heard anything about what was 8 He also gave him, Hatakh, the text of the legal document that
going on. The king’s order had not been disclosed to the women, was issued in Shushan in order to destroy them, the Jews; to

22
 ‫מגילת אסתר | פרק ד‬

‫ל־ה ַֽע ִּ ֑מים ִ ֽל ְְְהיֹ֥ות ֲע ִת ִ ֖דים‬ ‫ל־מ ִדינָ ֣ה ו ְְְּמ ִד ֔ ָינה ָ ּג ֖לוּי ְְל ָָכ ָ‬ ‫ּ ַפ ְְְת ׁ ֶש֣גֶ ן ַה ְְּכ ָ֗תב ְְל ִה ָּנ ֤ ֵ ֽתן דָּ ת֙ ְְּב ָָכ ְְ‬ ‫יד‬

‫ירה‬ ‫ּשן ַה ִּב ָ ֑‬ ‫ַלּי֥ ֹום ַהּזֶ ֽה‪ָ :‬ה ָֽר ֞ ִצים יָ ֽצְְ ֤א ּו ְְדחוּפִ י ֙ם ִּב ְְְד ַב֣ר ַה ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך וְְ ַהדָּ ֥ ת נִ ְְּתנָ ֖ה ְְּב ׁשו ׁ ַ ֣‬ ‫טו‬

‫וְְ ַה ֶּמ ֶ֤ל ְְְך וְְ ָה ָמ ֙ן יָ ׁ ְְֽש ֣ב ּו ִל ׁ ְְְש ּ֔תֹות וְְ ָה ִ ֥עיר ׁשו ׁ ָּש֖ן נָ ֽב ָֹוכה‪     :‬ו ָָּמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַ֗כי יָ ַד ֙ע ֶאת־‬ ‫א‬ ‫ד‬
‫ֹוך ָה ִ֔עיר‬ ‫שק וָ ֵא֑פֶ ר וַ ּיֵ צֵ ֙א ְְּב ֣ת ְְְ‬ ‫ת־בגָ ָ ֔דיו וַ ּיִ ְְְל ַּב ׁ֥ש ַ ׂ ֖‬ ‫שר נַ ֲֽע ֔ ָ ׂשה וַ ּיִ ְְְק ַ ֤רע ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכי֙ ֶא ְְּ‬ ‫ל־א ׁ ֶ ֣‬ ‫ָָּכ ֲ‬
‫ל־־־ש ַער‬ ‫ר־ה ֶּמ ֶ֑ל ְְְך ִּכ֣י ֵ ֥אין ָל ֛בֹוא ֶא ׁ ַ ֥‬ ‫ש ַע ַ‬ ‫דֹול֖ה ו ָּמ ָ ֽרה‪ :‬וַ ּ֕יָבֹוא ַע֖ד ִלפְְְ נֵ ֣י ׁ ַ ֽ‬ ‫וַ ּיִ זְְְ ַע֛ק זְְ ָע ָ ֥קה גְְ ָ‬ ‫ב‬

‫ר־ה ֶּמ ֶ֤ל ְְְך וְְ ָדת ֹ֙ו ַמ ִ֔ ּג ַיע‬‫ל־־־מ ִדינָ ֣ה ו ְְְּמ ִד ֗ ָינה ְְמקֹו ֙ם ֲא ׁ ֨ ֶשר דְְּ ַב ַ‬ ‫שק‪ :‬ו ְְְּב ָָכ ְְ‬ ‫ַה ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך ִּב ְְְל ֥בו ּׁש ָ ׂ ֽ‬ ‫ג‬

‫֠֠ ַו ָּת ֠בֹואנָ ה‬ ‫תבואינה נַ ֲֽע ֨רֹות‬ ‫שק וָ ֵ ֔אפֶ ר יֻ ַּצ֖ע ָל ַֽר ִּ ֽבים‪ :‬ו֠ ֠‬ ‫ֵא ֶ֤בל ָ ּגדֹול֙ ַלּיְְ הו ִ ּ֔דים וְְ צ֥ ֹום ו ְְְּב ִכ֖י ו ִּמ ְְְס ּ ֵפ֑ד ַ ׂ ֣‬ ‫ד‬

‫יה וַ ִ ּּיַג֣יד ּו ָ֔ל ּה וַ ִּת ְְְת ַח ְְְל ַ ֥חל ַה ַּמ ְְְל ָּכ֖ה ְְמ ֑אֹד וַ ִּת ׁ ְְְש ֨ ַלח ְְּבגָ ִ ֜דים ְְל ַה ְְְל ִּ ֣ב ׁיש‬ ‫יס ָ ֙‬
‫ֶא ְְְס ֵּת֤ר וְְ ָס ִֽר ֶ֙‬
‫יס֤י ַה ֶּ֙מ ֶלךְְְ ֙‬ ‫ת־מ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַ֗כי ו ְְְּל ָה ִ ֥סיר ַ ׂש ּ֛קֹו ֵ ֽמ ָע ָל֖יו וְְ ֥ל ֹא ִק ֵּבֽל‪ :‬וַ ִּת ְְְק ָר ֩א ֶא ְְְס ֵּ֨תר ַל ֲֽה ָ֜תךְְְ ִמ ָּס ִֽר ֵ‬ ‫ֶא ָָ‬ ‫ה‬

‫ל־מה־ּזֶ ֽה‪ :‬וַ ּיֵ צֵ ֥א‬ ‫ֽל־מ ְְְרדֳֳּ ָכ֑י ָל ַ ֥ד ַעת ַמה־ּזֶ ֖ה וְְ ַע ַ‬ ‫יה וַ ְְּתצַ ֵ ּו֖ה ּו ַע ָָ‬ ‫שר ֶה ֱֽע ִ ֣מיד ְְלפָ ֔ ֶנ ָ‬ ‫ֲא ׁ ֶ ֣‬ ‫ו‬

‫ד־לֹו ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַ֔כי ֵ ֖את‬ ‫ר־ה ֶּ ֽמ ֶל ְְְך‪ :‬וַ ּיַ ֶ ּג ֣‬

‫ש ַע ַ‬ ‫שר ִלפְְְ נֵ ֥י ׁ ַ ֽ‬ ‫ל־ר ֣חֹוב ָה ִ֔עי ר ֲא ׁ ֶ ֖‬ ‫ל־מ ְְְרדֳֳּ ָכ֑י ֶא ְְ‬ ‫ֲה ָ ֖ת ְְְך ֶ ֽא ָָ‬ ‫ז‬

‫ל־גנְְְ זֵ ֥י ַה ֶּמ ֶ֛ל ְְְך‬‫שת ַה ֶּ֗כ ֶסף ֲא ׁ ֨ ֶשר ָא ַמ֤ר ָה ָמ ֙ן ִ֠ל ׁ ְְְש ֠קֹול ַע ִ ּ‬ ‫שר ָק ָ ֑רה ּו וְְ ֵ ֣את ׀ ּ ָפ ָֽר ׁ ַ ֣‬ ‫ל־א ׁ ֶ ֣‬ ‫ָָּכ ֲ‬
‫ַּבּיְְ הו ִ ּ֖דים‬ ‫ב־הדָּ ֠ ת ֲא ׁ ֶשר־נִ ַּ֨תן ְְּב ׁשו ׁ ָּש֤ן ְְל ַה ׁ ְְְש ִמ ָיד ֙ם נָ ַ֣תן‬ ‫ת־פ ְְְת ׁ ֶש֣גֶ ן ְְּכ ָ ֽת ֠ ַ‬ ‫ביהודיים ְְל ַא ְְּב ָ ֽדם‪ :‬וְְ ֶא ּ ַ‬ ‫֖‬ ‫ח‬

‫‪BACKground‬‬
‫‪3:14 |  The text [patshegen] of the document: In old Persian, this means a faithful copy of the source of the law signed with the seal of the king’s ring.‬‬

‫‪23‬‬
 Megillat Esther | Chapter 4

show it, the decree, to Esther, to inform her of the situation, from Haman’s order. However, do not imagine escaping be-
and furthermore to command her in his name to go to the cause you are in the king’s palace, that out of all the Jews you
king, to plead with him, and to request before him on be- will be safe.
half of her people. Only she could stop Haman, who enjoyed 14 For if you are silent and do nothing at this time, I trust that
such privileged status in the kingdom. Mordekhai himself was relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another
not close to the king, whereas Esther lived in the palace and was place. The decree does not go into effect for another eleven
beloved by Ahashverosh. Since the decree was essentially moti- months, and we have faith in God that He will deliver us before
vated by emotion, Mordekhai assumed that she had the power then, but I am sure that you and your father’s house will per-
to annul it through her entreaties. ish, as you did not act at the opportune time. Destruction will
9 Hatakh the messenger came and told Esther the words of be visited upon you and your family, including myself;49 and
Mordekhai. who knows whether you have attained royalty for a time
10 Esther said to Hatakh, and commanded him to take back the like this? You came to a position of power without planning to
following message for Mordekhai: do so, and now you find yourself at a time and place where you
11 The rules of entering to see the king are well-known: All the are the only one who can act to change the course of events and
king’s servants in the court, and the people of the king’s thereby save your people. Don’t you think that this apparent
provinces know that for any man or woman, who comes to coincidence is significant? Can’t you see that it is a sign from
the king to the inner courtyard, if he has not been summoned Heaven?
and has not been granted permission, there is but one rule for 15 Esther, as usual, accepted Mordekhai’s instructions. Esther
him: To be put to death. It was forbidden to enter without said to respond to Mordekhai:
special invitation, as the king had quasi-divine status. Esther 16 Go, assemble all the Jews who are present in Shushan for
continued: This fate is the rule, except for one to whom the prayer,50 and fast on my behalf, for my sake; do not eat and
king will extend the golden scepter, b who lives. If the king do not drink for three days, night and day, an unusually se-
does not want a person who has entered without permission to vere fast that will last three straight days. Also I and my young
be executed, he allows him to approach by stretching forth his women will fast in this manner, as we must all pray for my
golden scepter to him. Esther concluded: And I have not been success; and then I will go to the king against the rule and
summoned to come to the king these thirty days. Although if I perish, I perish. Perhaps the day when I approach the king
I am the king’s beloved queen, he has thousands of wives and will be the last of my life.
concubines. I do not know his current mood, but the fact that 17 Mordekhai went on his way, and acted in accordance with
he has not invited me for a month does not bode well. If I sim- everything that Esther had commanded him. He gathered
ply march in to see him, I will be endangering my life. together all the Jews, informed them of the evil decree and of
12 They told Mordekhai Esther’s words. Esther’s situation, and instructed them to fast. The Jews’ high
13 Mordekhai said to respond to Esther: You feel protected in regard for Mordekhai inspired them to rally behind him and
the palace, and you suppose that you will be spared any harm follow his directives.

BACKground
4:11 |  Golden scepter [sharvit]: The Akkadian the physical staff represents the monarchy (see ceremonial scepter, and this is practiced
source of sharvit is sabbitu, a rod, branch, or staff Genesis 49:10; II Samuel 7:7; Rashi, I Chronicles to this day by the monarchs of Britain and
that symbolizes the authority of the bearer. The 18:5). Throughout history, various kings devel- Scandinavia.
parallel Hebrew term shevet is a metonym, as oped a custom of holding a gold or gold-plated

24
‫מגילת אסתר | פרק ד‬

‫ן־לֹו‬
‫ל־ה ֶּמ ֶ֧ל ְְְך ְְל ִ ֽה ְְְת ַח ֶּנ ֛‬ ‫יה ָל ֨בֹוא ֶא ַ‬ ‫ת־א ְְְס ֵּ ֖תר ו ְְְּל ַה ִ ּג֣יד ָל ּ֑ה ו ְְְּלצַ ֣ ּוֹות ָע ֶ֗ל ָ‬
‫֔לֹו ְְל ַה ְְְר ֥אֹות ֶא ֶ‬
‫ֹאמר‬‫ל־ע ָּמ ּֽה‪ :‬וַ ּ֖יָבֹוא ֲה ָ ֑ת ְְְך וַ ּיַ ֵ ּג֣ד ְְל ֶא ְְְס ֵּ֔תר ֵ ֖את דִּ ְְְב ֵ ֥רי ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ָכֽי‪ :‬וַ ּ֥ת ֶ‬ ‫ו ְְְּל ַב ֵ ּ ֥ק ׁש ִמ ְְּלפָ נָ ֖יו ַע ַ‬ ‫ט‬
‫י‬
‫ל־ע ְְְב ֵ ֣די ַה ֶּ֡מ ֶל ְְְך וְְ ַע ֩ם ְְמ ִדינ֨ ֹות ַה ֶּ֜מ ֶל ְְְך יֽ ְְֹד ִ֗עים‬ ‫ל־מ ְְְרדֳֳּ ָכֽי‪ָָּ :‬כ ַ‬ ‫ֶא ְְְס ֵּ ֖תר ַל ֲֽה ָ ֑ת ְְְך וַ ְְּתצַ ֵ ּו֖ה ּו ֶ ֽא ָָ‬ ‫יא‬

‫שר ֽל ֹא־‬ ‫נִימית ֲא ׁ ֶ ֣‬ ‫ל־ה ָֽח ֨ ֵצר ַה ּ ְְפ ִ֜‬

‫ל־ה ֶּ֩מ ֶל ְְְ ֩ך ֶא ֶ‬ ‫ר־יָבֹוא ֶא ַ‬ ‫ל־א ׁיש וְְ ִא ׁ ּ֡ ָשה ֲא ׁ ֶש ֣‬ ‫שר ָָּכ ִ ֣‬ ‫ֲא ׁ ֶ ֣‬
‫ת־ש ְְְר ִ ֥ביט ַהּזָ ָה֖ב‬ ‫יט־לֹו ַה ֶּ ֛מ ֶל ְְְך ֶא ׁ ַ‬ ‫יֹוש ֥‬ ‫יִ ָ ּק ֵ ֗רא ַא ַח֤ת דָּ ת ֹ֙ו ְְל ָה ִ֔מית ְְ֠ל ַ֠בד ֵ ֽמ ֲא ׁ ֨ ֶשר ׁ ִ ֽ‬
‫ֹושים יֹֽום‪ :‬וַ ִ ּּיַג֣יד ּו ְְל ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ָ֔כי ֵ ֖את‬ ‫ל־ה ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך זֶ ֖ה ׁ ְְשל ׁ ִ ֥‬ ‫אתי֙ ָל ֣בֹוא ֶא ַ‬ ‫נִק ֵ ֙ר ִ‬ ‫וְְ ָחיָ ֑ה וַ ֲֽא ֗ ִני ֤ל ֹא ְְְ‬ ‫יב‬

‫ל־ת ַד ִּ ֣מי ְְבנַ פְְְ ׁ ֔ ֵש ְְְך ְְל ִה ָּמ ֵל֥ט‬ ‫ל־א ְְְס ֵּ ֑תר ַא ְְּ‬ ‫ֹאמר ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכ֖י ְְל ָה ׁ ִ ֣שיב ֶא ֶ‬ ‫דִּ ְְְב ֵ ֥רי ֶא ְְְס ֵּ ֽתר‪ :‬וַ ּי֥ ֶ‬ ‫יג‬

‫ֹאת ֶ ֣רוַ ח וְְ ַה ָּצ ָ֞לה‬ ‫ישי֮ ָּב ֵע֣ת ַהּז ֒‬ ‫ם־ה ֲֽח ֵ ֣ר ׁש ַּ ֽת ֲח ִ ֮ר ׁ ִ‬
‫ל־הּיְְ הו ִ ּֽדים‪ִּ :‬כ֣י ִא ַ‬ ‫ֽית־ה ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך ִמ ָָּכ ַ‬
‫ֵּב ַ‬ ‫יד‬

‫ם־ל ֵע֣ת‬ ‫יֹוד ַע ִא ְְ‬ ‫ֹאב֑ד ּו ו ִ ּ֣מי ֵ ֔‬ ‫יך ּת ֵ‬ ‫ֽית־א ִ ֖ב ְְְ‬

‫יַ ֲֽע ֤מֹוד ַלּיְְ הו ִּדי ֙ם ִמ ָּמ ֣קֹום ַא ֵ֔חר וְְ ַ ֥א ְְְּת ו ֵּב ָ‬
‫ת־כל־‬ ‫ל־מ ְְְרדֳֳּ ָכֽי‪ֵ :‬ל ְְְ ֩ך ְְּכנ֨ ֹוס ֶא ָָּ‬ ‫ֹאמר ֶא ְְְס ֵּ ֖תר ְְל ָה ׁ ִ ֥שיב ֶ ֽא ָָ‬ ‫ָּכז֔ ֹאת ִה ַ ּג ַ֖ע ְְְּת ַל ַּמ ְְְל ֽכוּת‪ :‬וַ ּ֥ת ֶ‬ ‫טו‬
‫טז‬
‫ל־ת ׁ ְְְש ּ֜ת ּו ׁ ְְש ֤ל ׁ ֶֹשת יָ ִמי ֙ם‬ ‫ֹאכ ֨ל ּו וְְ ַא ִּ‬‫ל־ת ְְ‬ ‫ַהּיְְ הו ִ ּ֜דים ַה ִּנ ְְְמצְְ ִ ֣אים ְְּב ׁשו ׁ ֗ ָּשן וְְ צ֣ וּמ ּו ָ֠ע ֠ ַלי וְְ ַא ּֽ‬
‫ֹא־כדָּ ֔ ת‬
‫שר ֽל ַ‬ ‫ל־ה ֶּ֙מ ֶל ְְְ ֙ך ֲא ׁ ֶ ֣‬
‫ם־א ִנ֥י וְְ נַ ֲֽער ַ ֹ֖תי ָאצ֣ וּם ֵּכ֑ן ו ְְְּב ֵ֞כן ָא ֤בֹוא ֶא ַ‬ ‫ַ ֣ליְְְ ָלה וָ י֔ ֹום ַ ּג ֲ‬
‫שר ָא ַב ְְְ֖ד ִּתי ָא ָב ְְְֽד ִּתי‪ :‬וַ ּֽיַ ֲֽע ֖בֹר ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ָכ֑י וַ ַּ֕י ַעשׂ ְְּכ ֛כֹל ֲא ׁ ֶשר־צִ ְְ ּו ָ ֥תה ָע ָל֖יו ֶא ְְְס ֵּ ֽתר‪:‬‬ ‫וְְ ַכ ֲֽא ׁ ֶ ֥‬ ‫יז‬

