Megillah 15

Megillah 15

בִּשְׁלָמָא אִינְהוּ — מִיפָּרְשִׁי, אֶלָּא אֲבָהָתַיְיהוּ מְנָלַן?

The Gemara asks in reference to the eight prophets descended from Rahab: Granted, with regard to them, it is explicit, i.e., the four sons recorded in the list were certainly prophets, as the Bible states this explicitly: Jeremiah was a prophet, his student Baruch was one of the sons of the prophets, his cousin Hanamel came to him at the word of God (see Jeremiah, chapter 32), and Seraiah was his student. But as for their fathers, Hilkiah, Neriah, Shallum, and Mahseiah, from where do we derive that they were prophets?

כִּדְעוּלָּא. דְּאָמַר עוּלָּא: כׇּל מָקוֹם שֶׁשְּׁמוֹ וְשֵׁם אָבִיו בִּנְבִיאוּת — בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁהוּא נָבִיא בֶּן נָבִיא. שְׁמוֹ וְלֹא שֵׁם אָבִיו — בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁהוּא נָבִיא וְלֹא בֶּן נָבִיא, שְׁמוֹ וְשֵׁם עִירוֹ מְפוֹרָשׁ — בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁהוּא מֵאוֹתָהּ הָעִיר, שְׁמוֹ וְלֹא שֵׁם עִירוֹ — בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁהוּא מִירוּשָׁלַיִם.

The Gemara answers: As taught by Ulla, as Ulla said: Wherever one’s name and his father’s name are mentioned with regard to prophecy, it is known that he was a prophet the son of a prophet, and therefore his father’s name is also mentioned. And wherever his name is mentioned but not his father’s name, it is known that he was a prophet but not the son of a prophet. Similarly, wherever his name and the name of his city are specified, it is known that he was from that particular city, and wherever his name is mentioned but not the name of his city, it is known that he was from Jerusalem.

בְּמַתְנִיתָא תָּנָא: כׇּל שֶׁמַּעֲשָׂיו וּמַעֲשֵׂה אֲבוֹתָיו סְתוּמִין, וּפָרַט לְךָ הַכָּתוּב בְּאֶחָד מֵהֶן לְשֶׁבַח, כְּגוֹן: ״דְּבַר ה׳ אֲשֶׁר הָיָה אֶל צְפַנְיָה בֶּן כּוּשִׁי בֶן גְּדַלְיָה״ — בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁהוּא צַדִּיק בֶּן צַדִּיק. וְכֹל שֶׁפָּרַט לְךָ הַכָּתוּב בְּאֶחָד מֵהֶן לִגְנַאי, כְּגוֹן: ״וַיְהִי בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי בָּא יִשְׁמָעֵאל בֶּן נְתַנְיָה בֶּן אֱלִישָׁמָע״ — בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁהוּא רָשָׁע בֶּן רָשָׁע.

It was taught in a baraita: With regard to anyone whose actions and the actions of his ancestors are obscured and not explained, and the verse mentioned one of them favorably, for example, the way in which Zephaniah the prophet is introduced: “The word of the Lord which came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah” (Zephaniah 1:1), it is known that not only was he a righteous man, he was also the son of a righteous man. And conversely, whenever the verse mentioned one of them unfavorably, for example, in the verse that introduces Ishmael as the one who killed Gedaliah, which states: “And it came to pass in the seventh month that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama” (Jeremiah 41:1), it is known that not only was he a wicked man, he was also the son of a wicked man.

אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן: מַלְאָכִי — זֶה מָרְדֳּכַי, וְלָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ מַלְאָכִי? שֶׁהָיָה מִשְׁנֶה לַמֶּלֶךְ. מֵיתִיבִי: בָּרוּךְ בֶּן נֵרִיָּה וּשְׂרָיָה בֶּן מַעֲשֵׂיָה, וְדָנִיֵּאל וּמׇרְדֳּכַי בִּלְשָׁן וְחַגַּי, זְכַרְיָה וּמַלְאָכִי — כּוּלָּן נִתְנַבְּאוּ בִּשְׁנַת שְׁתַּיִם לְדָרְיָוֶשׁ. תְּיוּבְתָּא.

Rav Naḥman said: Malachi the prophet is in fact Mordecai, and why was he called Malachi? To indicate that he was second to the king [melekh], as Mordecai was appointed such, as is recorded at the end of the Megilla. The Gemara raises an objection from the following baraita: Baruch, the son of Neriah; Seraiah, the son of Mahseiah; Daniel; Mordecai; Bilshan; Haggai; Zechariah; and Malachi; all prophesied in the second year of the reign of Darius. The fact that the baraita mentions Mordecai and Malachi separately indicates that they were two different people. The Gemara concludes: This is indeed a conclusive refutation.

תַּנְיָא, אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן קׇרְחָה: מַלְאָכִי זֶה עֶזְרָא, וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: מַלְאָכִי שְׁמוֹ. אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן: מִסְתַּבְּרָא כְּמַאן דְּאָמַר מַלְאָכִי זֶה עֶזְרָא, דִּכְתִיב בִּנְבִיאוּת מַלְאָכִי: ״בָּגְדָה יְהוּדָה וְתוֹעֵבָה נֶעֶשְׂתָה בְיִשְׂרָאֵל וּבִירוּשָׁלִָם כִּי חִלֵּל יְהוּדָה קֹדֶשׁ ה׳ אֲשֶׁר אָהֵב וּבָעַל בַּת אֵל נֵכָר״.

