Tanach
Esther 8:7-14 אסתר ח׳:ז׳-י״ד
Part of: Chapter 8
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרֹשׁ לְאֶסְתֵּר הַמַּלְכָּה וּֽלְמׇרְדֳּכַי הַיְּהוּדִי הִנֵּה בֵית־הָמָן נָתַתִּי לְאֶסְתֵּר וְאֹתוֹ תָּלוּ עַל־הָעֵץ עַל אֲשֶׁר־שָׁלַח יָדוֹ (ביהודיים) [בַּיְּהוּדִֽים]׃
King Achashverosh said to Queen Esther and to Mordechai the Yehudi, “Here, I have given Haman’s estate to Esther, and he was hung from the gallows for attacking the Yehudim.
King Achashverosh said to Queen Esther and to Mordechai the Yehudi, “Here, I have given Haman’s estate to Esther, and he was hung from the gallows for attacking the Yehudim.
Rashi
וְאַתֶּם כִּתְבוּ עַל־הַיְּהוּדִים כַּטּוֹב בְּעֵֽינֵיכֶם בְּשֵׁם הַמֶּלֶךְ וְחִתְמוּ בְּטַבַּעַת הַמֶּלֶךְ כִּֽי־כְתָב אֲשֶׁר־נִכְתָּב בְּשֵׁם־הַמֶּלֶךְ וְנַחְתּוֹם בְּטַבַּעַת הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵין לְהָשִֽׁיב׃
Thus, you may issue a writ concerning the Yehudim as you please, in the name of the king and you may seal it with the king’s ring; for a writ issued in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s ring, is not rescindable.
Thus, you may issue a writ concerning the Yehudim as you please, in the name of the king and you may seal it with the king’s ring; for a writ issued in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s ring, is not rescindable.
Rashi
אין להשיב. אין נאה להשיבו ולעשות כתב המלך בזיוף:
It is not rescindable. It is not fitting to rescind it and make the king’s writ invalid.
וַיִּקָּרְאוּ סֹפְרֵֽי־הַמֶּלֶךְ בָּֽעֵת־הַהִיא בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁלִישִׁי הוּא־חֹדֶשׁ סִיוָן בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁה וְעֶשְׂרִים בּוֹ וַיִּכָּתֵב כְּֽכׇל־אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּה מׇרְדֳּכַי אֶל־הַיְּהוּדִים וְאֶל הָאֲחַשְׁדַּרְפְּנִֽים־וְהַפַּחוֹת וְשָׂרֵי הַמְּדִינוֹת אֲשֶׁר ׀ מֵהֹדּוּ וְעַד־כּוּשׁ שֶׁבַע וְעֶשְׂרִים וּמֵאָה מְדִינָה מְדִינָה וּמְדִינָה כִּכְתָבָהּ וְעַם וָעָם כִּלְשֹׁנוֹ וְאֶל־הַיְּהוּדִים כִּכְתָבָם וְכִלְשׁוֹנָֽם׃
The royal scribes were summoned at that time, during the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty third of the month, and transcripts were made of all of Mordechai’s directives, to the Yehudim, to the envoys, to the governors, and to the ministers of the colonies which extended from Hodu until Kush, one hundred and twenty-seven colonies; each and every colony in its own script, each and every people in its own language. Also, to the Yehudim, in their script and their language.
The royal scribes were summoned at that time, during the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty third of the month, and transcripts were made of all of Mordechai’s directives, to the Yehudim, to the envoys, to the governors, and to the ministers of the colonies which extended from Hodu until Kush, one hundred and twenty-seven colonies; each and every colony in its own script, each and every people in its own language. Also, to the Yehudim, in their script and their language.
Rashi
ככתבה. באותיות שלה:
In its own script. With its characters [i.e., alphabet].
כלשנו. הוא הדיבור:
In its own language. The spoken language.
וַיִּכְתֹּב בְּשֵׁם הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרֹשׁ וַיַּחְתֹּם בְּטַבַּעַת הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיִּשְׁלַח סְפָרִים בְּיַד הָרָצִים בַּסּוּסִים רֹכְבֵי הָרֶכֶשׁ הָֽאֲחַשְׁתְּרָנִים בְּנֵי הָֽרַמָּכִֽים׃
He wrote in the name of King Achashverosh, sealed it with the king’s ring, and dispatched scrolls carried by couriers on horseback, riders of the royal breed, fleet dromedaries bred from ramachim.
He wrote in the name of King Achashverosh, sealed it with the king’s ring, and dispatched scrolls carried by couriers on horseback, riders of the royal breed, fleet dromedaries bred from ramachim.