‫‪25‬‬
 Megillat Esther | Chapter 5

In dramatic contrast to Vashti, who violated the law by refusing to appear before Ahashverosh when
Esther Risks Her Life he called her, Esther dares to transgress the law by approaching the king without having been called,
Esther 5:1–14 thereby putting her life at risk. The feast for the masses described at the beginning of the book
likewise parallels the intimate feasts, orchestrated by Esther for the king and Haman that follow her
appearance before King Ahashverosh. As this section progresses, the pace of events increases, together with the tension that grips all the characters:
Ahashverosh does not understand why Esther risked her life, nor why she keeps inviting him and Haman to parties; Haman concurrently enjoys the
great honor granted to him by the queen and suffers from humiliation in his dealings with Mordekhai; Esther does not know whether her plans and
efforts will help her save her brethren, or whether they will bring disaster upon her, while a death sentence hovers over Mordekhai’s head.
5 1 It was on the third day;d Esther donned royalty,51 royal ap- scepter, which was apparently the accepted ceremonial response
parel, and stood in the inner courtyard of the king’s palace, to receiving royal permission to approach.
facing the king’s palace; the king was sitting on his royal 3 The king said to her: What is it with you, Queen Esther, and
throne in the royal palace, facing the entrance of the pal- what is your request? You clearly want something. In my love
ace,b where he could see who was present in the court.52 for you I will grant it, up to half of the kingdom, and it will be
granted to you.b The king expressed in exaggerated terms his
willingness to act for her sake.
4 Esther said, in the same formal manner: If it pleases the king,
let the king and Haman, the most important man in the king-
dom and the one closest to the king, comed today to the ban-
quet that I have prepared for him, the king.
5 The king said: Hasten Haman to do Esther’s bidding. The
tone of this order is somewhat dismissive of Haman, as the king
is treating him like a servant who must instantly obey any desire
of the queen.53 The king and Haman, who was very pleased at
this honor, came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
6 Ahashverosh understood that this feast was not a celebration
for its own sake, but rather it was designed to create a favorable
opportunity for the queen to issue her request. Therefore the
king said to Esther at the wine banquet: What is your wish
and it will be granted and what is your request? Up to half
Ashurbanipal’s queen dressed Darius seated on throne holding a of the kingdom, and it will be done.
in royal apparel, based on relief, scepter, Behistun, seventh century 7 Esther answered and she said: My wish and my request is as
seventh century BCE BCE follows: Despite the expressions of affection that she had heard
from Ahashverosh, Esther still hesitated. She was unsure of her
ability to take a drastic step immediately, and she knew that
2 It was as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court- were she to fail, she would place herself in danger.
yard that she found favor in his eyes, as the affection that he 8 If I have found favor in the eyes of the king, and if it pleases
had initially felt toward her when he chose her was rekindled; the king to grant my wish and to do my request, let the king
and consequently the king extended the golden scepter that and Haman come to the banquet that I will again prepare
was in his hand to Esther, thereby granting her official permis- for them, and tomorrow I will do the king’s bidding, as I am
sion to enter. Esther approached and touched the top of the not yet emotionally ready to present my request. It is perhaps

BACKground
5:1 |  His royal throne in the royal palace, fac- 5:3 |  Up to half of the kingdom, and it will be terms. She ensured that her son would become
ing the entrance of the palace: According to granted to you: The queen of Persia, the fore- king despite the fact that he was not the heir ap-
the map of the palace (see image alongside 1:5), most wife of the king, enjoyed a privileged sta- parent (The Histories VII:2). She could also bring
the throne room was open, and from there the tus and great authority. This is supported by the about important appointments and even com-
king could see who was standing in the inner account of Herodotus, who portrayed Atossa, mand the army to set out to war (see 8:1).
courtyard. Darius’s wife and the mother of Xerxes I, in such

26
‫מגילת אסתר | פרק ה‬

‫נִימית‬ ִ֔ ‫ֽית־ה ֶּ֙מ ֶלךְְְ ֙ ַה ּ ְְפ‬

ַ ‫ישי וַ ִּת ְְְל ַּב ׁ֤ש ֶא ְְְס ֵּת ֙ר ַמ ְְְל ֔כוּת וַ ַּ ֽֽת ֲע ֞מֹד ַּב ֲֽחצַ ֤ר ֵּב‬ ִ ֗ ׁ ‫וַ יְְְ ִ ֣הי ׀ ַּבּי֣ ֹום ַה ׁ ּ ְְש ִל‬ ‫א‬ ‫ה‬
‫ל־כ ֵּס֤א ַמ ְְְלכוּת ֹ֙ו ְְּב ֵב֣ית ַה ַּמ ְְְל ֔כוּת נ֖ ַֹכח ּ ֶפ ַ֥תח‬ ִּ ‫יֹושב ַע‬ ֵ ֞ ׁ ‫נ֖ ַֹכח ֵּב֣ית ַה ֶּמ ֶ֑ל ְְְך ֠ ְְו ַה ֶּ֠מ ֶל ְְְך‬
‫ת־א ְְְס ֵּ ֣תר ַה ַּמ ְְְל ָּ֗כה ע ֶֹ֙מ ֶדת֙ ֶּב ָֽח ֔ ֵצר נָ ְְ ֽׂש ָ ֥אה ֵ ֖חן ְְּב ֵעינָ ֑יו‬ ֶ ‫ וַ יְְְ ִהי֩ ִכ ְְְר ֨אֹות ַה ֶּ֜מ ֶל ְְְך ֶא‬:‫ַה ָּבֽיִ ת‬ ‫ב‬

‫ֹאש‬ ׁ ‫שר ְְּב ֔יָדֹו וַ ִּת ְְְק ַ ֣רב ֶא ְְְס ֵּ֔תר וַ ִּת ַ ּג֖ע ְְּב ֥ר‬ ֣ ֶ ׁ ‫ת־ש ְְְר ִב֤יט ַהּזָ ָה ֙ב ֲא‬ ַ ׁ ‫ֹושט ַה ֶּ֜מ ֶלךְְְ ְְל ֶא ְְְס ֵּ֗תר ֶא‬ ֶ ׁ ֨‫וַ ּי‬
‫ד־ח ִצ֥י‬ ֲ ‫ה־ב ָֽ ּק ׁ ָש ֵ ֛ת ְְְך ַע‬ ַּ ‫ה־ל ְְְ֖ך ֶא ְְְס ֵּ ֣תר ַה ַּמ ְְְל ָּכ֑ה ו ַּמ‬ ָּ ‫ֹאמר ָל ּ ֙ה ַה ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך ַמ‬ ֶ ֤‫ וַ ּי‬:‫ַה ׁ ּ ַש ְְְר ִ ֽביט‬ ‫ג‬

‫ל־ה ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך ֑טֹוב ֨יָבֹוא ַה ֶּמ ֶ֤ל ְְך וְְ ָה ָמ ֙ן ַהּי֔ ֹום‬ ַ ‫ם־ע‬ ַ ‫ֹאמר ֶא ְְְס ֵּ֔תר ִא‬ ֶ ‫ וַ ּ֣ת‬:‫ַה ַּמ ְְְל ֖כוּת וְְ יִ ָּנ ֵ ֽ֥תן ָל ְְְֽך‬ ‫ד‬

‫ת־ה ָ֔מן ַל ֲֽע ֖ ׂשֹות ֶאת־דְְּ ַב֣ר‬ ָ ‫ֹאמר ַה ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך ַ ֽמ ֲהר ּ֙ו ֶא‬ ֶ ֣‫ וַ ּי‬:‫ר־ע ִ ׂ֥ש ִיתי ֽלֹו‬ ָ ‫ל־ה ִּמ ׁ ְְְש ֶּ ֖תה ֲא ׁ ֶש‬ ַ ‫ֶא‬ ‫ה‬

‫ֹאמר ַה ֶּמ ֶ֤ל ְְְך‬ ֶ ֨‫ וַ ּי‬:‫ֽש ָ ֥תה ֶא ְְְס ֵּ ֽתר‬ ׂ ְְ ‫ר־ע‬

ָ ‫ל־ה ִּמ ׁ ְְְש ֶּ ֖תה ֲא ׁ ֶש‬ ַ ‫ֶא ְְְס ֵּ ֑תר וַ ּ֤יָבֹא ַה ֶּ֙מ ֶל ְְְ ֙ך וְְ ָה ָ֔מן ֶא‬ ‫ו‬

‫ד־ח ִצ֥י ַה ַּמ ְְְל ֖כוּת‬ ֲ ‫ה־ב ָֽ ּק ׁ ָש ֵ ֛ת ְְְך ַע‬

ַּ ‫ה־ש ֵ ֽא ָל ֵ ֖ת ְְְך וְְ יִ ָּנ ֵ ֽ֣תן ָל ְְְ֑ך ו ַּמ‬ְְ ּ ׁ ‫ְְל ֶא ְְְס ֵּת ֙ר ְְּב ִמ ׁ ְְְש ֵּ ֣תה ַה ַּ֔ייִ ן ַמ‬
‫אתי ֵ֜חן ְְּב ֵעינֵ ֣י ַה ֶּ֗מ ֶל ְְְך‬ ִ ‫ם־מ ֨ ָצ‬ ָ ‫ ִא‬:‫ֹאמ֑ר ׁ ְְש ֵ ֽא ָל ִ ֖תי ו ַּב ָֽ ּק ׁ ָש ִ ֽתי‬ ַ ‫ וַ ַּ ֥ת ַען ֶא ְְְס ֵּ ֖תר וַ ּת‬: ׂ‫וְְ ֵת ָעֽש‬ ‫ז‬
‫ח‬
‫ת־ב ָֽ ּק ׁ ָש ִ ֑תי ֧יָבֹוא ַה ֶּמ ֶ֣ל ְְְך וְְ ָה ָ֗מן‬
ַּ ‫ת־ש ֵא ָ֣ל ִ֔תי וְְ ַל ֲֽע ֖ ׂשֹות ֶא‬ ְְ ׁ ‫ל־ה ֶּ֙מ ֶל ְְְ ֙ך ֔טֹוב ָל ֵתת֙ ֶא‬ ַ ‫ם־ע‬ ַ ‫וְְ ִא‬
‫ וַ ּיֵ צֵ ֤א ָה ָמ ֙ן ַּבּי֣ ֹום‬:‫שה ִּכ ְְְד ַב֥ר ַה ֶּמ ֶֽל ְְְך‬ ֖ ׂ ֶ ‫שה ָל ֶ֔הם ו ָּמ ָ ֥חר ֶ ֽא ֱע‬ ֣ ׂ ֶ ‫שר ֶ ֽא ֱע‬ ֣ ֶ ׁ ‫ל־ה ִּמ ׁ ְְְש ֶּת ֙ה ֲא‬ַ ‫ֶא‬ ‫ט‬

Discussion
5:1 |  On the third day: That is, the third day of chief minister was becoming too powerful. There were constant intrigues, conspira-
the fast of the Jews. This may have been the third Furthermore, in light of Haman’s prominent cies, and plots at work in the Persian court,
day after Haman’s order had been given, which position, his obsequious personality, and his tre- and Ahashverosh, who apparently had seized
was the first day of the festival of Passover, or mendous gift of persuasion, it is reasonable to the throne in a not entirely legal manner (see
one or two days later (see Rav Yeshaya of Trani; assume that he had enemies in the royal court- Yalkut Shimoni 954; Megilla 14a), was well aware
Seder Olam 29; Pirkei deRabbi Eliezer 49; Esther yard. Esther’s maids and officials would certainly of these affairs. Upon seeing Esther showing
Rabba 8; see also the liturgical song: “A mighty have informed the queen of the goings-on in such favoritism to Haman, he might well have
strength You displayed on Passover,” from the the court, and she likely assumed that if Haman thought that a plot of some sort was being
Passover Haggadah; Targum; Rashi, Esther 4:17; were to receive preferential treatment from his hatched against him, and that the queen was
Megilla 15a). queen as well, the king would become even signaling to the protagonist her willingness to
5:4 |  Let the king and Haman come: It seems more suspicious, and this in turn would enflame assist him. Even if an idea of this kind had not
that Esther’s plan was to display personal af- the concealed hatred and mistrust on the part of entered Haman’s mind, Esther hoped to play on
fection for, and bestow particular honor the king’s other ministers. This course of action the king’s fears, so that he would come to view
upon, Haman in order to sow discord and en- was a gamble, as the success of Esther’s plan Haman as someone who had gained too much
gender the king’s suspicion that perhaps his depended on the reaction of Ahashverosh, who power and who posed a threat to his reign (see
was not the most stable of men. Megilla 15b).

27
 Megillat Esther | Chapter 6

due to her lack of confidence that the queen delayed her re- and all the ways that the king had promoted him, and that he
quest, and that her reply was somewhat longwinded. had elevated him over the princes and servants of the king.
9 Ahashverosh left the feast in a state of intense curiosity. From It is mentioned later55 that ten sons of Haman were hanged, and
the fact that Esther had approached him the previous day he might have had even more children from other wives.56
against the rules, and in light of her repeated deferrals, he re- 12 Haman said: Indeed, Queen Esther did not bring anyone
alized that she was preparing herself to issue a major request. but me with the king to the banquet that she prepared; to-
In contrast, Haman was happy. Haman emerged on that day morrow too, I am invited to her with the king. This is the
joyful and glad of heart. He felt that he had reached the pin- crowning glory. Not only am I the chief minister of the king-
nacle of his success, as he was now not only a confidant of the dom, but I have become the favorite in the royal household.
king, but the queen had also drawn him especially close, and 13 But all this is not worthwhile for med whenever I see
he considered this a clear sign of his exalted status. But as he Mordekhai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate. Yes, I have
walked, his mood changed for the worse, for upon Haman’s honor, wealth, and a bright future, but Mordekhai belittles me.
seeing Mordekhai at the king’s gate, where Mordekhai had 14 Zeresh his wife and all his supporters, who agreed to the
returned in his usual apparel after the end of the fast, and he proposal, said to him: Let a gibbet be prepared, fifty cubits
did not stand, and he did not move on his account, but ig- high; in the morning say to the king that they should hang
nored Haman completely, Haman became filled with fury Mordekhai upon it. Do not wait until the feast. Go to the king
against Mordekhai. The loftier his position in the kingdom, in the morning and tell him that there is someone who aggravates
the more uncontrollable his anger over this act of disrespect. you and refuses to accept your authority. Request for that person
10 Nevertheless Haman restrained himself, as he could do noth- to be hanged even before the rest of the Jews are killed. And then,
ing at present,54 and entered his house and brought his sup- in the evening, you can come in a relaxed state and joyfully with
porters and Zeresh his influential wife. the king to the banquet. The matter, this idea, was pleasing to
11 Haman arranged a kind of party in order to tell his friends that Haman and he prepared the gibbet. He gave an order that a
he had been invited to the queen’s feast, and he related to them gibbet of this kind be built in preparation for Mordekhai’s hang-
the honor of his wealth, and the multitude of his children, ing, paving the way for Haman’s ultimate triumph.

The previous section ended at the lowest ebb of the story. Haman, who has been called
The Night between the Two Feasts for the second time to join the queen and king, is overjoyed; Mordekhai is to be hanged
Esther 6:1–14 that day; and the decree of destruction still hovers over the Jews. There appears to be no
hope on the horizon. However, here the power relations between Mordekhai and Haman
begin to reverse themselves. Haman arrives at the king’s courtyard in order to request that Mordekhai be hanged on the gibbet that he has prepared,
at the precise moment when the king is inquiring as to how he can repay Mordekhai for his good deed. Haman is betrayed by his own lust for honor.
6 1 On that night, after Esther’s feast, the king’s sleep was dis- 3 The king said: What honor or greatness has been bestowed
rupted for no evident reason; and he said to bring the upon Mordekhaid for this? Perhaps he received some form
book of records, the chronicles, the book of royal his- of recompense, but as the details did not involve the king they
tory, and they, sections of the book, would be read before were not recorded in the book. The king’s lads, his servants,
the king, in order to divert his mind with memories of past said to him: Nothing was done with him in return. He ful-
events. filled his civic duty by handing over the rebels, and yet he was
2 It was found written among the events that had transpired not rewarded for his good deed.
that Mordekhai had reported of Bigtana, Bigtan, and 4 The king said: Who is in the courtyard? These events likely
Teresh, two of the king’s officials, among the doorkeepers, occurred in the wee hours of the morning, and the king sought
who were very close to the king, who sought to do violence someone with whom he could converse and receive coun-
to King Ahashverosh. Their assassination attempt, the disclo- cil about the matters that were disturbing his rest.57 Now just
sure of the plot, and the fact that they had been hanged, were all at that moment Haman had come to the outer courtyard
recorded in the book. of the king’s palace,b to say to the king his request to hang

BACKground
6:4 |  Haman had come to the outer courtyard enter from the outer courtyard without invitation sought an advisor at night and was told that
of the king’s palace: Even important ministers or permission (see commentary on 5:1). However, Haman was in the outer courtyard, he gave him
might soon find themselves on the gibbet if they it is clear from the next verse that when the king explicit permission to enter unharmed.