It is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa said: Malachi is in fact Ezra. And the Rabbis say otherwise: Malachi was his real name, and it was not merely another name for Ezra or another prophet. Rav Naḥman said: It stands to reason that indeed, they are one and the same person, like the opinion of the one who said that Malachi is Ezra, since there is a similarity between them, as it is stated in Malachi’s prophecy: “Judah has dealt treacherously, and a disgusting thing has been done in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the sanctity of the Lord which he loved, and has married the daughter of a strange god” (Malachi 2:11).

וּמַאן אַפְרֵישׁ נָשִׁים גּוֹיוֹת — עֶזְרָא, דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיַּעַן שְׁכַנְיָה בֶן יְחִיאֵל מִבְּנֵי עֵילָם וַיֹּאמֶר לְעֶזְרָא אֲנַחְנוּ מָעַלְנוּ בֵאלֹהֵינוּ וַנּוֹשֶׁב נָשִׁים נׇכְרִיּוֹת״.

And who was the one that removed the foreign women who were married to Jews? It was Ezra, as it is written: “And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra: We have broken faith with our God, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land” (Ezra 10:2). It therefore appears that Malachi was one of Ezra’s names, as the Bible describes them both as confronting an intermarriage epidemic.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אַרְבַּע נָשִׁים יְפֵיפִיּוֹת הָיוּ בָּעוֹלָם: שָׂרָה (וַאֲבִיגַיִל, רָחָב) וְאֶסְתֵּר, וּלְמַאן דְּאָמַר אֶסְתֵּר יְרַקְרוֹקֶת הָיְתָה — מַפֵּיק אֶסְתֵּר וּמְעַיֵּיל וַשְׁתִּי.

To complete the discussion about the prophetesses, the Gemara cites a baraita in which the Sages taught: There were four women of extraordinary beauty in the world: Sarah, and Abigail, Rahab, and Esther. And according to the one who said that Esther was greenish in color, lacking natural beauty, only that a cord of divine grace was strung around her, remove Esther from the list and insert Vashti in her place, for she was indeed beautiful.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: רָחָב בִּשְׁמָהּ זִינְּתָה, יָעֵל — בְּקוֹלָהּ, אֲבִיגַיִל — בִּזְכִירָתָהּ, מִיכַל בַּת שָׁאוּל — בִּרְאִיָּיתָהּ. אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: כׇּל הָאוֹמֵר ״רָחָב״ ״רָחָב״ — מִיָּד נִיקְרֵי. אָמַר לֵיהּ רַב נַחְמָן: אֲנָא אָמֵינָא ״רָחָב״ ״רָחָב״ וְלָא אִיכְפַּת לִי! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: כִּי קָאָמֵינָא בְּיוֹדְעָהּ וּבְמַכִּירָהּ.

The Sages taught in a baraita: Rahab aroused impure thoughts by her name, i.e., the mere mention of her name would inspire lust for her; Yael, by her voice; Abigail, by remembering her; Michal, the daughter of Saul, by her appearance. Similarly, Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Anyone who says Rahab, Rahab, immediately experiences a seminal emission due to the arousal of desire caused by Rahab’s great beauty. Rav Naḥman said to him: I say: Rahab, Rahab, and it does not affect me. Rabbi Yitzchak said to Rav Naḥman: When I said this, I was specifically referring to one who knows her personally and recognizes her beauty. Only for one who has met Rahab in person is the mere mention of her name capable of arousing lust.

״וּמׇרְדֳּכַי יָדַע אֶת כׇּל אֲשֶׁר נַעֲשָׂה״. מַאי אָמַר? רַב אָמַר: גָּבַהּ הָמָן מֵאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ, וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר: גְּבַר מַלְכָּא עִילָּאָה מִמַּלְכָּא תַּתָּאָה.

§ The Gemara returns to its explanation of the verses of the book of Esther. The verse states: “When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and bitter cry” (Esther 4:1). The Gemara asks: What did Mordecai say when he cried out? Rav said: He said that Haman has risen above Ahasuerus, for he saw that Haman had become even stronger than Ahasuerus himself, and that he controlled all affairs of the empire. And Shmuel said: The upper King has prevailed over the lower king, saying this euphemistically and insinuating just the opposite. In other words, it would appear that Ahasuerus, the lower king, has prevailed over the higher King, God in Heaven, Who desires good for the Jewish people.

״וַתִּתְחַלְחַל הַמַּלְכָּה״. מַאי ״וַתִּתְחַלְחַל״? אָמַר רַב: שֶׁפֵּירְסָה נִדָּה, וְרַבִּי יִרְמְיָה אָמַר: שֶׁהוּצְרְכָה לִנְקָבֶיהָ.

The verse states: “Then the queen was exceedingly distressed” [vatitḥalḥal] (Esther 4:4). The Gemara asks: What is the meaning of vatitḥalḥal? Rav said: This means that she began to menstruate out of fear, as the cavities, ḥalalim, of her body opened. And Rabbi Yirmeya said: Her bowels were loosened, also understanding the verse as referring to her bodily cavities.

״וַתִּקְרָא אֶסְתֵּר לַהֲתָךְ״, אָמַר רַב: הֲתָךְ זֶה דָּנִיאֵל, וְלָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ הֲתָךְ — שֶׁחֲתָכוּהוּ מִגְּדוּלָּתוֹ. וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר: שֶׁכׇּל דִּבְרֵי מַלְכוּת נֶחְתָּכִין עַל פִּיו.

