Tanach
Esther 2:1-4 אסתר ב׳:א׳-ד׳
Part of: Chapter 2
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה כְּשֹׁךְ חֲמַת הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ זָכַר אֶת־וַשְׁתִּי וְאֵת אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂתָה וְאֵת אֲשֶׁר־נִגְזַר עָלֶֽיהָ׃
After these events, as King Achashverosh’s ire dissipated, he remembered Vashti and how she had acted, and the decree against her.
After these events, as King Achashverosh’s ire dissipated, he remembered Vashti and how she had acted, and the decree against her.
Rashi
וַיֹּאמְרוּ נַעֲרֵֽי־הַמֶּלֶךְ מְשָׁרְתָיו יְבַקְשׁוּ לַמֶּלֶךְ נְעָרוֹת בְּתוּלוֹת טוֹבוֹת מַרְאֶֽה׃
The king’s youthful valets suggested: “Let them seek, for his majesty, young maidens of beautiful appearance.
The king’s youthful valets suggested: “Let them seek, for his majesty, young maidens of beautiful appearance.
וְיַפְקֵד הַמֶּלֶךְ פְּקִידִים בְּכׇל־מְדִינוֹת מַלְכוּתוֹ וְיִקְבְּצוּ אֶת־כׇּל־נַעֲרָֽה־בְתוּלָה טוֹבַת מַרְאֶה אֶל־שׁוּשַׁן הַבִּירָה אֶל־בֵּית הַנָּשִׁים אֶל־יַד הֵגֶא סְרִיס הַמֶּלֶךְ שֹׁמֵר הַנָּשִׁים וְנָתוֹן תַּמְרֻקֵיהֶֽן׃
And let his majesty appoint officials in all the colonies of his kingdom, who shall assemble all the young maidens of beautiful appearance at the capital city of Shushan, in the harem residence, in the custody of his majesty’s enunuch Heige, the harem overseer, and let them be supplied with their cosmetics.
And let his majesty appoint officials in all the colonies of his kingdom, who shall assemble all the young maidens of beautiful appearance at the capital city of Shushan, in the harem residence, in the custody of his majesty’s enunuch Heige, the harem overseer, and let them be supplied with their cosmetics.
Rashi
ויפקד המלך פקידים. לפי שכל פקיד ופקיד ידועות לו נשים היפות שבמדינתו:
And let his majesty appoint officials. Since every commissioner is familiar with the beautiful women in his province.2Rather than appoint commissioners from Shushan, he should appoint local commissioners in his provinces because they would be more readily able to find the most beautiful women in their own provinces.
תמרוקיהן. הן דברים המצחצחין כמו ומורק ושוטף, שמן ערב ומיני סמנים ובשמים המטהרין ומעדנין את הבשר:
Their cosmetics. These are substances that cleanse [the skin], as in, “that shall be purged [וּמֹרַק] and rinsed.”3Vayikra 6:21. These are perfumed oils, various ingredients and spices that cleanse and soften the skin.4Maseches Megillah 13a.
וְהַֽנַּעֲרָה אֲשֶׁר תִּיטַב בְּעֵינֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ תִּמְלֹךְ תַּחַת וַשְׁתִּי וַיִּיטַב הַדָּבָר בְּעֵינֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיַּעַשׂ כֵּֽן׃ {פ}
And the young woman whom his majesty views with approval shall reign in place of Vashti.” This suggestion was viewed favorably by the king, and he implemented it.
And the young woman whom his majesty views with approval shall reign in place of Vashti.” This suggestion was viewed favorably by the king, and he implemented it.
זכר את ושתי. את יפיה ונעצב:
He remembered Vashti. Her beauty, and he became sad.1He was remorseful having realized that her refusal to appear before him was justified and the decree against her was wrong. Providence, however, had ordained her execution because she had persuaded Achashveirosh to prohibit the restoration of the Bais Hamikdosh which had been destroyed by Nevuchadnetzar, her grandfather.