28
‫מגילת אסתר | פרק ו‬

‫ֹא־ק ֙ם וְְ ל ֹא־‬ ָ ‫ש ַער ַה ֶּ֗מ ֶל ְְְך וְְ ל‬ ֣ ַ ׁ ‫ת־מ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַ֜כי ְְּב‬ ָָ ‫ַה ֔הוּא ָ ׂש ֵ ֖מ ַח וְְ ֣טֹוב ֵל֑ב וְְ ִכ ְְְראֹות֩ ָה ָ֨מן ֶ ֽא‬
‫ל־ב ֑יתֹו וַ ּיִ ׁ ְְְש ַל֛ח‬ ֵּ ‫ וַ ּיִ ְְְת ַא ּ ַפ֣ק ָה ָ֔מן וַ ּ֖יָבֹוא ֶא‬:‫ֽל־מ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכ֖י ֵח ָמֽה‬ ָָ ‫זָ ֣ע ִמ ֶּ֔מנּ ּו וַ ּיִ ָּמ ֵל֥א ָה ָ ֛מן ַע‬ ‫י‬

‫ת־כ ֥בֹוד ָָע ׁ ְְְש ֖רֹו וְְ ֣רֹב ָּבנָ ֑יו‬ ְְּ ‫ וַ יְְְ ַס ּ ֨ ֵפר ָל ֶה֥ם ָה ָ ֛מן ֶא‬:‫ת־א ֲֹה ָב֖יו וְְ ֶאת־זֶ ֥ ֶר ׁש ִא ׁ ְְְש ּֽתֹו‬ ֽ ‫וַ ֵּיָב֥א ֶא‬ ‫יא‬

‫ֹאמ ֮ר‬ֶ ֮‫ וַ ּי‬:‫ל־ה ּ ָשׂ ִ ֖רים וְְ ַע ְְְב ֵ ֥די ַה ֶּמ ֶֽל ְְְך‬ ַ ‫נִשׂ ֔אֹו ַע‬ ְְ ּ ‫שר‬ ֣ ֶ ׁ ‫ל־א ׁ ֨ ֶשר ִ ּגדְְּ ֤לֹו ַה ֶּ֙מ ֶל ְְְ ֙ך וְְ ֵ ֣את ֲא‬ ֲ ‫וְְ ֵאת֩ ָָּכ‬ ‫יב‬

‫ר־ע ָ ׂש ָ֖תה‬ ָ ‫ל־ה ִּמ ׁ ְְְש ֶּ ֥תה ֲא ׁ ֶש‬ ַ ‫ם־ה ֶּ ֛מ ֶל ְְְך ֶא‬ ַ ‫יא ֩ה ֶא ְְְס ֵּ֨תר ַה ַּמ ְְְל ָּכ֧ה ִע‬ ָ ‫ֹא־ה ִ֩ב‬ֵ ‫ָה ָמן֒ ַ ֣אף ֽל‬
‫ל־זה ֵאינֶ ֥נּ ּו ׁשֹוֶ ֖ה ִל֑י ְְּב ָָכל־‬ ֶ֕ ‫ וְְ ָָכ‬:‫ם־ה ֶּמ ֶֽל ְְְך‬ ַ ‫ּא־ל ּ֖ה ִע‬ ָ ‫ם־ל ָמ ָ ֛חר ֲא ִנ֥י ָֽקרו‬ ְְ ַ‫ם־אֹותי וְְ ג‬
ִ֑ ‫ִּכ֣י ִא‬ ‫יג‬

‫ֹאמר ל ֹ֩ו ֶ ֨ז ֶר ׁש‬ ֶ ‫ וַ ּ֣ת‬:‫ש ַער ַה ֶּמ ֶֽל ְְְך‬ ֥ ַ ׁ ‫יֹוש֖ב ְְּב‬ ֵ ׁ ‫ת־מ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכ֣י ַהּיְְ הו ִ ּ֔די‬ ָָ ‫ֵ֗עת ֲא ׁ ֨ ֶשר ֲאנִ ֤י ר ֶֹא ֙ה ֶא‬ ‫יד‬

‫ּ־ע ֮ץ ָ ּג ֣ב ַ ֹּה ֲח ִמ ׁ ּ ִ ֣שים ַא ָּמ ֒ה ו ַּב ּ֣ב ֶֹקר ׀ ֱא ֣מֹר ַל ֶּ֗מ ֶל ְְְך וְְ יִ ְְְת ֤ל ּו‬ ֵ ‫ל־א ֲֹה ָ֗ביו יַ ֲֽעשׂ ו‬ ֽ ‫ִא ׁ ְְְש ּ֜תֹו וְְ ָָכ‬
‫יט֧ב ַהדָּ ָב֛ר ִלפְְְ נֵ ֥י ָה ָ ֖מן‬ ַ ִ‫ל־ה ִּמ ׁ ְְְש ֶּ ֖תה ָ ׂש ֵ ֑מ ַח וַ ּי‬ ַ ‫ם־ה ֶּמ ֶ֛ל ְְְך ֶא‬ ַ ‫ת־מ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכי֙ ָע ָ֔ליו ו ּ֧בֹא ִע‬ ָָ ‫ֶ ֽא‬
‫ֹאמר ְְל ָה ִ֞ביא‬ ֶ ֠‫     ב ַּ ֣ליְְְ ָלה ַה ֔הוּא נָֽ ְְד ָ ֖דה ׁ ְְשנַ ֣ת ַה ֶּמ ֶ֑ל ְְְך ֠ ַוּי‬ ַּ :‫וַ ּיַ ַ֥עשׂ ָה ֵעֽץ‬ ‫א‬ ‫ו‬
‫ וַ ּיִ ָּמצֵ ֣א ָכ ֗תוּב ֲא ׁ ֶש ֩ר‬:‫נִק ָר ִ ֖אים ִלפְְְ נֵ ֥י ַה ֶּמ ֶֽל ְְְך‬ ְְְ ‫ת־ס֤פֶ ר ַהּזִ ְְְכרֹנֹות֙ דִּ ְְְב ֵ ֣רי ַהּיָ ִ֔מים וַ ִּי ְְְֽהי֥ ּו‬ ֵ ‫ֶא‬ ‫ב‬

‫יס֣י ַה ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך ִמ ׁ ּ ֽש ְְֹמ ֵ ֖רי ַה ַּס֑ף ֲא ׁ ֶש֤ר ִּב ְְְק ׁש ּ֙ו‬ ֵ ‫ל־בגְְְ ָ ֣תנָ א וָ ֶ֗ת ֶר ׁש ׁ ְְשנֵי֙ ָס ִֽר‬ ִּ ‫ִה ִ֨ ּגיד ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַ֜כי ַע‬
‫ה־נ ֲֽע ֞ ָ ׂשה יְְ ָ ֧קר וּגְְְ דו ָּּל֛ה ְְל ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכ֖י‬ ּ ַ ‫ֹאמר ַה ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך ַ ֽמ‬ ֶ ֣‫ וַ ּי‬:‫ִל ׁ ְְְש ֣ל ַֹח ָ֔יד ַּב ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֽר ֹׁוש‬ ‫ג‬

‫ֹאמר ַה ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך ִ ֣מי‬ ֶ ֥‫ וַ ּי‬:‫שה ִע ּ֖מֹו דָּ ָבֽר‬ ֥ ׂ ָ ‫ֹאמ ֜ר ּו נַ ֲֽע ֵ ֤רי ַה ֶּ֙מ ֶל ְְְ ֙ך ְְמ ׁ ָ ֣ש ְְר ָ֔תיו ל ֹא־נַ ֲֽע‬ ְְ ֨‫ַעל־זֶ ֑ה וַ ּי‬ ‫ד‬

‫ת־מ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַ֔כי‬ָָ ‫אמֹר ַל ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך ִל ְְְתלֹות֙ ֶ ֽא‬ ֣ ‫יצֹונה ֵל‬ ָ ֔ ‫ֽית־ה ֶּ֙מ ֶל ְְְ ֙ך ַה ִ ֣ח‬ ַ ‫ֶב ָֽחצֵ ֑ר וְְ ָה ָ ֣מן ָּ֗בא ַל ֲֽחצַ ֤ר ֵּב‬

Discussion
5:13 |  But all this is not worthwhile for me: 6:3 |  What honor or greatness has been be- invitation to another feast, to which once again
According to some commentaries, Mordekhai stowed upon Mordekhai: It can be assumed the chief minister had been invited, further
and Haman had known each other even before that when the king was reminded of this earlier aroused his suspicions. The king might have rea-
Haman rose to greatness (see Megilla 16a). For effort to assassinate him, he began to wonder: soned that if he failed to repay those who saved
Haman, the encounter with someone who re- If there are people in the kingdom who oppose his life, it is no wonder that people conceal their
membered him from when he was a lowly com- me to such an extent that they will attempt to plans from him (Rashi, verse 1; Megilla 15b).
moner and who refused to honor him would take my life, have I properly rewarded those who
have been especially scathing. support me? Furthermore, Esther’s mysterious

29
 Megillat Esther | Chapter 6

Mordekhai on the gibbet that he had prepared for him, in gate. Perhaps the king was not greatly familiar with Mordekhai,
accordance with the advice he had received from his wife and but he was not an anonymous figure either. His status and po-
friends. Although Mordekhai and the Jewish people were asso- sition in the royal court were well-known. Do not omit any
ciated in his mind, since it was Mordekhai’s presence that both- matterd from all that you have spoken.
ered him on a daily basis, he wished to dispose of him without 11 The king’s order left Haman with no choice. Haman took the
delay. garments and the horse, dressed Mordekhai, led him rid-
5 The king’s lads said to him: Behold, Haman is standing in ing through the city square, and proclaimed before him:
the courtyard. The king said: Let him enter. So shall be done to the man whose honoring the king
6 Haman came and the king said to him: What is to be done desires.
to the man whose honoring the king desires, whom he 12 Mordekhai returned to the king’s gate. Even if Mordekhai
wishes to honor in public? Haman said in his heart: Upon was pleased at Haman’s humiliation, this did not ease the terror
whom would the king desire to bestow honor more than I? in his heart over the fate of the Jews.59 And Haman hastened
Under the circumstances, Haman interpreted the king’s ques- to his house, mourning and with covered head, as he was
tion as though it were directed to him personally: How would humiliated.
you wish to be honored? 13 Haman related to Zeresh his wife and to all his support-
7 Haman said to the king: My advice is, for the man whose ers everything that had befallen him. He told them that he
honoring the king desires, had followed their advice, but that he had arrived at the king’s
8 let them bring royal garments that the king himself has courtyard at the wrong moment and had suffered a terrible
worn, and a horse upon humiliation. His wise men, who, perhaps significantly, are no
which the king has ridden,b longer described as his friends, and Zeresh his wife said to
while a royal crown was set him dispassionately: If Mordekhai, before whom you have
on his, the king's, head when begun to fall, is of the progeny of the Jews, you will not pre-
he rode the horse;58 vail against him; rather, you will fall before him. There is no
9 and put the garments and middle ground in our relations with the Jews. One who fights
the horse in the hand of against them will either crush them or discover that they have
one of the king’s princes, utterly defeated him.
of the nobles, a senior min- Persian royal crown 14 These comments certainly did not improve Haman’s mood.
ister rather than a lowly ser- They were still talking with him, and the king’s officials ar-
vant, they will dress the man rived, and they hastened to bring Haman to the banquet
whose honoring the king that Esther had prepared, despite the fact that feasts were
desires, and they will lead him riding on the horse in the generally held in the evening hours. As part of the royal formal-
city square, and they, the nobles who lead him, will proclaim ities, officials were sent to Haman informing him that his pres-
before him: So shall be done to the man whose honoring ence was requested at the feast immediately. The prediction of
the king desires. Haman had no difficulty imagining himself Haman’s wife and advisors was indeed about to come to pass.
riding on the horse, wearing royal clothing, and easily selecting Soon Esther will suggest that Mordekhai be promoted to take
one of the other ministers who would run before him. Haman’s place, and thus their reversal will be complete. Haman
10 The king said to Haman: This is indeed a good idea. Hurry, will be hanged on the gibbet that he prepared for Mordekhai, and
quickly take the garments and the horse as you have spo- Mordekhai, who refused to bow down to Haman, will inherit his
ken, and do so to Mordekhai the Jew,d who sits at the king’s position.

BACKground
6:8 |  And a horse upon which the king has king alone. The horses’ heads were sometimes that appears in names of people at the time of
ridden: According to Herodotus, horses were adorned with a sort of crown. The king’s two- the book of Esther, e.g., Aspata, one of Haman’s
highly esteemed creatures in Persia and were wheeled chariot was harnessed to carefully se- sons (9:7), as well as in contemporary Persian
even considered sacred. Particular horses were lected and crowned horses of a special breed, names (see Song of Songs 1:9, and commentary
only for the exclusive use of kings and nobles, called Nisean, which is now extinct. In ancient ad loc.).
with the king’s horse being set aside for the Persia, the horse was called aspa, or asp, a word

30
‫מגילת אסתר | פרק ו‬

‫ֹאמר‬ ֶ ֥‫ֹאמ ֜ר ּו נַ ֲֽע ֵ ֤רי ַה ֶּ֙מ ֶל ְְְ ֙ך ֵא ָ֔ליו ִה ֵּנ֥ה ָה ָמ֖ן ע ֵֹמ֣ד ֶּב ָֽחצֵ ֑ר וַ ּי‬ ְְ ֨‫ וַ ּי‬:‫ר־ה ִכ֥ין ֽלֹו‬ ֵ ‫ל־ה ֵע֖ץ ֲא ׁ ֶש‬ ָ ‫ַע‬ ‫ה‬

‫שר ַה ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך‬ ֥ ֶ ׁ ‫ה־ל ֲֽעשׂ֕ ֹות ָּב ִ ֕א ׁיש ֲא‬ ַּ ‫ֹאמר ל ֹ֙ו ַה ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך ַ ֽמ‬ ֶ ֤‫ּיָבֹוא ָה ָמן֒ וַ ּי‬
֮ ַ‫ ו‬:‫ַה ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך ֽיָבֹוא‬ ‫ו‬

:‫יֹותר ִמ ֶּ ֽמ ִּני‬ ֥ ֵ ‫ֹאמר ָה ָמ ֙ן ְְּב ִל ּ֔בֹו ְְל ִ֞מי יַ ְְְח ּ ֥פֹץ ַה ֶּ ֛מ ֶל ְְְך ַל ֲֽע ֥ ׂשֹות יְְ ָ ֖קר‬ ֶ ֤‫ָחפֵ ֣ץ ִּ ֽב ָיק ֑רֹו וַ ּי‬
‫ ִ֙יָביא ּ֙ו ְְל ֣בו ּׁש ַמ ְְְל ֔כוּת‬:‫שר ַה ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך ָחפֵ ֥ץ ִּ ֽב ָיק ֽרֹו‬ ֥ ֶ ׁ ‫ל־ה ֶּמ ֶ֑ל ְְְך ִ ֕א ׁיש ֲא‬ ַ ‫ֹאמר ָה ָ ֖מן ֶא‬ ֶ ֥‫וַ ּי‬ ‫ז‬
‫ח‬
‫שר נִ ַּ ֛תן ֶּכ ֶ֥תר ַמ ְְְל ֖כוּת‬ ֥ ֶ ׁ ‫־בֹו ַה ֶּמ ֶ֑ל ְְְך וְְ ֗סוּס ֲא ׁ ֨ ֶשר ָר ַכ ֤ב ָע ָלי ֙ו ַה ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך וַ ֲֽא‬ ּ֖ ‫שר ָל ַֽב ׁש‬ ֥ ֶ ׁ ‫ֲא‬
‫ד־א ׁיש ִמ ּ ָשׂ ֵ ֤רי ַה ֶּ֙מ ֶל ְְְ ֙ך ַה ּ ַֽפ ְְְר ְְּת ִ֔מים וְְ ִה ְְְל ִּ֙ב ׁש ּ֙ו‬ ֞ ִ ַ‫ וְְ נָ ֨תֹון ַה ְְּל ֜בו ּׁש וְְ ַה ּ֗סוּס ַעל־י‬:‫ֹאשֹו‬ ֽ ׁ ‫ְְּבר‬ ‫ט‬

‫ל־ה ּס ּו ֙ס ִּב ְְְר ֣חֹוב ָה ִ֔עיר וְְ ָֽק ְְר ֣א ּו‬ ַ ‫שר ַה ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך ָחפֵ ֣ץ ִּ ֽב ָיק ֑רֹו וְְ ִה ְְְר ִּכ ֻיב֤ה ּו ַע‬ ֥ ֶ ׁ ‫ת־ה ִ ֔א ׁיש ֲא‬ ָ ‫ֶא‬
‫ֹאמר ַה ֶּ֜מ ֶל ְְְך ְְל ָה ָ֗מן‬ ֶ ֨‫ וַ ּי‬:‫שר ַה ֶּ ֖מ ֶל ְְְך ָחפֵ ֥ץ ִּ ֽב ָיק ֽרֹו‬ ֥ ֶ ׁ ‫שה ָל ִ ֔א ׁיש ֲא‬ ֣ ׂ ֶ ‫ְְלפָ ֔ ָניו ֚ ָּכ ָכה יֵ ָֽע‬ ‫י‬

