Yerushalmi Megillah 2:1 ירושלמי מגילה ב׳:א׳

MISHNAH: He who reads the Scroll out of order¹Not in the order the verses are written in the text. did not fulfill his obligation. If he read it by heart, read it in Aramaic or any language²Except Greek as stated in the Mishnah., he did not fulfill his obligation except that one may read to Greek speakers in Greek. The Greek speaker who heard it from Hebrew square script did fulfill his obligation.

HALAKHAH: “He who reads the Scroll out of order did not fulfill his obligation.” For it is written, as in their writing³Esth, 9:27.. If he read it by heart he did not fulfill his obligation for it is written, as in their writing. If he read it in Aramaic he did not fulfill his obligation for it is written, as in their writing. In any language he did not fulfill his obligation for it is written, in their writing and in their language⁴Esth, 8:9. Different in Babli 17a,18a..

⁵This text is a slightly enlarged copy of a text in Berakhot 2:4 (Notes 183–185) referring to the Mishnah which states that reading the Shema not in the sequence of its verses is not fulfilling one’s obligation. Rebbi Jonah said that Naḥman bar Ada stated; Rebbi Yose said that Naḥman the Old stated: They shall be⁶Deut. 6:6., they shall be unaltered⁷Understanding the verb “to be” as “to stay, to exist”.. We have stated: “The same holds for Hallel and reading of Shema⁸Word to be deleted in this context; it belongs to the text of Tosephta 2:1. the Scroll.” One understands this for the Scroll since it is written, as in their writing. But for Hallel, since it is written, from sunrise to sunset may the Name of the Eternal be praised⁹Ps. 113:1.? The Name of the Eternal is praised from sunrise to sunset. What can you understand from that¹⁰If there is no difference between East and West, earlier and later, as declared at the start of Hallel, why should it be important that the Psalms be recited in order? Differently in the Babli 17a, Pesaḥim 118a.? Rebbi Abun said, still it is said in order. When Israel left Egypt¹¹Ps. 114:1., in the past, not for us, Eternal, not for us¹²Ps. 115:1., in current generations, I loved, truly the Eternal listened to my voice¹³Ps. 116:1. in the days of the Messiah, bind the holiday sacrifice with ropes¹⁴Ps. 118:27. in the days of Gog and Magog, You are my God and I shall thank You¹⁵Ps. 118:28., in the future world.

Rebbi Yose in the name of Rebbi Aḥa, Rebbi Ze`ira in the name of Rebbi Eleazar: Only if it was written in Greek¹⁶This refers to the statement in the Mishnah that Greek speakers satisfy their obligation by hearing the Megillah read in Greek translation. This implies that it must be read from a Greek text, not being freely translated from a Hebrew text; but writing a Greek text is not permitted as explained in this paragraph. Babli Šabbat 115b.. Where do we hold? If it was written in square script and he translated it into Greek, that is what we have stated “in any language.” If it was written in Greek and he translated it into {the language of} square script, that is what was stated, which is the difference between Torah scrolls and the Esther scroll? Only that Torah scrolls may be written in any language but the Esther scroll may only be written in square script. Rebbi Samuel bar Sosartai said, explain it if it was written gignton¹⁷No reasonable explanation of this word is known. As far as the meaning is concerned, the most acceptable conjecture is that of Pene Moshe, that the scroll was written in two columns, one in Hebrew square script and the other in Greek; but the word in the text cannot be read δίγλωττον (Brüll). The suggestion by S. Fränkel, to read ’εγένετο, the start of the LXX translation of the masoretic text of Esther, to the exclusion of the apocryphal additions, does not fit the context.. Samuel stated: If in error he omitted one verse but the translator translated it, he fulfilled his obligation. We are saying “in any language,” and you are saying so¹⁸If it is a translation on the spot, Greek is forbidden like any other translation.? Samuel follows his opinion [since] Samuel said, if it was written according to its rules the Greek speaker fulfills his obligation in Greek. Rebbi Abbahu in the name of Rebbi Eleazar: If he knows the language of square script and he knows Greek, he fulfills his obligation [in Greek or]¹⁹Corrector’s addition which totally misunderstands the text; to be deleted. A person understanding Hebrew must hear the text in Hebrew. As noted in the text, if he speaks both Hebrew and Greek, he must hear the text in Hebrew and cannot read the scroll for Greek speakers ignorant of Hebrew. Only a person ignorant of Hebrew may in public read the Greek text from a bilingual scroll. in the language of square script. Greek, he fulfills his obligation in Greek. If he knows the language of square script and he knows Greek, may he absolve the public from their obligation in Greek? This shall come following: anybody who is not obligated in a matter cannot not absolve the public of their obligation²⁰Mishnah Roš Haššanah 3:9..