The verse states: “Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her” (Esther 4:5). Rav said: Hathach is in fact the prophet Daniel. And why was he called Hathach? Because he was cut down [ḥatakh] from his greatness during Ahasuerus’s reign, as he was demoted from his high position. Previously he had served as a senior minister, and now he had become Esther’s steward. And Shmuel expounded the name Hathach as derived from ḥatakh in the opposite sense, as he said: Daniel was called Hathach because all the affairs of the kingdom were decided [neḥtakhin] by his word.

״לָדַעַת מַה זֶּה וְעַל מַה זֶּה״. אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק, שָׁלְחָה לוֹ: שֶׁמָּא עָבְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל חֲמִשָּׁה חוּמְשֵׁי תוֹרָה, דִּכְתִיב בָּהֶן: ״מִזֶּה וּמִזֶּה הֵם כְּתוּבִים״.

The verse continues to relate that Esther sent Hathach to Mordecai after hearing about the decree: “To know what this [zeh] was, and why it [zeh] was” (Esther 4:5). Rabbi Yitzḥak said that Esther sent a message to Mordecai, saying: Perhaps the Jews have transgressed the five books of the Torah, as it is written with regard to the two tablets: “On this [zeh] side and on the other [zeh] side were they written” (Exodus 32:15).

״וַיַּגִּידוּ לְמׇרְדֳּכָי אֵת דִּבְרֵי אֶסְתֵּר״, וְאִילּוּ אִיהוּ לָא אֲזַל לְגַבֵּיהּ. מִכָּאן שֶׁאֵין מְשִׁיבִין עַל הַקַּלְקָלָה.

The verse states: “And they told Esther’s words to Mordecai” (Esther 4:12), but he, Hathach himself, did not go to tell him directly. The Gemara explains: From here we see that one does not bring back a sad report. If one has nothing positive to say, it is best for him to remain silent. This explains why Hathach himself did not report the information to Mordecai, and Esther’s words had to be delivered by other messengers.

״לֵךְ כְּנוֹס אֶת כׇּל הַיְּהוּדִים״ וְגוֹ׳ עַד ״אֲשֶׁר לֹא כַדָּת״, אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא: שֶׁלֹּא כַּדָּת הָיָה, שֶׁבְּכׇל יוֹם וָיוֹם עַד עַכְשָׁיו — בְּאוֹנֶס, וְעַכְשָׁיו — בְּרָצוֹן. ״וְכַאֲשֶׁר אָבַדְתִּי אָבָדְתִּי״ — כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאָבַדְתִּי מִבֵּית אַבָּא, כָּךְ אוֹבַד מִמְּךָ.

Esther sent a message to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night and day; I also and my maidens will fast likewise, and so will I go in to the king, not according to the custom” (Esther 4:16). Rabbi Abba said: It will not be according to my usual custom, for every day until now when I submitted myself to Ahasuerus it was under compulsion, but now I will be submitting myself to him of my own free will. And Esther further said: “And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16). What she meant was: Just as I was lost to my father’s house ever since I was brought here, so too, shall I be lost to you, for after voluntarily having relations with Ahasuerus, I shall be forever forbidden to you.

״וַיַּעֲבוֹר מָרְדֳּכָי״. אָמַר רַב: שֶׁהֶעֱבִיר יוֹם רִאשׁוֹן שֶׁל פֶּסַח בְּתַעֲנִית. וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר: דַּעֲבַר עַרְקוּמָא דְמַיָּא.

There is a dispute with regard to the meaning of the verse: “So Mordecai passed [vaya’avor]” (Esther 4:17). Rav said: This means that he passed the first day of Passover as a fast day, understanding the word vaya’avor in the sense of sin [aveira], as by doing so he transgressed the obligation to rejoice on the Festival. And Shmuel said: It means that he crossed over [avar] a stream in order to bring the message to all.

״וַיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי וַתִּלְבַּשׁ אֶסְתֵּר מַלְכוּת״. ״בִּגְדֵי מַלְכוּת״ מִיבְּעֵי לֵיהּ! אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: מְלַמֵּד שֶׁלְּבָשַׁתָּה רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ. כְּתִיב הָכָא: ״וַתִּלְבַּשׁ״, וּכְתִיב הָתָם: ״וְרוּחַ לָבְשָׁה אֶת עֲמָשַׂי״.

The verse states: “And it came to pass on the third day, that Esther clothed herself in royalty” (Esther 5:1). The Gemara asks: It should have said: Esther clothed herself in royal garments. Rabbi Elazar said that Rabbi Ḥanina said: This teaches that she clothed herself with a divine spirit of inspiration, as it is written here: “And she clothed herself,” and it is written elsewhere: “And the spirit clothed Amasai” (I Chronicles 12:19). Just as there the reference is to the spirit of divine inspiration, so too here, the term royalty is referring to the spirit of divine inspiration.

וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: לְעוֹלָם אַל תְּהִי בִּרְכַּת הֶדְיוֹט קַלָּה בְּעֵינֶיךָ, שֶׁהֲרֵי שְׁנֵי גְּדוֹלֵי הַדּוֹר בֵּרְכוּם שְׁנֵי הֶדְיוֹטוֹת, וְנִתְקַיְּימָה בָּהֶן, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: דָּוִד וְדָנִיֵּאל. דָּוִד — דְּבָרְכֵיהּ אֲרַוְנָה, דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיֹּאמֶר אֲרַוְנָה אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ וְגוֹ׳״. דָּנִיאֵל — דְּבָרְכֵיהּ דָּרְיָוֶשׁ, דִּכְתִיב: ״אֱלָהָךְ דִּי אַנְתְּ פָּלַח לֵיהּ בִּתְדִירָא הוּא יְשֵׁיזְבִינָּךְ״.