‫ה־כ ֙ן ְְל ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכ֣י ַהּיְְ הו ִ ּ֔די‬ ֵ ‫שר דִּ ַּ֔ב ְְְר ָּת וַ ֲֽע ֵ ׂש‬ ֣ ֶ ׁ ‫ת־ה ּס ּו ֙ס ַּכ ֲֽא‬ ַ ‫ת־ה ְְּל ֤בו ּׁש וְְ ֶא‬ ַ ‫֠ ַמ ֵ֠הר ַ ֣קח ֶא‬
‫ת־ה ְְּל ֣בו ּׁש ד‬ ַ ‫ וַ ּיִ ַ ּ ֤קח ָה ָמ ֙ן ֶא‬:‫שר דִּ ַּב ְְְֽר ָּת‬ ֥ ֶ ׁ ‫ל־ת ּ ֵפ֣ל דָּ ָ֔בר ִמ ּ֖כֹל ֲא‬ ַּ ‫ש ַער ַה ֶּמ ֶ֑ל ְְְך ַא‬ ֣ ַ ׁ ‫ּיֹוש֖ב ְְּב‬ֵ ׁ ‫ַה‬ ‫יא‬

‫שה‬ ֣ ׂ ֶ ‫ת־מ ְְְרדֳֳּ ָכ֑י וַ ּיַ ְְְר ִּכ ֵ֙יבה ּ֙ו ִּב ְְְר ֣חֹוב ָה ִ֔עיר וַ ּיִ ְְְק ָ ֣רא ְְלפָ ֔ ָניו ֚ ָּכ ָכה יֵ ָֽע‬ ָָ ‫ת־ה ּ֔סוּס וַ ּיַ ְְְל ֵּב ׁ֖ש ֶ ֽא‬ ַ ‫וְְ ֶא‬
‫ל־־־ש ַער ַה ֶּמ ֶ֑ל ְְְך וְְ ָה ָמ ֙ן נִ ְְְד ַ ֣חף‬ ֣ ַ ׁ ‫ וַ ּיָ ׁ ָָ֥שב ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכ֖י ֶא‬:‫שר ַה ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך ָחפֵ ֥ץ ִּ ֽב ָיק ֽרֹו‬ ֥ ֶ ׁ ‫ָל ִ ֔א ׁיש ֲא‬ ‫יב‬

‫ל־א ֲֹה ָ֔ביו ֵ ֖את ָָּכל־‬ ֣ ‫ וַ יְְְ ַס ּ ֨ ֵפר ָה ָ֜מן ְְלזֶ ֤ ֶר ׁש ִא ׁ ְְְש ּת ֹ֙ו ו ְְְּל ָָכ‬:‫ֹאש‬ ׁ ‫ל־ב ֔יתֹו ָא ֵב֖ל וַ ֲֽחפ֥ וּי ֽר‬ ֵּ ‫ֶא‬ ‫יג‬

‫ֹאמר ּ֩ו ֨ ּלֹו ֲח ָכ ָ֜מיו וְְ זֶ ֣ ֶר ׁש ִא ׁ ְְְש ּ֗תֹו ִ ֣אם ִמּזֶ ֣ ַרע ַהּיְְ הו ִ ּ֡דים ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַ֞כי ֲא ׁ ֶש ֩ר‬ ְְ ֩‫שר ָק ָ ֑רה ּו וַ ּי‬ ֣ ֶ ׁ ‫ֲא‬
‫עֹוד ֙ם ְְמ ַד ְְּב ִ ֣רים ִע ּ֔מֹו‬ ָ :‫ֹות ִלנְְְ ּ ֤פֹל ְְלפָ נָי ֙ו ֽל ֹא־תו ַּכ֣ל ֔לֹו ִּכֽי־נָ פ֥ ֹול ִּת ּ ֖פֹול ְְלפָ נָ ֽיו‬ ָ ‫ַה ִֽח ֨ ּל‬ ‫יד‬

‫ֽש ָ ֥תה‬ ׂ ְְ ‫ר־ע‬

ָ ‫ל־ה ִּמ ׁ ְְְש ֶּ ֖תה ֲא ׁ ֶש‬ ַ ‫ת־ה ָ֔מן ֶא‬ ָ ‫יס֥י ַה ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך ִה ִ ּג֑יע ּו וַ ּיַ ְְְב ִ֙הל ּ֙ו ְְל ָה ִ ֣ביא ֶא‬ ֵ ‫וְְ ָס ִֽר‬

Discussion
6:10 |  And do so to Mordekhai the Jew: In ad- of this opportunity to reinforce in his subjects publicized his own authority and the subjuga-
dition to the great honor that the king sought to the awareness that no one in the empire en- tion of Haman to his control (see Malbim 10).
bestow upon Mordekhai by having him led by joyed an independent status other than himself. Do not omit any matter: Some infer from here
his chief minister, there is no doubt that he also From the fact that he evidently wished to be dis- that Haman tried to persuade the king to ex-
wanted to humiliate Haman. It can be presumed played in the city square in the manner of the change this parade for a monetary gift or some
that word of the animosity between Mordekhai king on the day of his coronation, Ahashverosh other type of honor. Therefore, the king gave
and Haman had spread beyond mere servants’ came to the conclusion that his chief minister him explicit instructions to carry out his sugges-
gossip to the royal court itself. Although the had been granted too much power, and that his tion to the letter, without any changes (Megilla
king had no special connection to Mordekhai, megalomaniacal ambitions might undermine 16a).
now that he had been reminded of the favor the the king’s own regime. By insisting that Haman
Jew had performed for him, he took advantage be the one to lead Mordekhai, the king thereby

31
 Megillat Esther | Chapter 7

Although the humiliation Haman has suffered does not necessarily cause him to change his plans, it
Haman’s Downfall and can be assumed that he comes to Esther’s second party crestfallen and dispirited. This second party
Mordekhai’s Rise to Power is also an intimate affair. Esther wants only Ahashverosh, Haman, and herself to be present, so that
Esther 7:1–8:2 Haman will suddenly discover that both the king and the queen are against him, and that there is
no one else to defend him.
7 1 The king and Haman came to participate in the banquet with she held him in high regard. Consequently, he was entirely un-
Queen Esther. prepared for the accusation the queen flung against him in the
king’s presence. Therefore Haman flinched before the king
and the queen.
7 The king rose in his fury from the wine banquet and went
to the garden of the house. He had forgotten his own involve-
ment in the decree and the fact that he himself had signed
the documents. At this point, all his could see was Haman
trying to destroy Esther and her people. In order to calm his
rage against his minister, he got up and went to take some
“At the wine banquet”
air in the garden. And Haman remained to plead for his
life from Queen Esther. Although by now Haman realized
that she did not seek his favor, he hoped that she might have
2 The king said to Esther also on the second day at the wine mercy upon him, as he had not yet harmed her in any way. He
banquet: What is your wish, Queen Esther, and it will be might also have sought to arouse her innate feminine compas-
granted to you and what is your request? Up to half the sion;61 for he saw that harm was resolved against him by the
kingdom, it will be done. The king repeated his earlier ques- king.d
tion because he knew that Esther wanted something, which she 8 The king returned from the garden of the house to the
was to reveal at this second feast. chamber of the wine banquet and he saw that Haman was
3 Queen Esther answered with the customary etiquette and falling upon the couch on which Esther was lying. According
she said: If I have found favor in your eyes, the king, and if to Persian and Greek custom, wealthy and noble individuals
it pleases the king, let my life be given me with my wish, and would not sit on chairs during a feast; rather, they would recline
my people with my request. You agree in principle to grant me on beds.62 The king said: Is it also part of Haman’s plan to con-
half the kingdom, but all I want is that my life and my people be quer the queen with me in the house, to rape the queen in my
spared. This dramatic opening statement was designed to have own presence? The words emerged from the king’s mouth,
maximum effect upon the king. and Haman’s face fell and he turned pale, as he realized his fall
4 The queen clarifies her meaning: For we have been sold, my from power and demise. He was aware that apologizing was fu-
people and I, for our enemies to destroy, to kill, and to elim- tile, as in these circumstances nothing he could say would save
inate us. If we had only been sold as slaves and as maidser- him.
vants, I would be silent and would not ask for anything, as 9 The feast was served by waiters who were not considered to be
in that case the trouble, the unfortunate event, would not be attendees. However, when the king revealed his opinion about
worth the distress to the king. It would not be worth upset- Haman, one of them dared to interject in support of that sen-
ting the king.60 timent. Harvona, who was one of the officials who was be-
5 King Ahashverosh, who was caught by surprise, as she had not fore the king said: Indeed, behold the gibbet that Haman
told him that she was Jewish, said, he said to Queen Esther:d prepared for Mordekhai, who is someone who spoke ben-
Who is he, and where is he, who was so presumptuous to do eficially for the king. This is the true nature of Haman; he is
so? What kind of person would dare seek to destroy you and a man who prepares a gibbet for one who helped the king. The
your people? gibbet is standing in the house of Haman and is fifty cubits
6 Esther said: A man who is an adversary and an enemy, this high. Perhaps Harvona disliked Haman for reasons of his own,
wicked Haman. Haman advised you to destroy us because he and he now saw the chance to retaliate. The king said: Hang
is an enemy of the Jews. Moreover, he is an evil man, and his in- him on it. If the gibbet is already prepared, Haman’s sentence
tentions are far from pure. Consequently, you should not trust can be carried out without delay.
him. Although Haman was not in the best of moods, he had still 10 They hanged Haman on the gibbet that he had prepared for
been under the impression that Esther had invited him because Mordekhai, and the king’s fury abated.

32
‫מגילת אסתר | פרק ז‬

‫ֹאמ ֩ר ַה ֶּ֨מ ֶל ְְְך ְְל ֶא ְְְס ֵּ֜תר‬ ֶ ֩‫ וַ ּי‬:‫ם־א ְְְס ֵּ ֥תר ַה ַּמ ְְְל ָּכֽה‬ ֶ ‫ וַ ּ֤יָבֹא ַה ֶּ֙מ ֶל ְְְ ֙ך וְְ ָה ָ֔מן ִל ׁ ְְְש ּ֖תֹות ִע‬:‫ֶא ְְְס ֵּ ֽתר‬ ‫א‬
‫ב‬ ‫ז‬
‫ה־ש ֵ ֽא ָל ֵ ֛ת ְְְך ֶא ְְְס ֵּ ֥תר ַה ַּמ ְְְל ָּכ֖ה וְְ ִת ָּנ ֵ ֽ֣תן ָל ְְְ֑ך ו ַּמה־‬ ְְ ּ ׁ ‫ַ ּג֣ם ַּבּי֤ ֹום ַה ׁ ּ ֵשנִי֙ ְְּב ִמ ׁ ְְְש ֵּ ֣תה ַה ַּ֔ייִ ן ַמ‬
‫אתי‬ ִ ‫ם־מ ֨ ָצ‬ ָ ‫ֹאמר ִא‬ ַ֔ ‫ וַ ַּ֨ת ַען ֶא ְְְס ֵּת֤ר ַה ַּמ ְְְל ָּכ ֙ה וַ ּת‬: ׂ‫ד־ח ִצ֥י ַה ַּמ ְְְל ֖כוּת וְְ ֵת ָעֽש‬ ֲ ‫ַּב ָֽ ּק ׁ ָש ֵ ֛ת ְְְך ַע‬ ‫ג‬

:‫ן־ל֤י נַ פְְְ ׁ ִשי֙ ִּב ׁ ְְְש ֵא ָ֣ל ִ֔תי וְְ ַע ִּ ֖מי ְְּב ַב ָֽ ּק ׁ ָש ִ ֽתי‬
ִ ‫ל־ה ֶּמ ֶ֖לךְְְ ֑טֹוב ִּת ָּנ ֶֽת‬ַ ‫ם־ע‬ ַ ‫יך ַה ֶּ֔מ ֶלךְְְ וְְ ִא‬ ֙ ָ ‫ֵח֤ן ְְּב ֵע ֙ ֶינ‬
‫ִּכ֤י נִ ְְְמ ַּ֙כ ְְְרנ ּ֙ו ֲא ִנ֣י וְְ ַע ִּ֔מי ְְל ַה ׁ ְְְש ִ ֖מיד ַל ֲֽה ֣רֹוג ו ְְְּל ַא ֵּב֑ד ֠ ְְו ִא ּ֠ל ּו ַל ֲֽע ָב ִ ֨דים וְְ ִל ׁ ְְְשפָ ֤חֹות נִ ְְְמ ַּ֙כ ְְְרנ ּ֙ו‬ ‫ד‬

‫ֹאמ ֙ר ַה ֶּמ ֶ֣ל ְְְך ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֔ר ֹׁוש‬ ֶ ֙‫     וַ ּי‬:‫ֶה ֱֽח ַ ֔ר ׁ ְְְש ִּתי ִּכ֣י ֵ ֥אין ַה ָּצ֛ר ׁשֹוֶ ֖ה ְְּבנֶ ֥זֶ ק ַה ֶּמ ֶֽל ְְְך‬ ‫ה‬

:‫ר־מ ָל ֥אֹו ִל ּ֖בֹו ַל ֲֽע ֥ ׂשֹות ֵּכֽן‬ ְְ ‫ֹאמר ְְל ֶא ְְְס ֵּ ֣תר ַה ַּמ ְְְל ָּכ֑ה ִ ֣מי ֥הוּא זֶ ֙ה וְְ ֵאי־זֶ ֣ה ֔הוּא ֲא ׁ ֶש‬ ֶ ֖‫וַ ּי‬
:‫אֹוי֔ב ָה ָ ֥מן ָה ָ ֖רע ַהּזֶ ֑ה וְְ ָה ָ ֣מן נִ ְְְב ָ֔עת ִמ ִּלפְְְ נֵ ֥י ַה ֶּמ ֶ֖לךְְְ וְְ ַה ַּמ ְְְל ָּכֽה‬ ֵ ְְ‫ֹאמר ֶא ְְְס ֵּ֔תר ֚ ִא ׁיש צַ ֣ר ו‬ ֶ ‫וַ ּ֣ת‬ ‫ו‬

‫יתן וְְ ָה ָ ֣מן ָע ַ֗מד ְְל ַב ֵ ּ ֤ק ׁש ַעל־נַ פְְְ ׁש ֹ֙ו‬ ֑ ָ ‫ל־ג ַּנ֖ת ַה ִּב‬
ּ ִ ‫וְְ ַה ֶּ֜מ ֶל ְְְך ָ ֤קם ַּב ֲֽח ָמת ֹ֙ו ִמ ִּמ ׁ ְְְש ֵּ ֣תה ַה ַּ֔ייִ ן ֶא‬ ‫ז‬

‫ וְְ ַה ֶּ֡מ ֶל ְְְך ׁ ָש ֩ב ִמ ִ ּג ֨ ַּנת‬:‫י־כ ְְֽל ָ ֥תה ֵא ָל֛יו ָה ָֽר ָע֖ה ֵמ ֵ ֥את ַה ֶּמ ֶֽל ְְְך‬ ָ ‫ֵ ֽמ ֶא ְְְס ֵּ ֣תר ַה ַּמ ְְְל ָּ֔כה ִּכ֣י ָר ָ ֔אה ִּכ‬ ‫ח‬

‫ֹאמר‬ ֶ ֣‫יה וַ ּי‬ ָ ‫שר ֶא ְְְס ֵּ ֣תר ָע ֶ֔ל‬ ֣ ֶ ׁ ‫ל־ה ִּמ ּ ָט ֙ה ֲא‬ ַ ‫ל־ב֣ית ׀ ִמ ׁ ְְְש ֵּ ֣תה ַה ַּ֗ייִ ן וְְ ָה ָמ ֙ן נ ֗ ֵֹפל ַע‬ ֵּ ‫ַה ִּב ָ֜יתן ֶא‬
‫ת־ה ַּמ ְְְל ָּכ֛ה ִע ִּ ֖מי ַּב ָּב֑יִ ת ַהדָּ ָ֗בר יָ צָ ֙א ִמ ּ ִפ֣י ַה ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך וּפְְְ נֵ ֥י ָה ָ ֖מן‬ ַ ‫ַה ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך ֠ ֲה ַ֠גם ִל ְְְכ ּ֧ב ֹׁוש ֶא‬
‫ה‬‫ר־ע ָ ׂש‬ ָ ‫ֽה־ה ֵע֣ץ ֲא ׁ ֶש‬ ָ ‫יסים ִלפְְְ נֵ ֣י ַה ֶּ֗מ ֶל ְְְך ַ ּג֣ם ִה ֵּנ‬ ִ֜ ‫ן־ה ָּס ִֽר‬
ַ ‫בֹונה ֶא ָ֨חד ִמ‬ ָ ֠ ‫ֹאמר ַ֠ח ְְְר‬ ֶ ֣‫ וַ ּי‬:ּ‫ָחפֽ ו‬ ‫ט‬

‫ל־ה ֶּ֗מ ֶל ְְְך ע ֵֹמ ֙ד ְְּב ֵב֣ית ָה ָ֔מן ָ ּג ֖ב ַ ֹּה ֲח ִמ ׁ ּ ִ ֣שים ַא ָּמ֑ה‬ ַ ‫ר־טֹוב ַע‬ ֣ ‫ָה ָ֟מן ְְֽֽל ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַ֞כי ֲא ׁ ֶש֧ר דִּ ֶּב‬
‫ר־ה ִכ֣ין ְְל ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ָכ֑י וַ ֲֽח ַ ֥מת‬ ֵ ‫ל־ה ֵע֖ץ ֲא ׁ ֶש‬ ָ ‫ת־ה ָ֔מן ַע‬ ָ ‫ וַ ּיִ ְְְתל ּ֙ו ֶא‬:‫ֹאמר ַה ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך ְְּת ֻ ֥לה ּו ָע ָלֽיו‬ ֶ ֥‫וַ ּי‬ ‫י‬

