Tanach
Esther 8:15-9:19 אסתר ח׳:ט״ו-ט׳:י״ט
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וּמׇרְדֳּכַי יָצָא ׀ מִלִּפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ בִּלְבוּשׁ מַלְכוּת תְּכֵלֶת וָחוּר וַעֲטֶרֶת זָהָב גְּדוֹלָה וְתַכְרִיךְ בּוּץ וְאַרְגָּמָן וְהָעִיר שׁוּשָׁן צָהֲלָה וְשָׂמֵֽחָה׃
Mordechai emerged from the king’s presence attired in majestic garb of bluish techeiles wool and pure white, with a great golden crown, and a cloak of linen and purple, argaman wool. And the city of Shushan was blissfully joyful.
Mordechai emerged from the king’s presence attired in majestic garb of bluish techeiles wool and pure white, with a great golden crown, and a cloak of linen and purple, argaman wool. And the city of Shushan was blissfully joyful.
Rashi
לַיְּהוּדִים הָֽיְתָה אוֹרָה וְשִׂמְחָה וְשָׂשֹׂן וִיקָֽר׃
For the Yehudim, there was radiance, joy, delight, and glory.
For the Yehudim, there was radiance, joy, delight, and glory.
וּבְכׇל־מְדִינָה וּמְדִינָה וּבְכׇל־עִיר וָעִיר מְקוֹם אֲשֶׁר דְּבַר־הַמֶּלֶךְ וְדָתוֹ מַגִּיעַ שִׂמְחָה וְשָׂשׂוֹן לַיְּהוּדִים מִשְׁתֶּה וְיוֹם טוֹב וְרַבִּים מֵֽעַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ מִֽתְיַהֲדִים כִּֽי־נָפַל פַּֽחַד־הַיְּהוּדִים עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃
In each and every colony, each and every city, every place where with the king’s directive and bylaw reached, there was joy and delight for the Jews, festivity and days of celebration, with many among the people of the land converting to Judaism, as the awesomeness of the Yehudim had descended over them.
In each and every colony, each and every city, every place where with the king’s directive and bylaw reached, there was joy and delight for the Jews, festivity and days of celebration, with many among the people of the land converting to Judaism, as the awesomeness of the Yehudim had descended over them.
Rashi
מתיהדים. מתגיירים:
Converting to Judaism. Converting to Judaism.
וּבִשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ הוּא־חֹדֶשׁ אֲדָר בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁה עָשָׂר יוֹם בּוֹ אֲשֶׁר הִגִּיעַ דְּבַר־הַמֶּלֶךְ וְדָתוֹ לְהֵעָשׂוֹת בַּיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר שִׂבְּרוּ אֹיְבֵי הַיְּהוּדִים לִשְׁלוֹט בָּהֶם וְנַהֲפוֹךְ הוּא אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁלְטוּ הַיְּהוּדִים הֵמָּה בְּשֹׂנְאֵיהֶֽם׃
During the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the month, when the king’s directive and bylaw were to be put in effect; on the very day when the enemies of the Yehudim anticipated that they would subdue them—it was totally reversed, for they׀the Yehudim׀subdued their enemies.
During the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the month, when the king’s directive and bylaw were to be put in effect; on the very day when the enemies of the Yehudim anticipated that they would subdue them—it was totally reversed, for they׀the Yehudim׀subdued their enemies.
נִקְהֲלוּ הַיְּהוּדִים בְּעָרֵיהֶם בְּכׇל־מְדִינוֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ לִשְׁלֹחַ יָד בִּמְבַקְשֵׁי רָֽעָתָם וְאִישׁ לֹא־עָמַד לִפְנֵיהֶם*(במגילות אשכנז בִּפְנֵיהֶם) כִּֽי־נָפַל פַּחְדָּם עַל־כׇּל־הָעַמִּֽים׃
The Yehudim assembled in their colonies througout all of King Achashverosh’s colonies to assault those who sought their harm, and no man resisted them, for their awesomeness had descended over all the peoples.
The Yehudim assembled in their colonies througout all of King Achashverosh’s colonies to assault those who sought their harm, and no man resisted them, for their awesomeness had descended over all the peoples.
וְכׇל־שָׂרֵי הַמְּדִינוֹת וְהָאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנִים וְהַפַּחוֹת וְעֹשֵׂי הַמְּלָאכָה אֲשֶׁר לַמֶּלֶךְ מְנַשְּׂאִים אֶת־הַיְּהוּדִים כִּֽי־נָפַל פַּֽחַד־מׇרְדֳּכַי עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃
All of the colonial ministers, envoys, and governors, and the imperial executive staff, exalted the Yehudim, as Mordechai’s awesomeness had descended over them.