Apropos a statement that Rabbi Elazar said that Rabbi Ḥanina said, the Gemara records other such statements: And Rabbi Elazar further said that Rabbi Ḥanina said: One should never regard the blessing of an ordinary person [hedyot] as light in your eyes, as two of the great men of their generations received blessings from ordinary people and those blessings were fulfilled in them. And they were David and Daniel. David, for Araunah blessed him, as it is written: “And Araunah said to the king, May the Lord your God accept you” (II Samuel 24:23), and it was fulfilled. Daniel, for Darius blessed him, as it is written: “Your God Whom you serve continually, He will rescue you” (Daniel 6:17), and this too was fulfilled when Daniel was saved from the lions’ den.

וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: אֵל תְּהִי קִלְלַת הֶדְיוֹט קַלָּה בְּעֵינֶיךָ, שֶׁהֲרֵי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ קִלֵּל אֶת שָׂרָה ״הִנֵּה הוּא לָךְ כְּסוּת עֵינַיִם״, וְנִתְקַיֵּים בְּזַרְעָהּ: ״וַיְהִי כִּי זָקֵן יִצְחָק וַתִּכְהֶיןָ עֵינָיו״.

And Rabbi Elazar further said that Rabbi Ḥanina said: One should not regard the curse of an ordinary person as light in your eyes, for Abimelech cursed Sarah, saying: “Behold, it is to you a covering of the eyes to all that are with you” (Genesis 20:16), and indeed this was fulfilled in her descendant, as it is stated: “And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see” (Genesis 27:1). Abimelech’s curse of covered eyes was fulfilled through her son Isaac’s blindness.

וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: בֹּא וּרְאֵה שֶׁלֹּא כְּמִדַּת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִדַּת בָּשָׂר וְדָם. מִדַּת בָּשָׂר וָדָם — אָדָם שׁוֹפֵת קְדֵרָה וְאַחַר כָּךְ נוֹתֵן לְתוֹכָהּ מַיִם, אֲבָל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא — נוֹתֵן מַיִם וְאַחַר כָּךְ שׁוֹפֵת הַקְּדֵרָה, לְקַיֵּים מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לְקוֹל תִּתּוֹ הֲמוֹן מַיִם בַּשָּׁמַיִם״.

And Rabbi Elazar further said that Rabbi Ḥanina said: Come and see that the attribute of the Holy One, Blessed be He, is unlike the attribute of a man of flesh and blood; for it is the attribute of flesh and blood that a man places the pot on the fire and then puts in the water. However, the Holy One, Blessed be He, first puts in the water and then places the pot on the fire, to fulfill that which is stated: “At the sound of His giving a multitude of waters in the heavens” (Jeremiah 10:13), which he explains as follows: First God set the multitudes of water in place, and afterward He created the heavens to hold the water.

וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: כׇּל הָאוֹמֵר דָּבָר בְּשֵׁם אוֹמְרוֹ מֵבִיא גְּאוּלָּה לָעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַתֹּאמֶר אֶסְתֵּר לַמֶּלֶךְ בְּשֵׁם מׇרְדֳּכָי״.

And Rabbi Elazar further said that Rabbi Ḥanina said: Whoever reports a saying in the name of he who said it brings redemption to the world. As it is stated with respect to the incident of Bigthan and Teresh: “And Esther reported it to the king in the name of Mordecai” (Esther 2:22), and this eventually brought redemption, as Mordecai was later rewarded for saving the king’s life, paving the way for the miraculous salvation.

וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: צַדִּיק אָבָד — לְדוֹרוֹ אָבַד. מָשָׁל לְאָדָם שֶׁאָבְדָה לוֹ מַרְגָּלִית, כׇּל מָקוֹם שֶׁהִיא — מַרְגָּלִית שְׁמָהּ, לֹא אָבְדָה אֶלָּא לְבַעְלָהּ.

And Rabbi Elazar further said that Rabbi Ḥanina said: When a righteous man passes from this earth and is lost, he is lost only for the rest of his generation, who is now deprived of him, not for the righteous individual himself. This is similar to a man who has lost a pearl. The pearl does not care if it is lost, as wherever it is found, it is still a pearl; it is lost only to its owner.

״וְכׇל זֶה אֵינֶנּוּ שֹׁוֶה לִי״. אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁרָאָה הָמָן אֶת מׇרְדֳּכַי יוֹשֵׁב בְּשַׁעַר הַמֶּלֶךְ, אָמַר: ״כׇּל זֶה אֵינוֹ שֹׁוֶה לִי״. כִּדְרַב חִסְדָּא, דְּאָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: זֶה בָּא בִּפְרוֹזְבּוּלֵי וְזֶה בָּא

Haman said: “Yet all this avails me nothing” (Esther 5:13). Rabbi Elazar said that Rabbi Ḥanina said: When Haman saw Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate he said: Yet all this avails me nothing. This may be understood as was suggested by Rav Ḥisda, for Rav Ḥisda said: This one, Mordecai, came as one with the heritage of a rich man [perozebuli], whereas that one, Haman, came

בִּפְרוֹזְבּוּטֵי. אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא: וְקָרוּ לֵיהּ עַבְדָּא דְּמִזְדַּבַּן בְּטֻלְמֵי.

as one with the heritage of a poor man [perozeboti], as Mordecai had been Haman’s slave master and was aware of Haman’s lowly lineage. Rav Pappa said: And he was called: The slave who was sold for a loaf of bread.