Discussion
7:5 |  He said to Queen Esther: As long as line. She was no maidservant whom the king It should be noted that in royal courts of this
Esther kept her origins secret, her personal sta- had raised up from misery, but a woman of no- kind, the status of the chief minister is indeed
tus was suspect. It would naturally be assumed ble descent (Megilla 16a). a great honor, but it is also highly dangerous.
that a woman who refused to reveal her ethnic- 7:7 |  That harm was resolved against him Naturally, the king would not want such a role
ity and background was in fact a maidservant of by the king: The conversation between filled by someone who was too powerful. It is no
indeterminate birth, perhaps the daughter of a Ahashverosh and Haman the previous night coincidence that neither of the two men whom
slave. Even among slaves and maidservants, a had changed the image of Haman in the king’s Ahashverosh appointed to this position, Haman
slave born to a slave lacked any social standing, eyes. He realized that Haman was power-hun- and Mordekhai, came from Persian nobility, and
and was considered inferior to a freeman who gry and would attempt to advance his status in in fact both were foreigners. Such individuals
was captured in war. Ahashverosh had no partic- the kingdom at any price. This impression that could be removed from their posts with relative
ular familiarity with, or affection for, the Jewish Haman had left upon the king the night before ease when the need arose. This might well have
people, who lived on the fringes of his empire, was reinforced by Esther’s accusations. The king been one of Pharaoh’s motivations for appoint-
but the Sages explain that Esther at this point was therefore filled with great rage. ing Joseph (Genesis 41:39–44).
revealed that she was descended from a royal

33
 Megillat Esther | Chapter 8

8 1 Once Haman had been hanged, the king’s mood improved,

and he wanted to bestow further favors upon Esther. On that
and for her part Esther treated him with affection and grati-
tude. Furthermore, if Ahashverosh was not yet personally fa-
day, King Ahashverosh gave the house of Haman, adversary miliar with Mordekhai, he was now given the opportunity to
of the Jews, to Queen Esther. This gift included the enor- meet this loyal subject of the king, who had been instrumental
mous amount of wealth that Haman had accumulated.63 And in uncovering the assassination plot against him.
Mordekhai came for a personal audience before the king, 2 The king removed his ring that he had taken from Haman,
as Esther had related what he was to her. She presented and he gave it to Mordekhai, as a sign of trust. Esther ap-
him as her cousin, who had adopted, raised, and educated her. pointed Mordekhai over the house of Haman. She ap-
Ahashverosh was in good spirits now that Haman was gone, pointed him in charge of Haman’s estate.

Although the problem of Haman himself has been resolved, the decree permitting the
The Order against Haman’s Decree annihilation of the Jews still stands. Esther seeks to take advantage of the favorable hour
Esther 8:3–17 and annul the evil decree that threatens her people.

3 Esther spoke again before the king, fell before his feet, while conveniently disregarding his own involvement in the
cried and besought him to repeal the evil of Haman the plot against the Jews.
Agagite, and his plot that he had devised against the 8 As for you, write concerning the Jews a different missive, as
Jews. is pleasing in your eyes in the king’s name, and seal it with
4 The king extended to Esther the golden scepter, to signal to the king’s ring, so that the two orders cancel each other out;
the queen, who was lying on the floor at his feet, that she was for a text that is written in the name of the king and sealed
permitted to arise and speak her mind. And Esther rose and with the ring of the king, may not be revoked. According
stood before the king. to the laws of the kingdom, not even the king can nullify his
5 She said, choosing her words carefully in order arouse all the own orders, as once written they are considered to be absolute,
king’s love and affection for her: If it pleases the king, and if divine commands. Consequently, another royal communiqué,
I have found favor before him, and the matter is proper be- formulated in such a manner that it will bypass the previous
fore the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be writ- command and limit its significance, must be written.
ten to return the scrolls that were sent as part of the plot of 9 Indeed the king’s scribes were summoned at that time,
Haman son of Hamedata the Agagite that he wrote to elimi- in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the
nate the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces, and to can- twenty-third day of it,b roughly three months after Haman
cel their validity; was hanged; it was written according to everything that
6 for how can I bear and see the harm that will find my Mordekhai commanded concerning the Jews. The missives
people;d and how can I bear and see the elimination of my were sent to the satraps, the governors, and princes of the
birthplace? By this stage, Esther no longer had any concerns provinces, which are from India to Kush, one hundred and
for herself. She knew that she would be left untouched, but she twenty-seven provinces, each and every province according
implored the king not to let her people be harmed as a result of to its script, and each and every people according to its lan-
the missives that had been sent in his name. guage, and on this occasion even to the Jews according to their
7 King Ahashverosh said to Queen Esther and to Mordekhai script, and according to their language. Since this time Jews
the Jew, who was present: Behold, I gave the house of were not merely the passive targets of the order but active partic-
Haman to Esther, as a gesture of goodwill, and they hanged ipants in its implementation, they too received the missives.64
him on the gibbet because he sought to do violence to the 10 He, Mordekhai, wrote in the name of King Ahashverosh
Jews. Once again the king places the blame entirely on Haman and he sealed with the ring of the king that he had received.

Discussion
8:6 |  For how can I bear and see the harm not accord with the interests of the kingdom, seen in the response of King Artahshasta to
that will find my people: A person’s concern would not be considered a betrayal but rather Nehemiah’s misery (Nehemiah 2:1–9).
for his people or family, even when this does a respectable, appropriate reaction. This is also

34
 ‫מגילת אסתר | פרק ח‬

‫רֹוש ְְל ֶא ְְְס ֵּ ֣תר ַה ַּמ ְְְל ָּ֔כה‬ ‫    בּי֣ ֹום ַה ֗הוּא נָ ַ֞תן ַה ֶּמ ֶ֤ל ְְְך ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ׁ ֙‬ ‫ַּ‬ ‫ַה ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך ׁ ָש ָכ ָֽכה‪:‬‬ ‫א‬ ‫ח‬
‫ַהּיְְ הו ִ ּ֑דים‬ ‫ֽי־ה ִ ּג ָ֥ידה ֶא ְְְס ֵּ ֖תר ָמ֥ה‬ ‫היהודיים ו ָָּמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַ֗כי ֚ ָּבא ִלפְְְ נֵ ֣י ַה ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך ִּכ ִ‬ ‫֑‬ ‫ת־ב֥ית ָה ָ ֖מן צ ֵ ֹ֣רר‬ ‫ֶא ֵּ‬
‫֧שם‬ ‫ת־ט ַּב ְְְע ּ֗תֹו ֲא ׁ ֶש֤ר ֶה ֱֽע ִבי ֙ר ֵמ ָֽה ָ֔מן וַ ּֽיִ ְְּתנָ ּ֖ה ְְל ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ָכ֑י וַ ָּת ֶ ׂ‬ ‫ּא־ל ּֽה‪ :‬וַ ָּ֨י ַסר ַה ֶּ֜מ ֶל ְְְך ֶא ַ‬ ‫הו ָ‬ ‫ב‬

‫ֹוסף ֶא ְְְס ֵּ֗תר וַ ְְּת ַד ֵּב ֙ר ִלפְְְ נֵ ֣י‬ ‫ל־־־ב֥ית ָה ָ ֽמן‪     :‬וַ ּ֣ת ֶ‬ ‫־־־מ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכ֖י ַע ֵּ‬ ‫ֶא ְְְס ֵּ ֛תר ֶ ֽאת ָָ‬ ‫ג‬

‫ת־ר ַעת֙ ָה ָ ֣מן ָה ֲֽאגָ ִ֔גי וְְ ֵאת֙‬ ‫ן־לֹו ְְל ַה ֲֽע ִבי ֙ר ֶא ָ‬ ‫ַה ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך וַ ִּת ּ ֖פֹל ִלפְְְ נֵ ֣י ַרגְְְ ָל֑יו וַ ֵּ ֣ת ְְְב ְְְּך וַ ִּ ֽת ְְְת ַח ֶּנ ֗‬
‫ֹושט ַה ֶּ֙מ ֶל ְְְ ֙ך ְְל ֶא ְְְס ֵּ֔תר ֵ ֖את ׁ ַש ְְְר ִ ֣בט ַהּזָ ָה֑ב‬ ‫ל־הּיְְ הו ִ ּֽדים‪ :‬וַ ּי֤ ׁ ֶ‬ ‫שר ָח ׁ ַש֖ב ַע ַ‬ ‫ַ ֽמ ֲח ׁ ַש ְְְב ּ֔תֹו ֲא ׁ ֶ ֥‬ ‫ד‬

‫֧אתי‬ ‫ם־מצָ ִ‬ ‫ל־ה ֶּ֨מ ֶל ְְְך ֜טֹוב וְְֽֽ ִא ָ‬ ‫ם־ע ַ‬ ‫ֹאמר ִא ַ‬ ‫וַ ָּ ֣ת ָָקם ֶא ְְְס ֵּ֔תר וַ ַּ ֽֽת ֲע ֖מֹד ִלפְְְ נֵ ֥י ַה ֶּמ ֶֽל ְְְך‪֠ ַ :‬ו ּ֠ת ֶ‬ ‫ה‬

‫ת־ה ְְּספָ ִ ֗רים‬ ‫טֹוב֥ה ֲאנִ ֖י ְְּב ֵעינָ ֑יו יִ ָּכ ֵ֞תב ְְל ָה ׁ ִ ֣שיב ֶא ַ‬ ‫ֵ ֣חן ְְלפָ ֗ ָניו וְְ ָכ ׁ ֵש֤ר ַהדָּ ָב ֙ר ִלפְְְ נֵ ֣י ַה ֶּ֔מ ֶלךְְְ וְְ ָ‬
‫שר ְְּב ָָכל־‬ ‫ת־הּיְְ הו ִ ּ֔דים ֲא ׁ ֶ ֖‬ ‫שר ָּכ ַ֗תב ְְל ַא ֵּב ֙ד ֶא ַ‬ ‫ֽן־ה ְְּמ ָ ֙ד ָת ֙א ָה ֲֽאגָ ִ֔גי ֲא ׁ ֶ ֣‬ ‫ַ ֽמ ֲח ׁ ֜ ֶש ֶבת ָה ָמ֤ן ֶּב ַ‬
‫ת־ע ִּ ֑מי וְְ ֵ ֽא ָיכ ָכ ֤ה‬ ‫ְְמ ִדינ֥ ֹות ַה ֶּ ֽמ ֶל ְְְך‪ּ ִ֠ :‬כי ֵ ֽא ָיכ ָכ ֤ה או ַּכל֙ וְְֽֽ ָר ִ ֔א ִיתי ָּב ָֽר ָע֖ה ֲא ׁ ֶשר־יִ ְְְמצָ ֣א ֶא ַ‬ ‫ו‬

‫ֹש ְְל ֶא ְְְס ֵּ ֣תר‬ ‫ֹאמר ַה ֶּמ ֶ֤ל ְְְך ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ר ׁ ֙‬ ‫או ַּכל֙ וְְֽֽ ָר ִ ֔א ִיתי ְְּב ָָא ְְְב ַ ֖דן ֽמ ַֹול ְְְד ִּ ֽתי‪     :‬וַ ּי֨ ֶ‬ ‫ז‬

‫ל־ה ֵ֔עץ‬ ‫ֽית־ה ָ֜מן נָ ַ ֣ת ִּתי ְְל ֶא ְְְס ֵּ֗תר וְְ אֹת ֹ֙ו ָּת ֣ל ּו ַע ָ‬ ‫ַה ַּמ ְְְל ָּ֔כה ֽ ּו ְְְל ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכ֖י ַהּיְְ הו ִ ּ֑די ִה ֨ ֵּנה ֵב ָ‬
‫ַּבּיְְ הו ִ ּֽדים‬ ‫יכ ֙ם‬ ‫ל־־־הּיְְ ה ּו ִ ֜דים ַּכ ּ ֤טֹוב ְְּב ֵעֽינֵ ֶ‬ ‫ביהודיים‪ְְ ֠ :‬ו ַא ֶּ֠תם ִּכ ְְְת ֨ב ּו ַע ַ‬ ‫ֽ‬ ‫ר־־־ש ַל֥ח יָ ֖דֹו‬ ‫ַע֛ל ֲא ׁ ֶש ׁ ָ‬ ‫ח‬

‫ם־־־ה ֶּ֗מ ֶל ְְְך‬ ‫ש ַ‬ ‫י־־־כ ָ֞תב ֲא ׁ ֶשר־נִ ְְְכ ָּ ֣תב ְְּב ׁ ֵ ֽ‬ ‫שם ַה ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך וְְ ִח ְְְת ֖מ ּו ְְּב ַט ַּב ַ֣עת ַה ֶּמ ֶ֑ל ְְְך ִּ ֽכ ְְ‬ ‫ְְּב ׁ ֵ ֣‬
‫ת־ה ִ֠היא‬ ‫י־־־ה ֶּ ֣מ ֶל ְְְך ָּב ֵֽע ֠ ַ‬ ‫וְְ נַ ְְְח ּ֛תֹום ְְּב ַט ַּב ַ֥עת ַה ֶּ ֖מ ֶל ְְְך ֵ ֥אין ְְל ָה ׁ ִ ֽשיב‪ :‬וַ ּיִ ָֽ ּק ְְר ֣א ּו ֽסֹפְְ ֵ ֽר ַ‬ ‫ט‬

‫ל־א ׁ ֶשר־‬ ‫לֹושה וְְ ֶע ְְְ ׂש ִר ֮ים ּבֹו֒ וַ ּיִ ָּכ ֵ ֣תב ְְּֽֽכ ָָכ ֲ‬ ‫ּא־ח ֶֹד ׁש ִס ָ ֗יון ִּב ׁ ְְְש ׁ ָ ֣‬ ‫ישי הו ֣‬ ‫ַּב ֨ח ֶֹד ׁש ַה ׁ ּ ְְש ִל ׁ ֜ ִ‬
‫שר ׀‬ ‫ל־הּיְְ הו ִ ּ֡דים וְְ ֶ ֣אל ָה ֲֽא ַח ׁ ְְְשדַּ ְְְר ּ ְְפ ִנ֣ים וְְ ַה ּ ַפחֹות֩ וְְ ָ ׂש ֵ ֨רי ַה ְְּמ ִדינ֜ ֹות ֲא ׁ ֶ ֣‬ ‫צִ ָ ּו֣ה ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכ֣י ֶא ַ‬
‫ד־־־כו ּׁש ׁ ֶש ַ֣בע וְְ ֶע ְְְ ׂש ִ ֤רים ו ֵּמ ָא ֙ה ְְמ ִד ֔ ָינה ְְמ ִדינָ ֤ה ו ְְְּמ ִדינָ ֙ה ִּכ ְְְכ ָת ָ֔ב ּה וְְ ַע֥ם‬ ‫ֵמ ֣הֹדּ ּו וְְ ַע ּ֗‬
‫ל־הּיְְ הו ִ ּ֔דים ִּכ ְְְכ ָת ָב֖ם וְְ ִכ ְְְל ׁשֹונָ ֽם‪ :‬וַ ּיִ ְְְכ ּ֗תֹב ְְּב ׁ ֵש ֙ם ַה ֶּמ ֶ֣ל ְְְך ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֔ר ֹׁש‬ ‫וָ ָע֖ם ִּכ ְְְל ׁשֹנ֑ ֹו וְְ ֶ ֨א ַ‬ ‫י‬

‫‪BACKground‬‬
‫‪8:9 |  In the third month, which is the month‬‬ ‫‪missives negating his decree is that they waited‬‬ ‫‪of the new command (see Vilna Gaon, Seder‬‬
‫‪of Sivan, on the twenty-third day of it: One‬‬ ‫‪for the original messengers to return in order to‬‬ ‫‪Olam Rabba 29).‬‬
‫‪explanation for the long delay between the‬‬ ‫‪send them back again, as the return of the very‬‬
‫‪hanging of Haman and the sending of the‬‬ ‫‪same messengers would reinforce the credibility‬‬

‫‪35‬‬
 Megillat Esther | Chapter 9

He sent scrolls in the hand of the couriers on horses, riders 13 The text of the document, the royal decree, was to issue a di-
on the finest steeds owned by the king,65 the mules born to rective in each and every province, to be disclosed to all the
mares.b peoples, publicized to everyone, for the Jews to be ready for
that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. The same
day that was designated for their destruction would be the day
of their salvation.
14 The couriers, riders on the finest steeds went out again
urgently and hastily by edict of the king, in order to dis-
seminate the new order as quickly as possible throughout the
kingdom, and the directive was also issued in Shushan the
capital itself.
15 Mordekhai, who had just received his new appointment, came
out from before the king dressed in royal garments made
of sky-blue and white woven material, with a great golden
crown upon his head, and wrapped with a cloak66 of fine linen
and purple wool;b and the Jewish population of the city of
Shushan reveled and rejoiced, upon seeing that their repre-
sentative had risen to a position of power and had become the
Horseman, stone relief, Nineveh, 645–635 BCE most influential man in the kingdom.
16 For the Jews there was light, and joy, and gladness, and
honor, as instead of the bloody pogrom that had been planned,
11 The missives stated that the king had authorized the Jews in which they were not meant to have any right to self-defense
who were in each and every city to assemble and to defend whatsoever, they were now legally permitted to protect them-
themselves. Whereas the previous order allowed all those who selves and fight their enemies.
wished to do so to attack the Jews, under the assumption that 17 In each and every province and in each and every city, any
the Jews were forbidden to retaliate, here the king permitted place where the king’s edict and his directive reached, there
them to defend themselves, and even to destroy, to kill, and was joy and gladness for the Jews, a banquet and a holi-
to eliminate the armies of people and provinces that are day, and many from the peoples of the land pretended to
hostile to them, children and women, and to plunder their be Jews,67 or professed to favor the Jews but without internal
spoils. The Jews were granted royal consent to wage total war conviction, as the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them. The
against any enemy. missives alone produced such a great impression that even be-
12 This order would come into effect on one day in all the prov- fore their directive was put into practice, the Jews began rejoic-
inces of King Ahashverosh, on the thirteenth day of the ing and others became fearful.
twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, the same date
that was previously fixed for their destruction.

