Tanach
Esther 2:11-20 אסתר ב׳:י״א-כ׳
Part of: Chapter 2
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וּבְכׇל־יוֹם וָיוֹם מׇרְדֳּכַי מִתְהַלֵּךְ לִפְנֵי חֲצַר בֵּית־הַנָּשִׁים לָדַעַת אֶת־שְׁלוֹם אֶסְתֵּר וּמַה־יֵּעָשֶׂה בָּֽהּ׃
Each and every day, Mordechai would pace before the courtyard of the harem residence, to apprise himself of Esther’s welfare, and of what would be done with her.
Each and every day, Mordechai would pace before the courtyard of the harem residence, to apprise himself of Esther’s welfare, and of what would be done with her.
Rashi
וּבְהַגִּיעַ תֹּר נַעֲרָה וְנַעֲרָה לָבוֹא ׀ אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ מִקֵּץ הֱיוֹת לָהּ כְּדָת הַנָּשִׁים שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ כִּי כֵּן יִמְלְאוּ יְמֵי מְרוּקֵיהֶן שִׁשָּׁה חֳדָשִׁים בְּשֶׁמֶן הַמֹּר וְשִׁשָּׁה חֳדָשִׁים בַּבְּשָׂמִים וּבְתַמְרוּקֵי הַנָּשִֽׁים׃
When the time arrived for each of the young women to be admitted to King Achashverosh, at the end of her participation in the course for women which lasted twelve months—for they were annointed, during their cosmetic treatment, with the following: six months with balm of myrrh, and six months with aromatic ointments and other womanly cosmetics.
When the time arrived for each of the young women to be admitted to King Achashverosh, at the end of her participation in the course for women which lasted twelve months—for they were annointed, during their cosmetic treatment, with the following: six months with balm of myrrh, and six months with aromatic ointments and other womanly cosmetics.
Rashi
תר. זמן:
Time. Time.
וּבָזֶה הַֽנַּעֲרָה בָּאָה אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר תֹּאמַר יִנָּתֵֽן לָהּ לָבוֹא עִמָּהּ מִבֵּית הַנָּשִׁים עַד־בֵּית הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
This is how the young woman would be admitted to the king: whatever she requested would be provided to accompany her from the harem residence to the royal palace.
This is how the young woman would be admitted to the king: whatever she requested would be provided to accompany her from the harem residence to the royal palace.
Rashi
כל אשר תאמר. כל שחוק ומיני זמר:
Whatever she requested. Any entertainment and types of music.
בָּעֶרֶב ׀ הִיא בָאָה וּבַבֹּקֶר הִיא שָׁבָה אֶל־בֵּית הַנָּשִׁים שֵׁנִי אֶל־יַד שַֽׁעַשְׁגַז סְרִיס הַמֶּלֶךְ שֹׁמֵר הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁים לֹא־תָבוֹא עוֹד אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ כִּי אִם־חָפֵץ בָּהּ הַמֶּלֶךְ וְנִקְרְאָה בְשֵֽׁם׃
She would arrive in the evening and return in the morning, to a second harem residence, in the custody of Sha’ashgaz, the king’s eunuch, overseer of the concubines. She would no longer be admitted to the king unless the king desired her, when she would be summoned by name.
She would arrive in the evening and return in the morning, to a second harem residence, in the custody of Sha’ashgaz, the king’s eunuch, overseer of the concubines. She would no longer be admitted to the king unless the king desired her, when she would be summoned by name.
Rashi
אל בית הנשים שני. השני:
To the second harem residence. The second שֵׁנִי=הַשֵּׁנִי.14Those who were brought to the king were required to return to the second harem residence.
וּבְהַגִּיעַ תֹּר־אֶסְתֵּר בַּת־אֲבִיחַיִל דֹּד מׇרְדֳּכַי אֲשֶׁר לָקַֽח־לוֹ לְבַת לָבוֹא אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ לֹא בִקְשָׁה דָּבָר כִּי אִם אֶת־אֲשֶׁר יֹאמַר הֵגַי סְרִיס־הַמֶּלֶךְ שֹׁמֵר הַנָּשִׁים וַתְּהִי אֶסְתֵּר נֹשֵׂאת חֵן בְּעֵינֵי כׇּל־רֹאֶֽיהָ׃
When the time arrived for Esther, the daughter of Avichayil, the uncle of Mordechai, whom he had adopted as a daughter, to be admitted to the king, she requested nothing save what was suggested by Heigai, the king’s eunuch, the harem overseer. Esther was regarded with favor by everyone who beheld her.
When the time arrived for Esther, the daughter of Avichayil, the uncle of Mordechai, whom he had adopted as a daughter, to be admitted to the king, she requested nothing save what was suggested by Heigai, the king’s eunuch, the harem overseer. Esther was regarded with favor by everyone who beheld her.
וַתִּלָּקַח אֶסְתֵּר אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ אֶל־בֵּית מַלְכוּתוֹ בַּחֹדֶשׁ הָעֲשִׂירִי הוּא־חֹדֶשׁ טֵבֵת בִּשְׁנַת־שֶׁבַע לְמַלְכוּתֽוֹ׃
Esther was brought to King Achashverosh, into his royal palace, in the tenth month—that is, the month of Teves—during the seventh year of his reign.