״וְכׇל זֶה אֵינֶנּוּ שֹׁוֶה לִי״ — מְלַמֵּד שֶׁכׇּל גְּנָזָיו שֶׁל אוֹתוֹ רָשָׁע חֲקוּקִין עַל לִבּוֹ, וּבְשָׁעָה שֶׁרוֹאֶה אֶת מׇרְדֳּכַי יוֹשֵׁב בְּשַׁעַר הַמֶּלֶךְ, אָמַר: כׇּל זֶה אֵינֶנּוּ שֹׁוֶה לִי.

Haman’s previously quoted statement: “Yet all this avails me nothing” (Esther 5:13), teaches that all the treasures of that wicked one were engraved on his heart, and when he saw Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate, he said: As long as Mordecai is around, all this that I wear on my heart avails me nothing.

וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: עָתִיד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִהְיוֹת עֲטָרָה בְּרֹאשׁ כׇּל צַדִּיק וְצַדִּיק, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִהְיֶה ה׳ צְבָאוֹת לַעֲטֶרֶת צְבִי [וְגוֹ׳]״. מַאי ״לַעֲטֶרֶת צְבִי וְלִצְפִירַת תִּפְאָרָה״ — לָעוֹשִׂין צִבְיוֹנוֹ וְלַמְצַפִּין תִּפְאַרְתּוֹ. יָכוֹל לַכֹּל — תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״לִשְׁאָר עַמּוֹ״, לְמִי שֶׁמֵּשִׂים עַצְמוֹ כְּשִׁירַיִם.

And Rabbi Elazar further said that Rabbi Ḥanina said: In the future, the Holy One, Blessed be He, will be a crown on the head of each and every righteous man. As it is stated: “In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, to the residue of His people” (Isaiah 28:5). What is the meaning of “for a crown of glory [tzevi], and for a diadem [velitzefirat] of beauty”? A crown for those that do His will [tzivyono] and a diadem for those that await [velamtzapin] His glory. One might have thought that this extends to all such individuals. Therefore, the verse states: “To the residue of his people,” to whoever regards himself as a remainder, i.e., small and unimportant like residue. But whoever holds himself in high esteem will not merit this.

״וּלְרוּחַ מִשְׁפָּט״ — זֶה הַדָּן אֶת יִצְרוֹ. ״וְלַיּוֹשֵׁב עַל הַמִּשְׁפָּט״ — זֶה הַדָּן דִּין אֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ. ״וְלִגְבוּרָה״ — זֶה הַמִּתְגַּבֵּר עַל יִצְרוֹ. ״מְשִׁיבֵי מִלְחָמָה״ — שֶׁנּוֹשְׂאִין וְנוֹתְנִין בְּמִלְחַמְתָּהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה. ״שָׁעְרָה״ — [אֵלּוּ תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים] שֶׁמַּשְׁכִּימִין וּמַעֲרִיבִין בְּבָתֵּי כְנֵסִיּוֹת וּבְבָתֵּי מִדְרָשׁוֹת.

Apropos the quotation from Isaiah, the Gemara explains the following verse, which states: “And for a spirit of justice to him that sits in judgment and for strength to them that turn back the battle to the gate” (Isaiah 28:6). “And for a spirit of justice”; this is referring to one who brings his evil inclination to trial and forces himself to repent. “To him that sits in judgment”; this is referring to one who judges an absolutely true judgment. “And for strength”; this is referring to one who triumphs over his evil inclination. “Them that turn back the battle”; this is referring to those that give and take in their discussion of halakha in the battle of understanding the Torah. “To the gate”; this is referring to the Torah scholars who arrive early and stay late at the darkened gates of the synagogues and study halls.

אָמְרָה מִדַּת הַדִּין לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, מָה נִשְׁתַּנּוּ אֵלּוּ מֵאֵלּוּ? אָמַר לָהּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: יִשְׂרָאֵל עָסְקוּ בַּתּוֹרָה, אוּמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם לֹא עָסְקוּ בַּתּוֹרָה.

The Gemara continues with an episode associated with a verse in Isaiah. The Attribute of Justice said before the Holy One, Blessed be He: Master of the Universe, how are these, referring to the Jewish people, different from those, the other nations of the world, such that God performs miracles only on behalf of the Jewish people? The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to it: The Jewish people occupied themselves with Torah, whereas the other nations of the world did not occupy themselves with Torah.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ: ״גַּם אֵלֶּה בַּיַּיִן שָׁגוּ וּבַשֵּׁכָר תָּעוּ פָּקוּ פְּלִילִיָּה״, אֵין ״פָּקוּ״ אֶלָּא גֵּיהִנָּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְלֹא תִהְיֶה זֹאת לְךָ לְפוּקָה״, וְאֵין ״פְּלִילִיָּה״ אֶלָּא דַּיָּינִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְנָתַן בִּפְלִילִים״.