All of the colonial ministers, envoys, and governors, and the imperial executive staff, exalted the Yehudim, as Mordechai’s awesomeness had descended over them.
Rashi
ועשי המלאכה. אותם שהיו ממונים לעשות צרכי המלך:
And the executive staff. Those who were appointed to conduct the king’s affairs.
כִּֽי־גָדוֹל מׇרְדֳּכַי בְּבֵית הַמֶּלֶךְ וְשׇׁמְעוֹ הוֹלֵךְ בְּכׇל־הַמְּדִינוֹת כִּֽי־הָאִישׁ מׇרְדֳּכַי הוֹלֵךְ וְגָדֽוֹל׃
For Mordechai was powerful at the royal palace, and his prestige extended throughout the colonies; for the distinguished Mordechai’s greatness flourished.
For Mordechai was powerful at the royal palace, and his prestige extended throughout the colonies; for the distinguished Mordechai’s greatness flourished.
וַיַּכּוּ הַיְּהוּדִים בְּכׇל־אֹיְבֵיהֶם מַכַּת־חֶרֶב וְהֶרֶג וְאַבְדָן וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ בְשֹׂנְאֵיהֶם כִּרְצוֹנָֽם׃
The Yehudim struck all their enemies with rapier blows, slaughter, and annihilation, doing as they pleased with their enemies.
The Yehudim struck all their enemies with rapier blows, slaughter, and annihilation, doing as they pleased with their enemies.
וּבְשׁוּשַׁן הַבִּירָה הָרְגוּ הַיְּהוּדִים וְאַבֵּד חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת אִֽישׁ׃
In the capital city of Shushan, the Yehudim killed and annihilated five hundred men.
In the capital city of Shushan, the Yehudim killed and annihilated five hundred men.
וְאֵת ׀ פַּרְשַׁנְדָּתָא וְאֵת ׀ דַּֽלְפוֹן וְאֵת ׀ אַסְפָּֽתָא׃
And Parshandasa, and Dalfon, and Aspasa.
And Parshandasa, and Dalfon, and Aspasa.
וְאֵת ׀ פּוֹרָתָא וְאֵת ׀ אֲדַלְיָא וְאֵת ׀ אֲרִידָֽתָא׃
And Porasa, and Adalia, and Aridasa.
And Porasa, and Adalia, and Aridasa.
וְאֵת ׀ פַּרְמַשְׁתָּא וְאֵת ׀ אֲרִיסַי וְאֵת ׀ אֲרִדַי*(בספרים אחרים אֲרִידַי וכך כתוב במגילות רבות) וְאֵת ׀ וַיְזָֽתָא׃
And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vaizasa,
And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vaizasa,
עֲשֶׂרֶת בְּנֵי הָמָן בֶּֽן־הַמְּדָתָא צֹרֵר הַיְּהוּדִים הָרָגוּ וּבַבִּזָּה לֹא שָׁלְחוּ אֶת־יָדָֽם׃
The ten sons of Haman, son of Hamdasa, oppressor of the Yehudim, they killed. But they did not lay their hands on the spoils.
The ten sons of Haman, son of Hamdasa, oppressor of the Yehudim, they killed. But they did not lay their hands on the spoils.
Rashi
עשרת בני המן. ראיתי בסדר עולם אלו עשרה שכתבו שטנה על יהודה וירושלים כמו שכתוב בספר עזרא (עזרא ד) ובמלכות אחשורוש בתחלת מלכותו כתבו שטנה על ישבי יהודה וירושלם, ומה היא השטנה לבטל העולים מן הגולה בימי כורש שהתחילו לבנות את הבית והלשינו עליהם הכותים והחדילום וכשמת כורש ומלך אחשורוש והתנשא המן דאג שלא יעסקו אותן שבירושלים בבנין ושלחו בשם אחשורוש לשרי עבר הנהר לבטלן:
The ten sons of Haman. I saw in Seder Olam: These are the ten who wrote a [false] accusation against Yehudah and Yerusholayim, as it is written in the Book of Ezra: “And during the reign of Achashveirosh, at the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the dwellers of Yehudah and Yerusholayim.”1Ezra 4:6. And what was the [purpose of the] accusation? To stop those who were coming up from the exile during the days of Koresh, who had started to build the Beis Hamikdosh, and the Cutheans slandered them and stopped them.2Seder Olam Rabbah 29. But when Koresh died, and Achashveirosh reigned, and Haman was promoted, he [Haman] saw to it that those in Yerusholayim would not engage in the construction, so they [Haman’s ten sons] sent in the name of Achashveirosh to the princes of the other side of the river to stop them [from building].