In this section, the order issued by the king, together with Esther and Mordekhai, is carried out. It
The Jews’ Victory and Its is implemented to an even greater extent than Ahashverosh has already authorized. As it nears its
Commemoration conclusion, it is related how this miraculous deliverance is to be memorialized in the Jewish national
Esther 9:1–32 consciousness. This is achieved in two ways: First, Mordekhai formalizes the initially spontaneous
days of rejoicing over the salvation and the victory, which people begin to observe as soon as they
are spared from the threat. He establishes them as permanent dates of feasting and joy that will be commemorated by the nation throughout its
generations. Second, Esther and Mordekhai write a record of the events, which is this book.
9 1 In the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, on the thir- 2 The Jews assembled in their cities in all the provinces of
teenth day of it, the date that Haman fixed for the destruction King Ahashverosh where there were Jewish communities, to
of the Jews, when the time arrived for the king’s edict and extend their hand against those who sought their harm and
his directive to be implemented, as both orders were in force, no man could withstand them, as fear of them had fallen
it was therefore on the day that the enemies of the Jews had upon all the peoples.
hoped to rule over them, it was in fact reversed that it was 3 All the princes of the provinces, the satraps, the governors,
the Jews who ruled over their enemies. and the king’s administrators, the officials and government

36
 ‫מגילת אסתר | פרק ט‬

‫ש‬ ֙ ׁ ‫וַ ּיַ ְְְח ּ֖תֹם ְְּב ַט ַּב ַ֣עת ַה ֶּמ ֶ֑ל ְְְך וַ ּיִ ׁ ְְְש ַל֣ח ְְספָ ִ ֡רים ְְּביַ ֩ד ָ ֽה ָר ֨ ִצים ַּב ּס ּו ִ֜סים ֽר ְְֹכ ֵב֤י ָה ֶ ֙ר ֶכ‬
‫ל־־־עיר‬ ֣ ִ ‫שר ׀ ְְּב ָָכ‬ ֣ ֶ ׁ ‫ ֲא ׁ ֶש ֩ר נָ ַ֨תן ַה ֶּ֜מ ֶל ְְְך ַלּיְְ ה ּו ִ ֣דים ׀ ֲא‬:‫ָה ֲֽא ַח ׁ ְְְש ְְּת ָר ֔ ִנים ְְּבנֵ ֖י ָ ֽה ַר ָּמ ִכֽים‬ ‫יא‬

‫ל־־־חיל ַע֧ם‬ ֵ֨ ‫־־־כ‬ ָָּ ‫וָ ִ֗עיר ְְֽֽל ִה ָ ּק ֵה ֮ל וְְ ַל ֲֽע ֣מֹד ַעל־־־נַ פְְְ ׁ ָש ֒ם ְְל ַה ׁ ְְְש ִמי ֩ד וְְ ַל ֲֽה ֨רֹג ו ְְְּל ַא ֵּ֜בד ֶאת‬
‫ל־־־מ ִדינ֖ ֹות ַה ֶּמ ֶ֣ל ְְְך‬ ְְ ‫ ְְּביֹ֣ום ֶא ָ֔חד ְְּב ָָכ‬:‫נָשים ו ׁ ְְְּש ָל ָל֖ם ָל ֽבֹוז‬ ֑ ִ ׁ ְְ‫ו ְְְּמ ִדינָ ֛ה ַה ָּצ ִ ֥רים א ָ ֹ֖תם ַ ֣טף ו‬ ‫יב‬

‫ ּ ַפ ְְְת ׁ ֶש֣גֶ ן‬:‫א־־־ח ֶֹד ׁש ֲא ָ ֽדר‬ ֥ ‫שר ה ּו‬ ֖ ׂ ָ ‫ֽים־־־ע‬

ָ ֵ‫שר ְְל ֥ח ֶֹד ׁש ׁ ְְשנ‬ ֛ ׂ ָ ‫לֹושה ָע‬ ֥ ָ ׁ ‫ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֑ר ֹׁוש ִּב ׁ ְְְש‬ ‫יג‬

‫ַהּיְְ הו ִ ּ֤דים‬ ‫היהודיים‬ ֤ ‫ל־ה ַֽע ִּ ֑מים וְְ ִ ֽל ְְְהי֨ ֹות‬ ָ ‫ל־מ ִדינָ ֣ה ו ְְְּמ ִד ֔ ָינה ָ ּג ֖לוּי ְְל ָָכ‬ ְְ ‫ַה ְְּכ ָ֗תב ְְל ִה ָּנ ֤ ֵ ֽתן דָּ ת֙ ְְּב ָָכ‬
‫ֲע ִת ִידי ֙ם‬ ‫ש ָה ֲֽא ַח ׁ ְְְש ְְּת ָר ֔ ִנים יָ ֽצְְ ֛א ּו‬ ֙ ׁ ‫ ָה ָֽר ֞ ִצים ֽר ְְֹכ ֵב֤י ָה ֶ ֙ר ֶכ‬:‫יהֽם‬ ֶ ‫עתודי ֙ם ַלּי֣ ֹום ַה ֶּ֔זה ְְל ִה ּנ ֵ ָ֖קם ֵמ ֽא ֵֹיְְב‬ ‫יד‬

‫    ו ָָּמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַ֞כי‬:‫ּשן ַה ִּב ָ ֽירה‬ ֥ ַ ׁ ‫ְְמ ֽב ָֹה ִ ֥לים ו ְְְּדחוּפִ ֖ים ִּב ְְְד ַב֣ר ַה ֶּמ ֶ֑ל ְְְך וְְ ַהדָּ ֥ ת נִ ְְּתנָ ֖ה ְְּב ׁשו‬ ‫טו‬

‫יך‬ ְְְ ‫דֹולה וְְ ַת ְְְכ ִ ֥ר‬ ָ֔ ‫יָ צָ ֣א ׀ ִמ ִּלפְְְ נֵ ֣י ַה ֶּ֗מ ֶל ְְְך ִּב ְְְל ֤בו ּׁש ַמ ְְְלכוּת֙ ְְּת ֵכ ֶ֣לת וָ ֔חוּר וַ ֲֽע ֶ ֤ט ֶרת זָ ָה ֙ב ְְ ּג‬
‫אֹורה וְְ ִ ׂש ְְְמ ָח֑ה וְְ ָ ׂש ֖ ׂשֹן ה‬ ֖ ָ ‫ לּיְְ הו ִ ּ֕דים ָהֽיְְ ָ ֥תה‬:‫ה‬ ַ ‫ּ֖בוּץ וְְ ַא ְְְר ָ ּג ָמ֑ן וְְ ָה ִ ֣עיר ׁשו ׁ ֔ ָּשן צָ ֲֽה ָל֖ה וְְ ָ ׂש ֵ ֽמ ָח‬ ‫טז‬

‫ר־ה ֶּמ ֶ֤ל ְְְך וְְ ָדת ֹ֙ו ַמ ִ֔ ּג ַיע‬ ַ ‫ל־עיר וָ ִ֗עיר ְְמקֹו ֙ם ֲא ׁ ֨ ֶשר דְְּ ַב‬ ֣ ִ ‫ל־מ ִד ֨ ָינה ו ְְְּמ ִד ֜ ָינה ו ְְְּב ָָכ‬ ְְ ‫ ו ְְְּב ָָכ‬:‫וִ ָֽיקר‬ ‫יז‬

‫ִ ׂש ְְְמ ָח֤ה וְְ ָ ׂששׂ ֹו ֙ן ַלּיְְ הו ִ ּ֔דים ִמ ׁ ְְְש ֶּ ֖תה וְְ יֹ֣ום ֑טֹוב וְְ ַר ִּ֞בים ֵ ֽמ ַע ֵּמ֤י ָה ָ ֙א ֶר ֙ץ ִ ֽמ ְְְתיַ ֲֽה ִ ֔דים ִּכֽי־נָ פַ ֥ל‬
‫שר יֹו ֙ם‬ ֥ ׂ ָ ‫ֹושה ָע‬ ָ ֨ ׁ ‫ּא־ח ֶֹד ׁש ֲא ָ ֗דר ִּב ׁ ְְְשל‬ ֣ ‫ ו ִּב ׁ ְְְשנֵי ֩ם ָע ֨ ָ ׂשר ֜ח ֶֹד ׁש הו‬:‫יהֽם‬ ֶ ‫ד־הּיְְ הו ִ ּ֖דים ֲע ֵל‬ ַ ‫ּ ַפ ַֽח‬ ‫א‬ ‫ט‬
‫ר־ה ֶּ ֛מ ֶל ְְְך וְְ ָד ֖תֹו ְְל ֵה ָֽע ֑ ׂשֹות ַּבּי֗ ֹום ֲא ׁ ֨ ֶשר ִ ׂש ְְּב ֜ר ּו ֽא ֵֹיְְב֤י ַהּיְְ הו ִּדי ֙ם‬ ַ ‫ּ֔בֹו ֲא ׁ ֨ ֶשר ִה ִ ּג ַ֧יע דְְּ ַב‬
‫ נִ ְְְק ֲה ֨ל ּו‬:‫יהֽם‬ ֶ ‫ֹוך ֔הוּא ֲא ׁ ֨ ֶשר יִ ׁ ְְְש ְְל ֧ט ּו ַהּיְְ הו ִ ּ֛דים ֵה ָּ֖מה ְְּב ֽ ׂשֹנְְ ֵא‬ ְְְ ֣‫ִל ׁ ְְְש ֣לֹוט ָּב ֶ֔הם וְְ נַ ֲֽהפ‬ ‫ב‬

‫שי ָ ֽר ָע ָ ֑תם‬ ֖ ֵ ׁ ‫ל־מ ִדינֹות֙ ַה ֶּמ ֶ֣ל ְְְך ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֔ר ֹׁוש ִל ׁ ְְְש ֣ל ַֹח ָ֔יד ִּב ְְְמ ַב ְְְק‬ ְְ ‫יהם ְְּב ָָכ‬ ֶ֗ ‫ַהּיְְ הו ִ ּ֜דים ְְּב ָע ֵֽר‬

BACKground
8:10 |  The couriers on horses, riders on the last part of the verse is probably referring to rid- distances. Only those messengers sent to the
finest steeds [rekhesh] the mules born to ers of fast mules, the offspring of a select breed far corners of the kingdom required mules that
mares: The royal horseback messengers were of mares, as these could gallop along the moun- could cope with hilly terrain.
part of a remarkable system of communica- tainous regions of central and northern Persia, 8:15 |  In royal garments of sky blue and
tion and road networks created by Darius I. In as well as Anatolia. Perhaps the three different white, with a great golden crown, and a
order to increase their speed on the flat terrain types of messengers specified in this verse, cloak of linen and purple wool: (See commen-
of Mesopotamia, the king’s messengers would those on “horses,” “riders on the finest steeds,” tary on 1:6; see also the image of the king with
change their horses at waystations. Rekhesh is and on “mules born to mares,” performed dif- his second-in-command standing behind him,
the name for a legendarily light, swift horse. The ferent missions, for short, medium, and long dressed in similar attire).

37
 Megillat Esther | Chapter 9

representatives, elevated or honored the Jews, because the provoking hatred against themselves. Therefore, they made do
fear of Mordekhai had fallen upon them. When the first mis- with killing their enemies, but they did not touch their property,
sives were sent, Haman was the chief minister. Now, however, despite the fact that in his communiqué the king had granted
Mordekhai is the foremost of the king’s ministers, and therefore the Jews permission to loot their enemies’ possessions.68
everyone granted the Jews the freedom of action they required. 11 On that day, the number of those killed in Shushan the cap-
4 For Mordekhai was great in status in the king’s palace, ital came before the king, through his extensive intelligence
and his renown spread in all the provinces, for the man network.
Mordekhai was growing greater. 12 The king said to Queen Esther: The Jews have killed and
5 The Jews smote all their enemies a blow of the sword, kill- eliminated five hundred men in Shushan the capital, along
ing, and destruction, and they did to their enemies as they with the ten sons of Haman; if so, in the rest of the king’s
willed. provinces I imagine they have done likewise. It can be as-
sumed that the results are comparable in the other provinces,
even though the numbers are not yet known. Your people have
avenged themselves upon their enemies as you wished. What
is your wish and it will be granted you? What else do you
request and it will be done?
13 Esther said, realizing that the king wanted to make her happy
and to fulfill her every desire: If it pleases the king, let tomor-
Sword, Persepolis, 560–331 BCE row, too, be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do
in accordance with today’s directive. Although this was not
6 In Shushan the capital the Jews killed and eliminated five written in the original missives, I would like you to issue a ver-
hundred men, their enemies who had planned to attack the bal instruction permitting the Jews in Shushan, which was likely
Jews on that day, and who had perhaps taunted the Jews earlier where the core supporters of Haman were based,69 to complete
and boasted of their heinous plans. the task. And have them hang Haman’s ten sons, who have
7 And Parshandata, Dalfon, Aspata, already been killed,70 upon the gibbet, as a public display that
8 Porata, Adalya, Aridata, the king and the authorities support the action that has been
9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vayzata, taken, and that they consider these men criminals rather than
10 the ten sons of Haman the son of Hamedata, the adversary random victims of indiscriminate rioting.
of the Jews, they killed; but they did not extend their hands 14 The king said to do so, and a directive was issued permit-
to the spoils. The Jews did not consider this conflict a war ting another day of vengeance in Shushan, and they hanged
but an act of defense, and furthermore, they wished to avoid Haman’s ten sons.

38
 ‫מגילת אסתר | פרק ט‬

‫ל־ש ֵ ֨רי ַה ְְּמ ִדינ֜ ֹות‬ ‫ל־ה ַֽע ִּ ֽמים‪ :‬וְְ ָָכ ָ ׂ‬ ‫ל־כ ָ‬ ‫נֵיהם ִּכֽי־נָ פַ ֥ל ּ ַפ ְְְחדָּ ֖ ם ַע ָָּ‬ ‫ֹא־ע ַ ֣מד ִלפְְְ ֶ֔‬ ‫יש ֽל ָ‬ ‫וְְ ִא ׁ ֙‬ ‫ג‬

‫ת־הּיְְ הו ִ ּ֑דים‬ ‫נַשׂ ִ ֖אים ֶא ַ‬ ‫שר ַל ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך ְְמ ּ ְְ‬ ‫אכ ֙ה ֲא ׁ ֶ ֣‬ ‫וְְ ָה ֲֽא ַח ׁ ְְְשדַּ ְְְר ּ ְְפ ִנ֣ים וְְ ַה ּ ַפ ֗חֹות וְְ ע ֵ ֹׂש֤י ַה ְְּמ ָל ָ‬
‫הֹול ְְְ֣ך ְְּב ָָכל־‬
‫יהֽם‪ִּ :‬כֽי־גָ ֤דֹול ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכי֙ ְְּב ֵב֣ית ַה ֶּ֔מ ֶל ְְְך וְְ ׁ ָָש ְְְמ ֖עֹו ֵ‬ ‫ד־מ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכ֖י ֲע ֵל ֶ‬
‫ִּכֽי־נָ פַ ֥ל ּ ַפ ַֽח ָָ‬ ‫ד‬

‫־־־ח ֶרב‬ ‫יהם ַמ ַּכת ֶ ֥‬ ‫ל־א ֵֹיְְב ֶ֔‬

‫הֹול ְְְ֥ך וְְ גָ ֽדֹול‪ :‬וַ ּיַ ּ֤כ ּו ַהּיְְ הו ִּדי ֙ם ְְּב ָָכ ֣‬ ‫ֽי־ה ִ ֥א ׁיש ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכ֖י ֵ‬ ‫ַה ְְּמ ִדינ֑ ֹות ִּכ ָ‬ ‫ה‬

‫ּשן ַה ִּב ָ ֗ירה ָֽֽֽה ְְרג֤ ּו ַהּיְְ הו ִּדי ֙ם וְְ ַא ֵּ֔בד‬ ‫יה֖ם ִּכ ְְְרצֹונָ ֽם‪ :‬ו ְְְּב ׁשו ׁ ַ ֣‬ ‫וְְ ֶה ֶ֖רג וְְ ַא ְְְב ָ ֑דן וַ ּיַ ֲֽע ֥ ׂש ּו ְְב ֽ ׂשֹנְְ ֵא ֶ‬ ‫ו‬