The Attribute of Justice said to Him: “These also reel through wine, and stagger through strong drink; the priest and the prophet reel through strong drink, they are confused because of wine, they stagger because of strong drink; they reel in vision, they stumble [paku] in judgment [peliliyya]” (Isaiah 28:7). The word paku in this context is referring only to Gehenna, as it is stated: “That this shall not be a cause of stumbling [puka] to you” (I Samuel 25:31), and the word peliliyya here is referring only to judges, as it is stated: “And he shall pay as the judges determine [bifelilim]” (Exodus 21:22). The response of the Attribute of Justice was essentially that the Jewish people have also sinned and are consequently liable to receive punishment.

״וַתַּעֲמֹד בַּחֲצַר בֵּית הַמֶּלֶךְ הַפְּנִימִית״. אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי: כֵּיוָן שֶׁהִגִּיעָה לְבֵית הַצְּלָמִים, נִסְתַּלְּקָה הֵימֶנָּה שְׁכִינָה. אָמְרָה: ״אֵלִי אֵלִי לָמָה עֲזַבְתָּנִי״?! שֶׁמָּא אַתָּה דָּן עַל שׁוֹגֵג כְּמֵזִיד וְעַל אוֹנֶס כְּרָצוֹן?

§ The Gemara returns to its explanation of the verses of the Megilla. The verse states with regard to Esther: “And she stood in the inner court of the king’s house” (Esther 5:1). Rabbi Levi said: Once she reached the chamber of the idols, which was in the inner court, the Divine Presence left her. She immediately said: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (Psalms 22:2). Perhaps it is because You judge an unintentional sin as one performed intentionally, and an action done due to circumstances beyond one’s control as one done willingly.

אוֹ שֶׁמָּא עַל שֶׁקְּרָאתִיו ״כֶּלֶב״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הַצִּילָה מֵחֶרֶב נַפְשִׁי מִיַּד כֶּלֶב יְחִידָתִי״. חָזְרָה וּקְרָאַתּוּ ״אַרְיֵה״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי מִפִּי אַרְיֵה״.

Or perhaps You have left me because in my prayers I called Haman a dog, as it is stated: “Deliver my soul from the sword; my only one from the hand of the dog” (Psalms 22:21). She at once retracted and called him in her prayers a lion, as it is stated in the following verse: “Save me from the lion’s mouth” (Psalms 22:22).

״וַיְהִי כִרְאוֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת אֶסְתֵּר הַמַּלְכָּה״. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: שְׁלֹשָׁה מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת נִזְדַּמְּנוּ לָהּ בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה, אֶחָד שֶׁהִגְבִּיהַּ אֶת צַוָּארָהּ, וְאֶחָד שֶׁמָּשַׁךְ חוּט שֶׁל חֶסֶד עָלֶיהָ, וְאֶחָד שֶׁמָּתַח אֶת הַשַּׁרְבִיט.

The verse states: “And so it was, that when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand” (Esther 5:2). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Three ministering angels happened to join her at that time: One that raised up her neck, so that she could stand erect, free of shame; one that strung a cord of divine grace around her, endowing her with charm and beauty; and one that stretched the king’s scepter.

וְכַמָּה? אָמַר רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה: שְׁתֵּי אַמּוֹת הָיָה, וְהֶעֱמִידוֹ עַל שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ עַל שֵׁשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ עַל עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבַּע. בְּמַתְנִיתָא תָּנָא: עַל שִׁשִּׁים, וְכֵן אַתָּה מוֹצֵא בְּאַמָּתָהּ שֶׁל בַּת פַּרְעֹה, וְכֵן אַתָּה מוֹצֵא בְּשִׁינֵּי רְשָׁעִים, דִּכְתִיב: ״שִׁינֵּי רְשָׁעִים שִׁבַּרְתָּ״, וְאָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ: אַל תִּקְרֵי ״שִׁבַּרְתָּ״ אֶלָּא ״שִׁרְיבַּבְתָּ״. רַבָּה בַּר עוֹפְרָן אָמַר מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר שֶׁשָּׁמַע מֵרַבּוֹ וְרַבּוֹ מֵרַבּוֹ: מָאתַיִם.

How much was it stretched? Rabbi Yirmeya said: The scepter was two cubits, and he made it twelve cubits. And some say that he made it sixteen cubits, and yet others say twenty-four cubits. It was taught in a baraita: He made it sixty cubits. And similarly you find with the arm of Pharaoh’s daughter, which she stretched out to take Moshe. And so too, you find with the teeth of the wicked, as it is written: “You have broken the teeth of the wicked” (Psalms 3:8), with regard to which Reish Lakish said: Do not read it as “You have broken [shibbarta],” but as: You have enlarged [sheribavta]. Rabba bar Oferan said in the name of Rabbi Elazar, who heard it from his teacher, who in turn heard it from his teacher: The scepter was stretched two hundred cubits.

״וַיֹּאמֶר לָהּ הַמֶּלֶךְ לְאֶסְתֵּר הַמַּלְכָּה מַה בַּקָּשָׁתֵךְ עַד חֲצִי הַמַּלְכוּת וְתֵעָשׂ״. חֲצִי הַמַּלְכוּת וְלֹא כׇּל הַמַּלְכוּת, וְלֹא דָּבָר שֶׁחוֹצֵץ לַמַּלְכוּת, וּמַאי נִיהוּ — בִּנְיַן בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ.

The verse states: “Then the king said to her” (Esther 5:3), to Esther the queen, “What is your wish, even to half the kingdom, it shall be performed” (Esther 5:6). The Gemara comments that Ahasuerus intended only a limited offer: Only half the kingdom, but not the whole kingdom, and not something that would serve as a barrier to the kingdom, as there is one thing to which the kingdom will never agree. And what is that? The building of the Temple; if that shall be your wish, realize that it will not be fulfilled.