Esther was brought to King Achashverosh, into his royal palace, in the tenth month—that is, the month of Teves—during the seventh year of his reign.
Rashi
בחדש העשירי. עת צנה שהגוף נהנה מן הגוף זימן הק"בה אותו עת צינה כדי לחבבה עליו:
In the tenth month. The cold season, when one body enjoys [the warmth of] another body.15Maseches Megillah 13a. The Holy One Blessed Is He, designated that cold season in order to endear her to him.
וַיֶּאֱהַב הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת־אֶסְתֵּר מִכׇּל־הַנָּשִׁים וַתִּשָּׂא־חֵן וָחֶסֶד לְפָנָיו מִכׇּל־הַבְּתוּלוֹת וַיָּשֶׂם כֶּֽתֶר־מַלְכוּת בְּרֹאשָׁהּ וַיַּמְלִיכֶהָ תַּחַת וַשְׁתִּֽי׃
The king loved Esther more than all the women, she gained his favor and his benevolence more than all the maidens, so he placed the royal crown upon her head, and coronated her in place of Vashti.
The king loved Esther more than all the women, she gained his favor and his benevolence more than all the maidens, so he placed the royal crown upon her head, and coronated her in place of Vashti.
Rashi
מכל הנשים. הבעולות שאף נשים הבעולות קבץ:
More than all the women.16Ibid. The married ones; for he also gathered married women.
וַיַּעַשׂ הַמֶּלֶךְ מִשְׁתֶּה גָדוֹל לְכׇל־שָׂרָיו וַעֲבָדָיו אֵת מִשְׁתֵּה אֶסְתֵּר וַהֲנָחָה לַמְּדִינוֹת עָשָׂה וַיִּתֵּן מַשְׂאֵת כְּיַד הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
The king tendered a magnificent feast for all of his ministers and servants—the feast of Esther. He waived the colonial taxes, and lavished gifts with majestic largesse.
The king tendered a magnificent feast for all of his ministers and servants—the feast of Esther. He waived the colonial taxes, and lavished gifts with majestic largesse.
Rashi
והנחה למדינות עשה. לכבודה הניח להם מן המס שעליהם:
He waived the colonial taxes. In her honor he released them from the tax that was [levied] upon them.17Ibid. 18Because he did not know Esther’s ancestry Achashveirosh tried to the draw the secret from her. He waived the taxes of all the provinces and she still did not tell him. However, once he was apprized of her ancestry he restored the tax; below 10:1. (Gra)
ויתן משאת. שלח דורנות להם והכל כדי לפתותה אולי תגיד מולדתה, ואף על פי כן:
And [he] lavished gifts. He sent them gifts, and everything was in order to entice her, perhaps she would reveal her nationality.19Maseches Megillah 13a. But nevertheless,
וּבְהִקָּבֵץ בְּתוּלוֹת שֵׁנִית וּמׇרְדֳּכַי יֹשֵׁב בְּשַֽׁעַר־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
When the maidens were gathered a second time, Mordechai sat at the gateway to the king.
When the maidens were gathered a second time, Mordechai sat at the gateway to the king.
אֵין אֶסְתֵּר מַגֶּדֶת מֽוֹלַדְתָּהּ וְאֶת־עַמָּהּ כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה עָלֶיהָ מׇרְדֳּכָי וְאֶת־מַאֲמַר מׇרְדֳּכַי אֶסְתֵּר עֹשָׂה כַּאֲשֶׁר הָיְתָה בְאׇמְנָה אִתּֽוֹ׃ {ס}
Esther would not reveal [the identity of] her heritage or her people, just as Mordechai had directed her. Esther followed Mordechai’s bidding, just as she did when she was reared by him.
Esther would not reveal [the identity of] her heritage or her people, just as Mordechai had directed her. Esther followed Mordechai’s bidding, just as she did when she was reared by him.
Rashi
אין אסתר מגדת מולדתה. לפי שמרדכי יושב בשער המלך המזרזה והמרמזה על כך:
Esther would not reveal [the identity of] her heritage. Because Mordechai was sitting in the king’s gate; he encouraged her and hinted to her about it.
ומה יעשה בה. זה אחד משני צדיקים שניתן להם רמז ישועה דוד ומרדכי דוד שנאמר (שמואל א יז) גם את הארי גם הדוב הכה עבדך אמר לא בא לידי דבר זה אלא לסמוך עליו להלחם עם זה וכן מרדכי אמר לא אירע לצדקת זו שתלקח למשכב ערל אלא שעתידה לקום להושיע לישראל לפיכך היה מחזר לדעת מה יהא בסופה:
And what would be done with her. He [Mordechai] was one of two righteous men to whom a hint of salvation was given; Dovid and Mordechai. Dovid as it is stated, “Even the lion and the bear has your servant slain.”12I Shmuel 17:36. He [Dovid] said [to himself], “this incident did not happen to me only that I should rely on it and do battle with this one [Golyas].” And similarly, Mordechai [said to himself], “It did not happen to this righteous woman that she should be taken to a gentile’s bed only that she is destined to rise to save Yisroel.” He therefore repeatedly went around to find out what would be her fate.13Esther Rabbah 6:6. Accordingly ומה יעשה בה means “and what would be accomplished through her.”