‫וְְ ֵא֧ת ׀‬ ‫ֲח ֵ ֥מ ׁש ֵמ ֖אֹות ִ ֽא ׁיש‪:‬‬ ‫ז‬

‫וְְ ֵ ֥את ׀‬ ‫ּ ַפ ְְְר ׁ ַשנְְְ דָּ ֛ ָתא‬

‫וְְ ֵ ֥את ׀‬ ‫דַּ ְְְלפ֖ ֹון‬
‫וְְ ֵא֧ת ׀‬ ‫ַא ְְְס ּ ָפ ָֽתא‪:‬‬ ‫ח‬

‫וְְ ֵ ֥את ׀‬ ‫ֹור ָתא‬ ‫ּפ ָ ֛‬

‫וְְ ֵ ֥את ׀‬ ‫ֲא ַד ְְְליָ ֖א‬
‫וְְ ֵא֤ת ׀‬ ‫יד ָתא‪:‬‬ ‫ֲא ִר ָ ֽ‬ ‫ט‬

‫וְְ ֵ ֣את ׀‬ ‫ּ ַפ ְְְר ַ֙מ ׁ ְְְש ָּת ֙א‬

‫וְְ ֵ ֥את ׀‬ ‫יסי‬ ‫ֲא ִר ַ֔‬
‫וְְ ֵ ֥את ׀‬ ‫ידי‬ ‫ֲא ִר ַ ֖‬
‫ֲ֠ע ֠ ֶ ׂש ֶרת‬ ‫יְְְ ָז ָֽתא‪:‬‬ ‫וַ‬ ‫י‬

‫ש ְְל ֖ח ּו ֶאת־יָ ָ ֽדם‪ַּ :‬בּי֣ ֹום ַה ֗הוּא‬ ‫ֽן־ה ְְּמ ָ ֛ד ָתא צ ֵ ֹ֥רר ַהּיְְ הו ִ ּ֖דים ָה ָ ֑רג ּו ו ַּ֨ב ִּב ָּ֔זה ֥ל ֹא ׁ ָ ֽ‬ ‫ְְּב ֨ ֵני ָה ָמ֧ן ֶּב ַ‬ ‫יא‬

‫ֹאמר ַה ֶּ֜מ ֶל ְְְך ְְל ֶא ְְְס ֵּ ֣תר ַה ַּמ ְְְל ָּ֗כה‬ ‫ירה ִלפְְְ נֵ ֥י ַה ֶּמ ֶֽל ְְְך‪ :‬וַ ּי֨ ֶ‬ ‫ּשן ַה ִּב ָ ֖‬ ‫ָּב֣א ִמ ְְְס ּ ַפ֧ר ַה ֲֽהרו ִּג֛ים ְְּב ׁשו ׁ ַ ֥‬ ‫יב‬

‫ֽי־ה ָ֔מן‬ ‫ּשן ַה ִּב ָ ֡ירה ָה ְְֽרג ּ֩ו ַהּיְְ הו ִ ּ֨דים וְְ ַא ֵּ֜בד ֲח ֵמ ׁ֧ש ֵמ ֣אֹות ִ ֗א ׁיש וְְ ֵאת֙ ֲעשֶׂ ֣ ֶרת ְְּבנֵ ָ‬ ‫ְְּב ׁשו ׁ ַ ֣‬
‫ה־ב ָֽ ּק ׁ ָש ֵ ֥ת ְְְך ֖עֹוד‬‫ה־ש ֵ ֽא ָל ֵת ְְְ ֙ך וְְ יִ ָּנ ֵ ֽ֣תן ָ֔ל ְְְך ו ַּמ ַּ‬ ‫ִּב ׁ ְְְש ָ ֛אר ְְמ ִדינ֥ ֹות ַה ֶּמ ֶ֖ל ְְְך ֶמ֣ה ָע ֑ ׂש ּו ו ַּמ ׁ ּ ְְ‬
‫שר ְְּב ׁשו ׁ ֔ ָּשן‬ ‫ם־מ ָ֗חר ַלּיְְ הו ִּדי ֙ם ֲא ׁ ֶ ֣‬ ‫ל־ה ֶּמ ֶ֣לךְְְ ֔טֹוב ָּיִנ ֵ ֣תן ַ ּג ָ‬ ‫ם־ע ַ‬ ‫ֹאמר ֶא ְְְס ֵּת ֙ר ִא ַ‬ ‫וְְ ֵת ָעֽשׂ ‪ :‬וַ ּ֤ת ֶ‬ ‫יג‬

‫ֹאמר ַה ֶּ֙מ ֶלךְְְ ֙ ְְל ֵה ָֽע ֣ ׂשֹות‬ ‫ל־ה ֵעֽץ‪ :‬וַ ּי֤ ֶ‬ ‫ֽי־ה ָמ֖ן יִ ְְְת ֥ל ּו ַע ָ‬ ‫ש ֶרת ְְּבנֵ ָ‬ ‫ַל ֲֽע ֖ ׂשֹות ְְּכ ָ ֣דת ַהּי֑ ֹום וְְ ֵ ֛את ֲע ֶ ׂ ֥‬ ‫יד‬

‫ַהּיְְ הו ִ ּ֣דים‬ ‫ר־ב ׁשו ׁ ֗ ָּשן‬

‫היהודיים ֲא ׁ ֶש ְְּ‬ ‫֣‬ ‫ֽי־ה ָמ֖ן ָּת ֽלוּ‪ :‬וַ ִּי ָֽ ּֽק ֲה ֞ל ּו‬ ‫ש ֶרת ְְּבנֵ ָ‬ ‫ֵּ֔כן וַ ִּת ָּנ ֵ ֥תן דָּ ֖ ת ְְּב ׁשו ׁ ָּש֑ן וְְ ֵ ֛את ֲע ֶ ׂ ֥‬ ‫טו‬

‫‪39‬‬
 Megillat Esther | Chapter 9

15 The Jews who were in Shushan assembled on the four- transformed for them from sorrow to joy, and from mourn-
teenth day of the month of Adar as well, and killed another ing to holiday, to observe them as days of banquet and joy,
three hundred men in Shushan, but also in this instance they and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the indi-
did not extend their hand to the spoils. gent, so that the poor should also participate in the festivities.
16 The rest of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces, per- 23 The Jews as a people undertook;74 alternatively, each indi-
haps including the province of Judah, which is not explicitly vidual Jew accepted to continue that which they had begun
mentioned here, but whose Jewish residents were experienc- to practice at the time, and that which Mordekhai wrote to
ing harassment during this time,71 assembled and defended them.
themselves. And in doing so they rested from the attacks of 24 Mordekhai’s brief summary of the events, as he wrote to the
their enemies. Then they went on the offensive and killed Jews, went as follows: Because Haman son of Hamedata
seventy-five thousand of their enemies, throughout the king- the Agagite, adversary of all the Jews, not only the enemy of
dom, but again, did not extend their hand to the spoils. Mordekhai alone,75 had plotted against the Jews to eliminate
17 It, all this, was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, them, and he cast the pur, that is in Hebrew the lot [goral], in
and the rest from fighting was on the fourteenth of it, and order to determine a date on which to crush them, and elimi-
it was made a day of banqueting and joy, in honor of the nate them.
victory. 25 But when she, Esther,76 came before the king; alternatively,
18 But the Jews who were in Shushan assembled together to when it, Haman’s intention, came before the king, he said: By
avenge themselves upon their enemies on the thirteenth of it, means of the scroll may his wicked plot that he had devised
and on the fourteenth of it; and rested from battle on the fif- against the Jews return upon his head. When he summarized
teenth of it, and it was made a day of banqueting and joy. They what happened, Mordekhai was careful not to mention that
celebrated the victory one day later than the rest of the empire. Ahashverosh had initially signed Haman’s decree. Rather, he
19 Therefore, the unwalled Jews, that is, those who live in the described the events in such a manner that it seemed that when
unwalled cities,b whose residents were exposed to great danger, the missives appeared the king was surprised to discover that
observe the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day of his minister had used his authority for reprehensible ends, and
joy, banqueting, and a holiday, each in their own home, and as a result he commanded that Haman be punished.,77 Indeed,
furthermore, a day of sending portions of food one to another, they hanged him and his sons on the gibbet.
which involves leaving the house. All this was performed in order 26 Therefore, they called these days Purim, after the pur cast
to increase the joy and publicly express their happiness. The date by Haman. Therefore, for all the matters of this missive of
on which they spontaneously celebrated at that time became a Mordekhai, and this communiqué included an account of what
day of rejoicing in the following years.72 they saw about that matter, that is, what led them to establish
20 Mordekhai institutionalized these spontaneous festivities by these days: Haman’s pur, which caused such worry, heartache,
instituting a new observance:73 Mordekhai wrote these mat- and days of mourning; and what befell them, how they ulti-
ters, the events that occurred, and he sent these directions in mately achieved victory and rest,
the form of scrolls to all the Jews who were in all the prov- 27 the Jews established and undertook for themselves, and
inces of King Ahashverosh, near and far, for their descendants, and as these days of Purim were estab-
21 to establish for them to observe the victory celebrations of lished for the entire people throughout the generations, they
the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day were also undertaken for everyone who accompanied them,
of it, in each and every year, as permanent days of merriment converts,78 despite the fact that their biological ancestors were
and feasting: not affected. And it was determined that it will not be ne-
22 In accordance with the dates of the days that the Jews of that glected, to observe these two days as they are written, and
generation rested from their enemies, and the month that was on their dates, each and every year.

BACKground
9:19 |  The unwalled [haperazim] Jews, who perazona, which means people from diverse were protected by soldiers of the Persian king-
live in the unwalled cities: The authors of origins, similar to the Hebrew term pezura, di- dom (Tamar Eilam Gindin, The Book of Esther
the book of Esther may have felt it was neces- aspora. It is therefore emphasized that this term Unmasked. Zeresh Publications, 2016 [Hebrew],
sary to elaborate and precisely define the term denotes specifically Jews who lived outside the pp. 144–145).
perazim, because of the similar Persian word fortified capital, or other fortified cities, which

40
 ‫מגילת אסתר | פרק ט‬

‫֠ ַ ּגם ְְּביֹ֣ום ַא ְְְר ָּב ָע֤ה ָע ָ ׂש ֙ר ְְל ֣ח ֶֹד ׁש ֲא ָ ֔דר וַ ּיַ ַֽה ְְְרג֣ ּו ְְב ׁשו ׁ ֔ ָּשן ׁ ְְש ֥ל ֹׁש ֵמ ֖אֹות ִ ֑א ׁיש ו ַּ֨ב ִּב ָּ֔זה ֥ל ֹא‬
‫נִק ֲה ֣ל ּו ׀ וְְ ָע ֣מֹד ַעל־נַ פְְְ ׁ ֗ ָשם‬ ‫ש ְְל ֖ח ּו ֶאת־יָ ָ ֽדם‪ :‬ו ׁ ְְְּש ָ ֣אר ַהּיְְ הו ִ ּ֡דים ֲא ׁ ֶש ֩ר ִּב ְְְמ ִדינ֨ ֹות ַה ֶּ֜מ ֶלךְְְ ְְְ‬ ‫ָֽׁ‬ ‫טז‬

‫ש ְְל ֖ח ּו ֶאת־‬ ‫שה וְְ ׁ ִש ְְְב ִע֖ים ָא ֶ֑לף ו ַּ֨ב ִּב ָּ֔זה ֥ל ֹא ׁ ָ ֽ‬ ‫יהם ֲח ִמ ׁ ּ ָ ֥‬ ‫יהם וְְ ָהרֹוג֙ ְְּב ֣ ׂשֹנְְ ֵא ֶ֔‬ ‫ֹוח ֵמ ֣א ֵֹיְְב ֶ֔‬ ‫וְְ נ֙ ַ ֙‬
‫ֹושה ָע ָ ׂש֖ר ְְל ֣ח ֶֹד ׁש ֲא ָ ֑דר וְְ נ֗ ַֹוח ְְּב ַא ְְְר ָּב ָע֤ה ָע ָ ׂש ֙ר ּ֔בֹו וְְ ָע ֣ ׂשֹה א ֹ֔תֹו יֹ֖ום‬ ‫יֹֽום־של ׁ ָ ֥‬
‫יָ ָ ֽדם‪ְְּ :‬ב ׁ ְְ‬ ‫יז‬

‫וְְ ַהּיְְ הו ִ ּ֣דים‬ ‫ֹוש֤ה ָע ָ ׂש ֙ר ּ֔בֹו ו ְְְּב ַא ְְְר ָּב ָע֥ה‬ ‫נִק ֲהל ּ֙ו ִּב ׁ ְְְשל ׁ ָ‬‫ר־ב ׁשו ׁ ֗ ָּשן ְְְ‬ ‫והיהודיים ֲא ׁ ֶש ְְּ‬ ‫֣‬ ‫ִמ ׁ ְְְש ֶּ ֥תה וְְ ִ ׂש ְְְמ ָ ֽחה‪:‬‬ ‫יח‬

‫ל־כן ַהּיְְ הו ִ ּ֣דים‬ ‫ָע ָ ׂש֖ר ּ֑בֹו וְְ נ֗ ַֹוח ַּב ֲֽח ִמ ׁ ּ ָש֤ה ָע ָ ׂש ֙ר ּ֔בֹו וְְ ָע ֣ ׂשֹה א ֹ֔תֹו יֹ֖ום ִמ ׁ ְְְש ֶּ ֥תה וְְ ִ ׂש ְְְמ ָ ֽחה‪ַ :‬ע ֵּ֞‬ ‫יט‬

‫ַה ּ ְְפ ָר ִ֗זים‬ ‫זֹות ע ֗ ִ ֹׂשים ֠ ֵאת י֣ ֹום ַא ְְְר ָּב ָע ֤ה ָע ָ ׂש ֙ר ְְל ֣ח ֶֹד ׁש ֲא ָ ֔דר‬ ‫הפרוז֗ ים ַהּיֽ ׁ ְְֹש ִב ֮ים ְְּב ָע ֵ ֣רי ַה ּ ְְפ ָר ֒‬
‫ִ ׂש ְְְמ ָ ֥חה ו ִּמ ׁ ְְְש ֶּ ֖תה וְְ י֣ ֹום ֑טֹוב ו ִּמ ׁ ְְְש ֥ל ַֹח ָמנ֖ ֹות ִ ֥א ׁיש ְְל ֵר ֵעֽהוּ‪ :‬וַ ּיִ ְְְכ ּ֣תֹב ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַ֔כי ֶאת־‬ ‫כ‬

‫ל־מ ִדינֹות֙ ַה ֶּמ ֶ֣ל ְְְך‬ ‫ל־הּיְְ הו ִ ּ֗דים ֲא ׁ ֶש ֙ר ְְּב ָָכ ְְ‬ ‫ל־כ ַ‬ ‫ַהדְְּ ָב ִ ֖רים ָה ֵא ֶּ֑לה וַ ּיִ ׁ ְְְש ֨ ַלח ְְספָ ִ ֜רים ֶא ָָּ‬
‫יה ֒ם ִ ֽל ְְְהיֹ֣ות ע ֗ ִ ֹׂשים ֠ ֵאת יֹ֣ום ַא ְְְר ָּב ָע ֤ה‬ ‫חֹוקים‪ְְ :‬ל ַקּיֵ ֮ם ֲע ֵל ֶ‬ ‫רֹובים וְְ ָה ְְֽר ִ ֽ‬ ‫ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֔ר ֹׁוש ַה ְְּק ִ ֖‬ ‫כא‬

‫ר־נח ּו‬ ‫ל־שנָ ֖ה וְְ ׁ ָשנָ ֽה‪ַּ :‬כּיָ ִ֗מים ֲא ׁ ֶש ֨ ָ‬ ‫שה ָע ָ ׂש֖ר ּ֑בֹו ְְּב ָָכ ׁ ָ‬ ‫יֹֽום־ח ִמ ׁ ּ ָ ֥‬
‫ֲ‬ ‫ָע ָ ׂש ֙ר ְְל ֣ח ֶֹד ׁש ֲא ָ ֔דר וְְ ֵ ֛את‬ ‫כב‬

‫יהם וְְ ַה ֗ח ֶֹד ׁש ֲא ׁ ֶש ֩ר נֶ ְְְה ּ ֨ ַפ ְְְך ָל ֶה֤ם ִמּיָגֹו ֙ן ְְל ִ ׂש ְְְמ ָ֔חה ו ֵּמ ֵ ֖א ֶבל ְְליֹ֣ום‬ ‫ָב ֶה֤ם ַהּיְְ הו ִּדי ֙ם ֵמ ֣א ֵֹיְְב ֶ֔‬
‫אֹותם יְְ ֵמי֙ ִמ ׁ ְְְש ֶּ ֣תה וְְ ִ ׂש ְְְמ ָ֔חה ו ִּמ ׁ ְְְש ֤ל ַֹח ָמנֹות֙ ִ ֣א ׁיש ְְל ֵר ֵ֔עה ּו ו ַּמ ָּתנ֖ ֹות‬ ‫֑טֹוב ַל ֲֽע ֣ ׂשֹות ָ֗‬
‫ר־כ ַ ֥תב ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכ֖י‬ ‫ר־ה ֵח ּ֖ל ּו ַל ֲֽע ֑ ׂשֹות וְְ ֵ ֛את ֲא ׁ ֶש ָּ‬ ‫ָל ֶֽא ְְְבי ִֹנֽים‪ :‬וְְ ִק ֵּבל֙ ַהּיְְ הו ִ ּ֔דים ֵ ֥את ֲא ׁ ֶש ֵ‬ ‫כג‬