״יָבֹא הַמֶּלֶךְ וְהָמָן אֶל הַמִּשְׁתֶּה״. תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מָה רָאֲתָה אֶסְתֵּר שֶׁזִּימְּנָה אֶת הָמָן? רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אוֹמֵר: פַּחִים טָמְנָה לוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״יְהִי שֻׁלְחָנָם לִפְנֵיהֶם לְפָח״.

The verse states that Esther requested: “If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him” (Esther 5:4). The Sages taught in a baraita: What did Esther see to invite Haman to the banquet? Rabbi Elazar says: She hid a snare for him, as it is stated: “Let their table become a snare before them” (Psalms 69:23), as she assumed that she would be able to trip up Haman during the banquet.

רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אוֹמֵר: מִבֵּית אָבִיהָ לָמְדָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אִם רָעֵב שׂוֹנַאֲךָ הַאֲכִילֵהוּ לֶחֶם וְגוֹ׳״. רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִטּוֹל עֵצָה וְיִמְרוֹד.

Rabbi Yehoshua says: She learned to do this from the Jewish teachings of her father’s house, as it is stated: “If your enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat” (Proverbs 25:21). Rabbi Meir says: She invited him in order that he be near her at all times, so that he would not take counsel and rebel against Ahasuerus when he discovered that the king was angry with him.

רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יַכִּירוּ בָּהּ שֶׁהִיא יְהוּדִית. רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה אוֹמֵר: כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל: אָחוֹת יֵשׁ לָנוּ בְּבֵית הַמֶּלֶךְ, וְיַסִּיחוּ דַּעְתָּן מִן הָרַחֲמִים. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהֵא מָצוּי לָהּ בְּכׇל עֵת. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן מְנַסְיָא אוֹמֵר: אוּלַי יַרְגִּישׁ הַמָּקוֹם וְיַעֲשֶׂה לָנוּ נֵס.

Rabbi Yehuda says: She invited Haman so that it not be found out that she was a Jew, as had she distanced him, he would have become suspicious. Rabbi Neḥemya says: She did this so that the Jewish people would not say: We have a sister in the king’s house, and consequently neglect their prayers for divine mercy. Rabbi Yosei says: She acted in this manner, so that Haman would always be on hand for her, as that would enable her to find an opportunity to cause him to stumble before the king. Rabbi Shimon ben Menasya said that Esther said to herself: Perhaps the Omnipresent will take notice that all are supporting Haman and nobody is supporting the Jewish people, and He will perform for us a miracle.

רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן קׇרְחָה אוֹמֵר: אַסְבִּיר לוֹ פָּנִים כְּדֵי שֶׁיֵּהָרֵג הוּא וְהִיא. רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר: מֶלֶךְ הֲפַכְפְּכָן הָיָה. אָמַר רַבִּי גַּמְלִיאֵל: עֲדַיִין צְרִיכִין אָנוּ לַמּוֹדָעִי, דְּתַנְיָא, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר הַמּוֹדָעִי אוֹמֵר: קִנְּאַתּוּ בַּמֶּלֶךְ קִנְּאַתּוּ בַּשָּׂרִים.

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa says: She said to herself: I will act kindly toward him and thereby bring the king to suspect that we are having an affair; she did so in order that both he and she would be killed. Essentially, Esther was willing to be killed with Haman in order that the decree would be annulled. Rabban Gamliel says: Ahasuerus was a fickle king, and Esther hoped that if he saw Haman on multiple occasions, eventually he would change his opinion of him. Rabban Gamliel said: We still need the words of Rabbi Eliezer HaModa’i to understand why Esther invited Haman to her banquet. As it is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Eliezer HaModa’i says: She made the king jealous of him and she made the other ministers jealous of him, and in this way she brought about his downfall.

רַבָּה אָמַר: ״לִפְנֵי שֶׁבֶר גָּאוֹן״. אַבָּיֵי וְרָבָא דְּאָמְרִי תַּרְוַיְיהוּ: ״בְּחוּמָּם אָשִׁית אֶת מִשְׁתֵּיהֶם וְגוֹ׳״. אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ רַבָּה בַּר אֲבוּהּ לְאֵלִיָּהוּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: כְּמַאן חַזְיָא אֶסְתֵּר וַעֲבַדָא הָכִי? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: כְּכוּלְּהוּ תַּנָּאֵי וּכְכוּלְּהוּ אָמוֹרָאֵי.

Rabba says: Esther invited Haman to her banquet in order to fulfill that which is stated: “Pride goes before destruction” (Proverbs 16:18), which indicates that in order to destroy the wicked, one must first bring them to pride. It can be understood according to Abaye and Rava, who both say that she invited Haman in order to fulfill the verse: “When they are heated, I will make feasts for them, and I will make them drunk, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep” (Jeremiah 51:39). The Gemara relates that Rabba bar Avuh once happened upon Elijah the Prophet and said to him: In accordance with whose understanding did Esther see fit to act in this manner? What was the true reason behind her invitation? He, Elijah, said to him: Esther was motivated by all the reasons previously mentioned and did so for all the reasons previously stated by the tanna’im and all the reasons stated by the amora’im.

