Tanach
Esther 7:5-8 אסתר ז׳:ה׳-ח׳
Part of: Chapter 7
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ וַיֹּאמֶר לְאֶסְתֵּר הַמַּלְכָּה מִי הוּא זֶה וְאֵֽי־זֶה הוּא אֲשֶׁר־מְלָאוֹ לִבּוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת כֵּֽן׃
King Achashverosh spoke. He said to Queen Esther, “Who is this? Who is the one that had the audacity to act this way?”
King Achashverosh spoke. He said to Queen Esther, “Who is this? Who is the one that had the audacity to act this way?”
Rashi
וַתֹּאמֶר אֶסְתֵּר אִישׁ צַר וְאוֹיֵב הָמָן הָרָע הַזֶּה וְהָמָן נִבְעַת מִלִּפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וְהַמַּלְכָּֽה׃
Esther exclaimed, “An oppressive man, an enemy—this evil Haman!”—and Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.
Esther exclaimed, “An oppressive man, an enemy—this evil Haman!”—and Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.
וְהַמֶּלֶךְ קָם בַּחֲמָתוֹ מִמִּשְׁתֵּה הַיַּיִן אֶל־גִּנַּת הַבִּיתָן וְהָמָן עָמַד לְבַקֵּשׁ עַל־נַפְשׁוֹ מֵֽאֶסְתֵּר הַמַּלְכָּה כִּי רָאָה כִּֽי־כָלְתָה אֵלָיו הָרָעָה מֵאֵת הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
The king rose, in a fit of rage, from the winefest toward the orchard garden, while Haman got up to plead with Queen Esther for his life, for he realized that it would end up badly for him from the king.
The king rose, in a fit of rage, from the winefest toward the orchard garden, while Haman got up to plead with Queen Esther for his life, for he realized that it would end up badly for him from the king.
Rashi
כי כלתה. נגמרה הרעה והשנאה והנקמה:
That it would end up. The evil, the hatred, and the vengeance were decided.
וְהַמֶּלֶךְ שָׁב מִגִּנַּת הַבִּיתָן אֶל־בֵּית ׀ מִשְׁתֵּה הַיַּיִן וְהָמָן נֹפֵל עַל־הַמִּטָּה אֲשֶׁר אֶסְתֵּר עָלֶיהָ וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ הֲגַם לִכְבּוֹשׁ אֶת־הַמַּלְכָּה עִמִּי בַּבָּיִת הַדָּבָר יָצָא מִפִּי הַמֶּלֶךְ וּפְנֵי הָמָן חָפֽוּ׃ {ס}
When the king returned from the orchard garden to the winefest room, Haman had fallen on the couch upon which Esther reclined. The king exclaimed, “Even to overpower the queen with me in the palace?” The words left the king’s mouth, and Haman’s face was enveloped in humiliation.
When the king returned from the orchard garden to the winefest room, Haman had fallen on the couch upon which Esther reclined. The king exclaimed, “Even to overpower the queen with me in the palace?” The words left the king’s mouth, and Haman’s face was enveloped in humiliation.
Rashi
והמן נפל. המלאך דחפו:
Haman had fallen. The angel pushed him.3Ibid. The literal translation is “and Haman was falling,” meaning that he tried to rise but the angel kept pushing him onto the couch and into a compromising position, which infuriated the king even more.
על המטה אשר אסתר עליה. דרכן היה לישב בסעודה על צדן על גבי המטות כמו שאמר בראש הספר מטות זהב וכסף לבני המשתה:
On the couch upon which Esther reclined. Their custom was to sit at a meal [reclining] on their sides on couches, as it is stated in the beginning of the Book, “couches of gold and silver”4Above 1:6. for those who participated in the feast.
הגם לכבוש. לשון תימה הוא לכבוש לאנוס בחזקה כמו (במדבר לב) ונכבשה הארץ:
Even to overpower the queen. This is an expression of wonder. לִכְבּוֹשׁ [denotes] to subdue with force, as in “and the land is conquered [וְנִכְבְּשָׁה].”5Bamidbar 32:22.
ויאמר המלך אחשורוש ויאמר לאסתר המלכה. כל מקום שנאמר ויאמר ויאמר ב' פעמים אינו אלא למדרש ומדרשו של זה בתחלה היה מדבר עמה על ידי שליח עכשיו שידע שממשפחת מלכים היא דבר עמה הוא בעצמו:
King Achashveirosh spoke. He said to Queen Esther. Wherever it states, “and he said ... and he said,” twice, it is to be expounded upon. And the Midrashic interpretation of this is: Originally, he would speak to her through an intermediary, but now that he knew that she was of a royal family, he spoke to her personally.2Maseches Megillah 16a.