Rashi
ביד הרצים. רוכבי סוסים שצוה להם לרוץ:
Carried by couriers. The horsemen, whom he [the king] commanded to hurry.
האחשתרנים. מין גמלים הממהרים לרוץ:
Of the royal breed. A type of camel that runs swiftly.
אֲשֶׁר נָתַן הַמֶּלֶךְ לַיְּהוּדִים ׀ אֲשֶׁר בְּכׇל־עִיר־וָעִיר לְהִקָּהֵל וְלַעֲמֹד עַל־נַפְשָׁם לְהַשְׁמִיד וְלַהֲרֹג*(במגילות אשכנז לַהֲרֹג) וּלְאַבֵּד אֶת־כׇּל־חֵיל עַם וּמְדִינָה הַצָּרִים אֹתָם טַף וְנָשִׁים וּשְׁלָלָם לָבֽוֹז׃
Namely that the king authorized the Yehudim in each and every city to assemble and stand in defense of their lives; to destroy, slaughter, and annihilate the military forces of any people or colony oppressing them, their children and women; with their booty to be taken.
Namely that the king authorized the Yehudim in each and every city to assemble and stand in defense of their lives; to destroy, slaughter, and annihilate the military forces of any people or colony oppressing them, their children and women; with their booty to be taken.
Rashi
ושללם לבוז. כאשר נכתב בראשונות והם בבזה לא שלחו את ידם שהראו לכל שלא נעשה לשם ממון:
With their booty to be taken. As was written in the first [letters], but they did not lay their hands upon the spoils, for they showed everyone that this was not done for the sake of money.
בְּיוֹם אֶחָד בְּכׇל־מְדִינוֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ בִּשְׁלוֹשָׁה עָשָׂר לְחֹדֶשׁ שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂר הוּא־חֹדֶשׁ אֲדָֽר׃
On a single day, in all the colonies of King Achashverosh—on the thirteenth of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.
On a single day, in all the colonies of King Achashverosh—on the thirteenth of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.
פַּתְשֶׁגֶן הַכְּתָב לְהִנָּתֵֽן דָּת בְּכׇל־מְדִינָה וּמְדִינָה גָּלוּי לְכׇל־הָעַמִּים וְלִהְיוֹת (היהודיים) [הַיְּהוּדִים] (עתודים) [עֲתִידִים] לַיּוֹם הַזֶּה לְהִנָּקֵם מֵאֹיְבֵיהֶֽם׃
The terms of the writ would become legally binding in each and every colony, displayed conspicuously before all the peoples, so that the Yehudim would be poised, on that day, to exact vengeance on their enemies.
The terms of the writ would become legally binding in each and every colony, displayed conspicuously before all the peoples, so that the Yehudim would be poised, on that day, to exact vengeance on their enemies.
Rashi
פתשגן. אגרת מפורש:
The terms. An explicit letter.
הָרָצִים רֹכְבֵי הָרֶכֶשׁ הָֽאֲחַשְׁתְּרָנִים יָצְאוּ מְבֹהָלִים וּדְחוּפִים בִּדְבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ וְהַדָּת נִתְּנָה בְּשׁוּשַׁן הַבִּירָֽה׃ {ס}
The couriers, riders of the royal breed, the fleet dromedaries, rushed away by urgent royal command, and the decree was delivered in the capital city of Shushan.
The couriers, riders of the royal breed, the fleet dromedaries, rushed away by urgent royal command, and the decree was delivered in the capital city of Shushan.
Rashi
מבהלים. ממהרים אותם לעשות מהרה לפי שלא היה להם פנאי שהיה להם להקדים רצים הראשונים להעבירם:
Rushed. They hastened them to act swiftly, because they had no time, for they had to get ahead of the first couriers to overtake them.
הנה בית המן וגו'. ומעתה הכל רואים שאני חפץ בכם וכל מה שתאמרו יאמינו הכל שמאתי הוא לפיכך אין צריכין אתם להשיבם אלא כתבו ספרים אחרים כטוב בעיניכם:
Here, [I have given] Haman’s estate, etc. And from now on everyone sees that I favor you,1Achashveirosh’s reply does not address Esther’s request that he rescind Haman’s evil plans against the Jews. Therefore Rashi explains that the meaning of Achashveirosh’s reply was that, “from now on everyone sees....” (Sifsei Chachomim) and whatever you say, everyone will believe that it comes from me; therefore, you do not have to rescind them, but “write” other letters “as you please.”