״וַיְסַפֵּר לָהֶם הָמָן אֶת כְּבוֹד עׇשְׁרוֹ וְרוֹב בָּנָיו״, וְכַמָּה רוֹב בָּנָיו? אָמַר רַב, שְׁלֹשִׁים: עֲשָׂרָה מֵתוּ, וַעֲשָׂרָה נִתְלוּ, וַעֲשָׂרָה מְחַזְּרִין עַל הַפְּתָחִים.

The verse states: “And Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his sons” (Esther 5:11). The Gemara asks: And how many sons did he in fact have that are referred to as “the multitude of his sons”? Rav said: There were thirty sons; ten of them died in childhood, ten of them were hanged as recorded in the book of Esther, and ten survived and were forced to beg at other people’s doors.

וְרַבָּנַן אָמְרִי: אוֹתָן שֶׁמְּחַזְּרִין עַל הַפְּתָחִים שִׁבְעִים הָיוּ, דִּכְתִיב: ״שְׂבֵעִים בַּלֶּחֶם נִשְׂכָּרוּ״, אַל תִּקְרֵי ״שְׂבֵעִים״ אֶלָּא ״שִׁבְעִים״.

And the Rabbis say: Those that begged at other people’s doors numbered seventy, as it is written: “Those that were full, have hired themselves out for bread” (I Samuel 2:5). Do not read it as: “Those that were full” [seve’im]; rather, read it as seventy [shivim], indicating that there were seventy who “hired themselves out for bread.”

וְרָמֵי בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר: כּוּלָּן מָאתַיִם וּשְׁמוֹנָה הֲווֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְרוֹב בָּנָיו״. ״וְרוֹב״ בְּגִימַטְרִיָּא מָאתַן וְאַרְבֵּיסַר הָווּ! אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק: ״וְרֹב״ כְּתִיב.

And Rami bar Abba said: All of Haman’s sons together numbered two hundred and eight, as it is stated: “And the multitude [verov] of his sons.” The numerical value of the word verov equals two hundred and eight, alluding to the number of his sons. The Gemara comments: But in fact, the numerical value [gimatriyya] of the word verov equals two hundred and fourteen, not two hundred and eight. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: The word verov is written in the Bible without the second vav, and therefore its numerical value equals two hundred and eight.

״בַּלַּיְלָה הַהוּא נָדְדָה שְׁנַת הַמֶּלֶךְ״. אָמַר רַבִּי תַּנְחוּם: נָדְדָה שְׁנַת מַלְכּוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם. וְרַבָּנַן אָמְרִי: נָדְדוּ עֶלְיוֹנִים, נָדְדוּ תַּחְתּוֹנִים. רָבָא אָמַר: שְׁנַת הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ מַמָּשׁ.

The verse states: “On that night the sleep of the king was disturbed” (Esther 6:1). Rabbi Tanḥum said: The verse alludes to another king who could not sleep; the sleep of the King of the universe, the Holy One, Blessed be He, was disturbed. And the Sages say: The sleep of the higher ones, the angels, was disturbed, and the sleep of the lower ones, the Jewish people, was disturbed. Rava said: This should be understood literally: The sleep of King Ahasuerus was disturbed.

נְפַלָה לֵיהּ מִילְּתָא בְּדַעְתֵּיהּ, אָמַר: מַאי דְּקַמַּן דְּזַמֵּינְתֵּיהּ אֶסְתֵּר לְהָמָן? דִּלְמָא עֵצָה קָא שָׁקְלִי עִילָּוֵיהּ דְּהָהוּא גַּבְרָא לְמִקְטְלֵיהּ. הֲדַר אָמַר: אִי הָכִי, לָא הֲוָה גַּבְרָא דְּרָחֵים לִי דַּהֲוָה מוֹדַע לִי? הֲדַר אָמַר: דִּלְמָא אִיכָּא אִינִישׁ דַּעֲבַד בִּי טֵיבוּתָא וְלָא פְּרַעְתֵּיהּ, מִשּׁוּם הָכִי מִימַּנְעִי אִינָשֵׁי וְלָא מְגַלּוּ לִי, מִיָּד: ״וַיֹּאמֶר לְהָבִיא אֶת סֵפֶר הַזִּכְרוֹנוֹת דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים״.

And this was the reason Ahasuerus could not sleep: A thought occurred to him and he said to himself: What is this before us that Esther has invited Haman? Perhaps they are conspiring against that man, i.e., against me, to kill him. He then said again to himself: If this is so, is there no man who loves me and would inform me of this conspiracy? He then said again to himself: Perhaps there is some man who has done a favor for me and I have not properly rewarded him, and due to that reason people refrain from revealing to me information regarding such plots, as they see no benefit for themselves. Immediately afterward, the verse states: “And he commanded the book of remembrances of the chronicles to be brought” (Esther 6:1).

״וַיִּהְיוּ נִקְרָאִים״ — מְלַמֵּד שֶׁנִּקְרָאִים מֵאֵילֵיהֶן. ״וַיִּמָּצֵא כָתוּב״ — ״כְּתָב״ מִבְּעֵי לֵיהּ? מְלַמֵּד

The verse states: “And they were read before the king” (Esther 6:1). The Gemara explains that this passive form: “And they were read,” teaches that they were read miraculously by themselves. It further says: “And it was found written [katuv]” (Esther 6:2). The Gemara asks: Why does the Megilla use the word katuv, which indicates that it was newly written? It should have said: A writing [ketav] was found, which would indicate that it had been written in the past. The Gemara explains: This teaches