ובבזה לא שלחו את ידם. שלא יתן המלך עין צרה בממון:
But they did not lay their hands on the spoils. So that the king should not cast an envious eye on their money.3Alternatively, Esther’s ancestor, King Shaul had sinned by sparing Agag and by allowing the people to take some of Amoleik’s booty (I Shmuel 15:17-29). His misdeed was now rectified by killing Agag’s descendants, Haman and his sons, and by “not lay[ing] their hands on the spoils,” although they were permitted to do so. This is alluded to in the acrostic [שאול] formed by the first letters of the phrase ובבזה לא שלחו את. (Me’am Lo’ez)
בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא בָּא מִסְפַּר הַֽהֲרוּגִים בְּשׁוּשַׁן הַבִּירָה לִפְנֵי הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
On that day, the total of those killed in the capital city of Shushan came to the king’s attention.
On that day, the total of those killed in the capital city of Shushan came to the king’s attention.
וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ לְאֶסְתֵּר הַמַּלְכָּה בְּשׁוּשַׁן הַבִּירָה הָרְגוּ הַיְּהוּדִים וְאַבֵּד חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת אִישׁ וְאֵת עֲשֶׂרֶת בְּנֵֽי־הָמָן בִּשְׁאָר מְדִינוֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ מֶה עָשׂוּ וּמַה־שְּׁאֵֽלָתֵךְ וְיִנָּתֵֽן לָךְ וּמַה־בַּקָּשָׁתֵךְ עוֹד וְתֵעָֽשׂ׃
The king said to Queen Esther, “In the capital city of Shushan, the Yehudim killed and annihilated five hundren men, and Haman’s ten sons, so in the remaining territories of the king, [imagine] what they have done. Now, whatever you request shall be granted you, whatever else you wish shall be fulfilled.”
The king said to Queen Esther, “In the capital city of Shushan, the Yehudim killed and annihilated five hundren men, and Haman’s ten sons, so in the remaining territories of the king, [imagine] what they have done. Now, whatever you request shall be granted you, whatever else you wish shall be fulfilled.”
וַתֹּאמֶר אֶסְתֵּר אִם־עַל־הַמֶּלֶךְ טוֹב יִנָּתֵן גַּם־מָחָר לַיְּהוּדִים אֲשֶׁר בְּשׁוּשָׁן לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּדָת הַיּוֹם וְאֵת עֲשֶׂרֶת בְּנֵֽי־הָמָן יִתְלוּ עַל־הָעֵֽץ׃
Esther replied, “If his majesty deems it proper, then let tomorrow, too, be granted to the Yehudim who are in Shushan, to act in accordance with today’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons be hung from a gallows.”
Esther replied, “If his majesty deems it proper, then let tomorrow, too, be granted to the Yehudim who are in Shushan, to act in accordance with today’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons be hung from a gallows.”
Rashi
ואת עשרת בני המן יתלו על העץ. אותן שנהרגו:
And let Haman’s ten sons be hung from a gallows. Those who were slain.
וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ לְהֵֽעָשׂוֹת כֵּן וַתִּנָּתֵן דָּת בְּשׁוּשָׁן וְאֵת עֲשֶׂרֶת בְּנֵֽי־הָמָן תָּלֽוּ׃
The king gave word for this to be done. The decree was proclaimed in Shushan, and Haman’s ten sons were hung.
The king gave word for this to be done. The decree was proclaimed in Shushan, and Haman’s ten sons were hung.
Rashi
ותנתן דת. נגזר חוק מאת המלך:
The decree was proclaimed. A statute was decreed by the king.
וַיִּֽקָּהֲלוּ (היהודיים) [הַיְּהוּדִים] אֲשֶׁר־בְּשׁוּשָׁן גַּם בְּיוֹם אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר לְחֹדֶשׁ אֲדָר וַיַּֽהַרְגוּ בְשׁוּשָׁן שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת אִישׁ וּבַבִּזָּה לֹא שָׁלְחוּ אֶת־יָדָֽם׃
The Yehudim who were in Shushan assembled also on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, and killed, in Shushan, three hundren men, but they did not lay their hand on the spoils.