‫ל־הּיְְ הו ִ ּ֖דים‬‫שב ַע ַ‬ ‫ל־הּיְְ הו ִ ּ֔דים ָח ׁ ַ ֥‬ ‫ֽן־ה ְְּמ ָ ֜ד ָתא ָה ֲֽאגָ ִ֗גי צ ֵֹר ֙ר ָָּכ ַ‬ ‫יהֽם‪ִּ :‬כי֩ ָה ָ֨מן ֶּב ַ‬ ‫ֲא ֵל ֶ‬ ‫כד‬

‫ְְל ַא ְְּב ָ ֑דם וְְ ִה ּ ִ ֥פל ּפ ּו ֙ר ֣הוּא ַהגּ ָ ֹ֔ורל ְְל ֻה ָּ ֖מם ֽ ּו ְְְל ַא ְְּב ָ ֽדם‪ :‬ו ְְּבב ָֹא ּ֮ה ִלפְְְ נֵ ֣י ַה ֶּ֒מ ֶל ְְְ֒ך ָא ַ ֣מר ִעם־‬ ‫כה‬

‫ֹאשֹו וְְ ָת ֥ל ּו א ֹ֛תֹו‬ ‫ל־הּיְְ הו ִ ּ֖דים ַעל־ר ׁ ֑‬ ‫שב ַע ַ‬ ‫ר־ח ׁ ַ ֥‬ ‫ַה ֵּ֔ספֶ ר יָ ׁ ֞שוּב ַ ֽמ ֲח ׁ ַש ְְְב ּ֧תֹו ָ ֽה ָר ָע֛ה ֲא ׁ ֶש ָ‬
‫ל־שם ַה ּ ֔פוּר ַעל־‬ ‫ל־כן ָֽק ְְרא ּ֩ו ַלּיָ ִ֨מים ָה ֵא ֶּ֤לה פו ִּרי ֙ם ַע ׁ ֵ ֣‬ ‫ל־ה ֵעֽץ‪ַ :‬ע ֵּ֡‬ ‫ת־בנָ ֖יו ַע ָ‬ ‫וְְ ֶא ָּ‬ ‫כו‬

‫יהֽם‪ִ :‬קּיְְ ֣מ ּו‬ ‫ל־כ ָכה ו ָּמ֥ה ִה ִ ּג ַ֖יע ֲא ֵל ֶ‬ ‫ה־ר ֣א ּו ַע ָּ֔‬ ‫ּמ ָ‬ ‫ל־כל־דִּ ְְְב ֵ ֖רי ָה ִֽא ֶ ּ ֣ג ֶרת ַהּז֑ ֹאת ו ָ ֽ‬ ‫ֵּ֕כן ַע ָָּ‬ ‫כז‬

‫יה ֙ם וְְ ֣ל ֹא יַ ֲֽע ֔בֹור ִ ֽל ְְְהיֹ֣ות‬ ‫ל־ה ּנ ְְְִלוִ ֤ים ֲע ֵל ֶ‬ ‫יהם ׀ וְְ ַעל־זַ ְְְר ָ֜עם וְְ ַ֨על ָָּכ ַ‬ ‫וְְ ִק ְְּב ֻ ֣ל ַהּיְְ הו ִּדי ֩ם ׀ ֲע ֵל ֶ֨‬
‫ל־־־שנָ ֖ה וְְ ׁ ָשנָ ֽה‪ :‬וְְ ַהּיָ ִ ֣מים‬ ‫־־־שנֵ ֤י ַהּיָ ִמי ֙ם ָה ֵ ֔א ֶּלה ִּכ ְְְכ ָת ָב֖ם וְְ ִכזְְְ ַמ ָּנ ֑ם ְְּב ָָכ ׁ ָ‬ ‫ע ֗ ִ ֹׂשים ֶאת ׁ ְְ‬ ‫כח‬

‫‪41‬‬
 Megillat Esther | Chapter 10

28 These days are remembered and observed in each and 30 He, Mordekhai, sent scrolls to all the Jews, to one hundred
every generation, each and every family, each and every and twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahashverosh,
province, and each and every city. Celebration of the festi- matters of peace and truth. These communiqués were not
val spread through all Jewish communities. Therefore, these written in the form of binding orders, but as an inspirational set
days of Purim will not pass from among the Jews, and their of guidelines from the spiritual leader of the Jews.
memory will not perish from their descendants; they will 31 The missive was sent to establish these days of Purim on
be commemorated forever. Often national days of celebration their dates, as Mordekhai the Jew and Queen Esther estab-
are temporary and forgotten over the passage of time. By con- lished for them, and as they established the matters of the
trast, because this episode involved a plot to destroy the entire fasts and their lamentationsd for themselves and for their
nation, it was therefore a victory that affected the entire people descendants. Just as all the Jews throughout the kingdom of
through all its generations. Ahashverosh had taken part in the communal fast and prayers
29 Queen Esther, daughter of Avihayil, and Mordekhai the when the decree was issued, it was certainly fitting that the en-
Jew, wrote with all authority, with all the power they had tire people likewise share in the commemoration of the events.
at their disposal; alternatively, they wrote about the signifi- 32 The edict of Esther established these matters of Purim, and
cance of the miraculous events in79 this second missive of it was written in the scroll. Since Mordekhai was not a royalty,
Purim. The first one which contained a summary, was sent by his power was limited. Esther reinforced the commemorative
Mordekhai. Later the pair wrote a revised communiqué signed days by recording them, with her signature, in a book, which is
by the queen.80 the book of Esther.81

This short section, which concludes the book of Esther, forms a bookend parallel to its opening
The Greatness of Ahashverosh verses. While the book began with a description of the kingdom of Ahashverosh and his lavish
and Mordekhai feasts, it ends here with a historical record of his reign, conveyed in a formal style.
Esther 10:1–3

10 1 King Ahashverosh imposed a tax on the land, and on the good for his people, as he tried to help the Jewish population
lands of the sea,b as under his rule the kingdom of Persia with the means at his disposal, and an unwavering spokesman
reached the pinnacle of its greatness and power. of peace for all his descendants. All his children and grand-
2 Aren’t all the details of the acts of his, Ahashverosh’s, au- children benefited from his position of greatness.
thority and his might, and the episode of the greatness of
Mordekhai that the king promoted him to the chief minis-
ter of the kingdom, written in the book of the chronicles of
the kings of Media and Persia? These historical matters are
beyond the scope of elaboration here; further descriptions may
be found in the chronicles of the kings of Persia and Media.
Similar brief summaries, which direct the reader to the royal
chronicles, also appear elsewhere in the Bible.82
3 The book concludes by returning to the matter at hand: For
Mordekhai the Jew had achieved the high status of a man who
was viceroy to King Ahashverosh, and as such, he was also
prominent as a great leader among the Jews, and accepted by
most d of his brethren.83 Mordekhai was a constant seeker of
Suppos tomb of Mordekhai and Esther, Hamadan, western Iran

BACKground
10:1 |  The lands of the sea: At its height, the kingdom of Persia controlled the isles of the Aegean Sea, as well as the island of Cyprus. This was achieved
thanks to the powerful Persian navy, which was manned by Phoenician mercenaries.

42
 ‫מגילת אסתר | פרק י‬

‫֠ ָה ֵ ֠א ֶּלה נִ זְְְ ָּכ ִ ֨רים וְְ נַ ֲֽע ֜ ִ ׂשים ְְּב ָָכל־דּ֣ ֹור וָ ֗דֹור ִמ ׁ ְְְש ּ ָפ ָח ֙ה ּו ִמ ׁ ְְְש ּ ָפ ָ֔חה ְְמ ִדינָ ֥ה ּו ְְְמ ִדינָ ֖ה‬
‫ֹוך ַהּיְְ הו ִ ּ֔דים וְְ זִ ְְְכ ָ ֖רם ֽל ֹא־יָ ֥סוּף‬ ְְְ ‫ימי ַה ּפו ִ ּ֣רים ָה ֵ ֗א ֶּלה ֤ל ֹא יַ ַֽע ְְְבר ּ֙ו ִמ ּ֣ת‬ ֵ֞ ִ‫וְְ ִ ֣עיר וָ ִע֑יר ו‬
‫יחיִל ו ָָּמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכ֥י ַהּיְְ הו ִ ּ֖די‬ ֛ ַ ‫ת־א ִב‬ ֲ ‫     ו ִּת ְְְכ ּ֠תֹב ֶא ְְְס ֵּ֨תר ַה ַּמ ְְְל ָּכ֧ה ַב‬ ַ֠ :‫ִמּזַ ְְְר ָעֽם‬ ‫כט‬

‫ל־כל־‬ ָָּ ‫ וַ ּיִ ׁ ְְְש ֨ ַלח ְְספָ ִ ֜רים ֶא‬:‫ל־ת ֶֹקף ְְל ַק ֵּ֗ים ֵ ֣את ִא ֶ ּ ֧ג ֶרת ַה ּ ֻפ ִ ֛רים ַהּז֖ ֹאת ַה ׁ ּ ֵש ִנֽית‬ ּ֑ ‫ת־כ‬ ָָּ ‫ֶא‬ ‫ל‬

:‫ל־ש ַבע וְְ ֶע ְְְ ׂש ִ ֤רים ו ֵּמ ָא ֙ה ְְמ ִד ֔ ָינה ַמ ְְְל ֖כוּת ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֑ר ֹׁוש דִּ ְְְב ֵ ֥רי ׁ ָש ֖לֹום וֶ ֱֽא ֶ ֽמת‬ ֶ ֨ ׁ ‫ַהּיְְהו ִ ּ֗דים ֶא‬
֙‫יהם ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכ ֤י ַהּיְְ הו ִּדי‬ ֶ֜ ‫ֵיהם ַּכ ֲֽא ׁ ֶש ֩ר ִק ַּ֨ים ֲע ֵל‬ ֶ֗ ‫ְְל ַק ֵּ֡ים ֶאת־יְְ ֵמי֩ ַה ּ ֻפ ִ ֨רים ָה ֵ ֜א ֶּלה ִּבזְְְ ַמ ּנ‬ ‫לא‬

:‫ֹּומֹות וְְ זַ ֲֽע ָק ָ ֽתם‬ ֖ ‫שר ִקּיְְ ֥מ ּו ַעל־נַ פְְְ ׁ ָש֖ם וְְ ַעל־זַ ְְְר ָע֑ם דִּ ְְְב ֵ ֥רי ַהצ‬ ֛ ֶ ׁ ‫וְְ ֶא ְְְס ֵּ ֣תר ַה ַּמ ְְְל ָּ֔כה וְְ ַכ ֲֽא‬
‫     וַ ָּ֩י ֶ ׂש ֩ם‬:‫ּמ ֲא ַ ֣מר ֶא ְְְס ֵּ֔תר ִק ַּ֕ים דִּ ְְְב ֵ ֥רי ַה ּ ֻפ ִ ֖רים ָה ֵא ֶּ֑לה וְְ נִ ְְְכ ָּ ֖תב ַּב ֵּסֽפֶ ר‬ ַֽ ‫ו‬ ‫לב‬
‫א‬
‫י‬
‫ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֧ר ֹׁוש‬ ֙‫ל־מ ֲע ֵ ׂש֤ה ָָת ְְְק ּפ ֹ֙ו וּגְְְ ֣בו ָּר ֔תֹו ו ָּפ ָֽר ׁ ַשת‬ֽ ַ ‫ וְְ ָָכ‬:‫ל־ה ָ ֖א ֶרץ וְְ ִאּיֵ ֥י ַהּיָ ֽם‬
ָ ‫אחשרש ׀ ַ ֛מס ַע‬ ֧ ‫ַה ֶּ֨מ ֶל ְְְך‬ ‫ב‬

‫־־־־־ספֶ ֙ר דִּ ְְְב ֵ ֣רי ַהּיָ ִ֔מים ְְל ַמ ְְְל ֵכ֖י‬ ֵ֙ ‫ֹוא־ה֣ם ְְּכתו ִּ֗בים ַעל‬ ֵ ‫שר ִ ּגדְְּ ֖לֹו ַה ֶּמ ֶ֑לךְְְ ֲהל‬ ֥ ֶ ׁ ‫ְְ ּג ֻד ַּל֣ת ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַ֔כי ֲא‬
‫ ִּכ֣י ׀ ָָמ ְְְרדֳֳּ ַכ֣י ַהּיְְ הו ִ ּ֗די ִמ ׁ ְְְשנֶ ֙ה ַל ֶּמ ֶ֣ל ְְְך ֲא ַח ׁ ְְְשוֵ ֔ר ֹׁוש וְְ גָ דֹול֙ ַלּיְְ הו ִ ּ֔דים וְְ ָרצ֖ וּי‬:‫ָמ ַ ֥די וּפָ ָ ֽרס‬ ‫ג‬

:‫ְְל ֣רֹב ֶא ָח֑יו דּ ֵ ֹ֥ר ׁש טֹו ֙ב ְְל ַע ּ֔מֹו וְְ ד ֵֹב֥ר ׁ ָש ֖לֹום ְְל ָָכל־זַ ְְְר ֽעֹו‬

Discussion
9:31 |  The matters of the fasts and their mentioned in Zechariah 8:19 (see Malbim; Ran, position of authority (see Rashi; Megilla 16b).
lamentations: Some explain that this is the Ta’anit 18b). Alternatively, he was not universally liked be-
Fast of Esther, which the Jews accepted upon 10:3 |  Accepted by most of his brethren: The cause the building of Jerusalem and the Temple
themselves as a day of prayer and supplica- Sages expound that Mordekhai was accepted by were not renewed during his tenure. On the
tion forever (Ra’avad). Many other commen- most, but not all, of his brethren, as some mem- other hand, this period of calm may have been
taries disagree, maintaining that the verse is bers of the Sanhedrin parted from him. This was a contributing factor that allowed the Jews to
referring to the fasts days observed in memory perhaps because he had taken on such a senior later petition the king of Persia and request that
of the destruction of the Temple, which are the Temple in Jerusalem be rebuilt.

43
 Megillat Esther |

1. 3:8. 42. See Rashi.

2. 3:13. 43. Rashbam, and Ralbag, 4:8; Ibn Ezra, Second Commentary, 8:13.
3. 9:20–28. 44. See Rashi; Ibn Ezra; Ibn Ezra, 1:2.
4. See Megilla 7a. 45. Targum.
5. See Ibn Ezra’s introduction to the book of Esther and his commentary on 5:13, citing Rav 46. See Malbim.
Se’adya Gaon. 47. 2:11, 21.
6. See Daniel 8:2. 48. See Nehemiah 2:4.
7. Ibn Ezra; Rav Yeshaya of Trani; Vilna Gaon. 49. Ibn Ezra.
8. See, e.g., Rashi; Rashbam; Ibn Ezra. 50. Targum; Ralbag.
9. See Ibn Ezra, Second Commentary. 51. See Rashi; Ibn Ezra.
10. See Megilla 12a. 52. Ibn Ezra.
11. See Rabbi Ya’akov of Lisa, Megillat Setarim. 53. See Malbim.
12. Rashi; Ibn Ezra. 54. See Rashi.
13. Rashi. 55. 9:7–10.
14. Based on Rashbam; Bekhor Shor; Ralbag; see also Daniel 5:10. 56. See Megilla 15b.
15. See Ralbag. 57. See Rashbam; Rav Yosef Kara.
16. See Megilla 12b. 58. See Malbim.
17. See Ibn Ezra, Second Commentary; Rav Yosef Kara; Rav Yeshaya of Trani; Ralbag. 59. See Targum; Megilla 16a.
18. Esther Rabba 1:15; Rashi. 60. See Ibn Ezra; Rav Yosef Kara.
19. Ibn Ezra. 61. Ibn Ezra.
20. See 8:8. 62. See 1:6; Ezekiel 23:41, and Radak ad loc.
21. See Nehemiah 13:23–24. 63. See Targum.
22. See, e.g., Rashi. 64. See also Esther 3:12.
23. See Rashbam; Ibn Ezra; Rav Yosef Kara; Rav Yeshaya of Trani. 65. Ibn Ezra.
24. Rabbi Yosef Naĥmias. 66. Ibn Ezra.
25. See Megilla 15a; Targum; Ibn Ezra 67. See Ibn Ezra; Rav Yeshaya of Trani.
26. See Malbim. 68. See Rav Yosef Kara; Esther 8:11.
27. Targum; Megilla 13a; see Ramban, Exodus 30:23. 69. See Ralbag.
28. See Ibn Ezra; Rashbam; Ibn Ezra, Second Commentary. 70. Rashi; Rashbam.
29. See, e.g., Rashbam. 71. See Ezra 4:6.
30. See discussion on verse 5. 72. Rambam, Megilla 2a.
31. See Megilla 13a. 73. Ibn Ezra, verse 20.
32. Ibn Ezra, Second Commentary; Malbim; see Ruth 4:1; Daniel 2:42. 74. See Targum.
33. Megilla 13a; see Menaĥot 65a. 75. Malbim.
34. See II Kings 25:28; Daniel 5:29. 76. Targum; Rashi; Rashbam; Ibn Ezra; see Megilla 16b.
35. See Rav Yosef Caspi; Megillat Setarim. 77. See Ibn Ezra, 8:8.
36. Rav Yosef Kara, verse 5. 78. Rashi.
37. See Targumim; Sanhedrin 61b; Megilla 13a. 79. See Rashi.
38. Ibn Ezra. 80. See Ibn Ezra, Second Commentary.
39. See Ibn Ezra; Ralbag. 81. Targum; Rashi; Malbim.
40. See Ezekiel 21:26–27; commentary on Isaiah 36:10. 82. I Kings 14:29, 15:23; II Kings 14:15; II Chronicles 25:26.
41. See Megilla 13b. 83. See 5:11.

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