The Yehudim who were in Shushan assembled also on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, and killed, in Shushan, three hundren men, but they did not lay their hand on the spoils.
וּשְׁאָר הַיְּהוּדִים אֲשֶׁר בִּמְדִינוֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ נִקְהֲלוּ ׀ וְעָמֹד עַל־נַפְשָׁם וְנוֹחַ מֵאֹיְבֵיהֶם וְהָרוֹג בְּשֹׂנְאֵיהֶם חֲמִשָּׁה וְשִׁבְעִים אָלֶף וּבַבִּזָּה לֹא שָֽׁלְחוּ אֶת־יָדָֽם׃
Now the remaining Yehudim who were in the king’s colonies assembled and stood in defense of their lives, bringing deliverance from their enemies killing seventy-five thousand of their antagonists. But they did not lay their hands on the spoils.
Now the remaining Yehudim who were in the king’s colonies assembled and stood in defense of their lives, bringing deliverance from their enemies killing seventy-five thousand of their antagonists. But they did not lay their hands on the spoils.
בְּיוֹם־שְׁלוֹשָׁה עָשָׂר לְחֹדֶשׁ אֲדָר וְנוֹחַ בְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר בּוֹ וְעָשֹׂה אֹתוֹ יוֹם מִשְׁתֶּה וְשִׂמְחָֽה׃
[The victory was] on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, while the deliverance was realized on the fourteenth of the month, making it a day of feasting and rejoicing.
[The victory was] on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, while the deliverance was realized on the fourteenth of the month, making it a day of feasting and rejoicing.
(והיהודיים) [וְהַיְּהוּדִים] אֲשֶׁר־בְּשׁוּשָׁן נִקְהֲלוּ בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁה עָשָׂר בּוֹ וּבְאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר בּוֹ וְנוֹחַ בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר בּוֹ וְעָשֹׂה אֹתוֹ יוֹם מִשְׁתֶּה וְשִׂמְחָֽה׃
Whereas the Yehudim who were in Shushan assembled on the thirteenth and on the fourteenth of the month, and realized deliverance on the fifteenth of the month, making it a day of feasting and rejoicing.
Whereas the Yehudim who were in Shushan assembled on the thirteenth and on the fourteenth of the month, and realized deliverance on the fifteenth of the month, making it a day of feasting and rejoicing.
עַל־כֵּן הַיְּהוּדִים (הפרוזים) [הַפְּרָזִים] הַיֹּשְׁבִים בְּעָרֵי הַפְּרָזוֹת עֹשִׂים אֵת יוֹם אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר לְחֹדֶשׁ אֲדָר שִׂמְחָה וּמִשְׁתֶּה וְיוֹם טוֹב וּמִשְׁלֹחַ מָנוֹת אִישׁ לְרֵעֵֽהוּ׃ {ס}
For this reason,“unwalled” Yehudim—those who reside in unwalled cities—observe the fourteenth day of the month of Adar [as a day of] feasting, rejoicing, and a day of celebration, sending gifts of food to one another.
For this reason,“unwalled” Yehudim—those who reside in unwalled cities—observe the fourteenth day of the month of Adar [as a day of] feasting, rejoicing, and a day of celebration, sending gifts of food to one another.
Rashi
הפרוזים. שאינם יושבים בערי חומה בארבעה עשר ומוקפין חומה בט"ו כשושן והיקף זה צריך שיהיה מימות יהושע בן נון כך דרשו ולמדו רבותינו:
Unwalled. Who do not reside in walled cities, [celebrate] on the fourteenth, and those who reside in walled cities [celebrate] on the fifteenth, like Shushan; and [these cities] must have been surrounded [by walls] since the days Yehoshua Bin Nun. So did our Rabbis expound and learn.4Maseches Megillah 2b. Shushan which was without a wall in the time of Yehoshua was accorded special status “because the miracle was performed there.”
ומשלח. שם דבר כמו משמר משמע לפיכך השי"ן נקודה רפי:
Sending. This מִשְׁלֹחַ is a noun like מִשְׁמָר [guarding]5Nechemyah 12:24. and מִשְׁמָע [hearing],6Yeshayah 11:3. therefore the shin is vowelized softly [without a dagesh].
ותכריך בוץ. מעטה בוץ טלית העשוי להתעטף:
And a cloak of linen. A wrap of linen, a shawl in which to enwrap oneself.