Questions tagged [esther--the-woman]
Queen of Persia and protagonist of the eponymous Book of Esther
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What clothing did Esther send Mordechai
In Megillat Esther (the Book of Esther) 4:4 it says Esther offered Mordechai clothing. My question is, what clothing did she send?
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What is known about Avichayil?
Esther's father is mentioned twice in the Megilla (2:15 and 9:29). He is spoken of as "Avichayil." This Avichayil would have to be brothers with Ya'ir, Mordechai's father, if we see ...
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Did Haman actually try to rape Esther?
In the book of Esther, verse 7:8, most translations translate נָפַל as fallen, subdue, force or violate. A few actually translate it as "rape".
Was this just a euphemism or could Haman have, ...
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What really happened to the ten sons of Haman?
Commentators (such as this one) frequently imply that the ten sons of Haman were executed as an act of revenge. Indeed, the Book of Esther does say:
Then Esther said: “If it pleases the king… let ...
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Wife number 1001
I read on the website truthofland.co.il (I have no idea who write it) the following statement
וכן אסתר באה אל אחשוורוש בליל תקופת טבת. וכבר ראינו שהיא היתה אשה מס' 1001 אצל אחשורוש. נמצא שגאולת פורים ...
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Who was Queen Ester's son with Achashverosh?
Is he the one who permitted the construction of the Second Temple? Did she have only one son with the king?
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Is Purim recorded in Persian/Medean records?
In the book Let My Nation Live, there are sources brought down that one of the reasons Purim was established even in spite of possible tensions with gentiles was that either way it would be recorded ...
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How many days did Esther fast?
How many days did Esther fast? Avraham ibn Ezra said it was two days and two nights. And Maharal said it was 70 hours of fasting. How do you reconcile these arguments (opinions)? Is it possible to ...
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What was Esther’s reaction to Haman’s begging and ambush
In Megillas Esther it says Haman stood to beg for his life...........fell on the couch Esther was reclining on.
Question is:
What was her reaction, and her action in response?
why is there no mention ...
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What Beit Ester survived?
Mordechai warns Ester that if she does not partake in saving the Jews:
כִּ֣י אִם־הַחֲרֵ֣שׁ תַּחֲרִישִׁי֮ בָּעֵ֣ת הַזֹּאת֒
רֶ֣וַח וְהַצָּלָ֞ה יַעֲמ֤וֹד לַיְּהוּדִים֙ מִמָּק֣וֹם אַחֵ֔ר
וְאַ֥תְּ ...
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Why the Megillah does not mention Ester marrying Achashverosh?
The Megillah (2.16) mentions taking Ester into the Palace, loving here [more than other girls] and crowning her as the queen but no mention of the marriage or being Achashverosh's wife:
וַתִּלָּקַח ...
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Who was Esther’s mother?
The Megillah says the name of Esther’s father (Abichayel) but did anyone ever see a source naming her mother?
This isn’t a Halacha question but it would be nice to have a source for her mom’s name
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Esther’s and Mordechai’s relationship? [duplicate]
I have heard many times over the years that Mordechai was esther’s Uncle. Yet it says in the Megillah itself that Mordechai was esther’s cousin! (Esther 2:7)
Does anyone know of any sources that say ...
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Did Esther have the halachic status of a captive?
Esther was taken (Esther 2:8), ostensibly against her will, by king Achashveirosh. I would like to know if she had the halachic status of a captive such that, for example, the mitzvah of redeeming a ...
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Did Mordechei ever tell Esther she was allowed to reveal her nationality?
Mordechai had told Esther that she can't reveal her nationality and Esther took that very seriously. Did he tell her that she was suddently allowed to reveal her nationality at the second party or did ...
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How do we learn that Esther was a prophet?
I know that tradition lists 7 women prophets, and I think Esther is listed as one of them.
It is easy to see that Sarah was a prophet (for example, in Vayeira during the telling of the expulsion of ...
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Why does the king need to extend the scepter to Esther a second time?
In Esther 8:4 it says
וַיּ֤וֹשֶׁט הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ לְאֶסְתֵּ֔ר אֵ֖ת שַׁרְבִ֣ט הַזָּהָ֑ב וַתָּ֣קָם אֶסְתֵּ֔ר וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֖ד לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
The king extended the golden scepter to Esther, and Esther ...
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Why does Achashveirosh ask who is responsible for the decree against the Jews?
In Esther 7:5 it says
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר לְאֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַמַּלְכָּ֑ה מִ֣י ה֥וּא זֶה֙ וְאֵֽי־זֶ֣ה ה֔וּא אֲשֶׁר־מְלָא֥וֹ לִבּ֖וֹ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת כֵּֽן׃
Thereupon King Ahasuerus ...
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According to Rashi, why does Esther split up her argument?
At the beginning of Esther 7, Esther makes her plea for the Jewish people. Rashi (to v. 3) makes a very interesting comment:
וְעַמִּי. יִנָּתֵן לִי "בְּבַקָּשָׁתִי" שֶׁלֹּא יֵהָרְגוּ. וְאִם תּאמַר: ...
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Why did Esther's handmaidens fast?
In Esther 4:16, Esther instructs Mordechai:
צ֣וּמוּ עָ֠לַי וְאַל־תֹּאכְל֨וּ וְאַל־תִּשְׁתּ֜וּ שְׁלֹ֤שֶׁת יָמִים֙ לַ֣יְלָה וָי֔וֹם גַּם־אֲנִ֥י וְנַעֲרֹתַ֖י אָצ֣וּם כֵּ֑ן
Fast for me; do not eat ...
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What are the parameters of "one should not return a ruinous report"?
The gemarah in Megillah (15a) states:
“And they told Esther’s words to Mordecai” (Esther 4:12), but he, Hathach himself, did not go to tell him directly. The Gemara explains: From here we see that ...
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Why didn't Mordechai accept the clothes sent by Esther?
Esther 4:1-5 states
When Mordecai learned all that had happened, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes. He went through the city, crying out loudly and bitterly, until he came in ...
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Why did Mordechai push to have Esther visit Achashveirosh at that time?
Mordechai seems to push Esther to entreat Achashveirosh right after telling her about Haman's decree (Esther 4:14)
כִּ֣י אִם־הַֽחֲרֵ֣שׁ תַּֽחֲרִישִׁי֮ בָּעֵ֣ת הַזֹּאת֒ רֶ֣וַח וְהַצָּלָ֞ה יַֽעֲמ֤וֹד ...
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Why don't we refer to Esther by her Hebrew name?
Slightly related to this question Esther's Hebrew name was Hadassah. I understand the use of that name in the Megillah. However in our liturgy including the Al haNissim prayer and other songs and ...
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Why does the megillah change the order of Esther not telling her nation or birthplace
In Megillat Esther 2:10 the pasuk tells us that לֹא־הִגִּ֣ידָה אֶסְתֵּ֔ר אֶת־עַמָּ֖הּ וְאֶת־מֽוֹלַדְתָּ֑הּ, Esther didn't tell her nation or birthplace. However, a few pesukim later in 2:20, we learn ...
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Esther stay married to achashveiros
Why did Esther stay married to achashveirosh and have a child with him after the Jewish people were saved?
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How did Esther reveal to Achashveroch that Mordechai is her husband
Avrohom ordered Sarah to say that she is his sister (he was afraid that Egyptian kill him). How was Esther not afraid that Achashverosh kills Mordechai? (Esther 8, 1[1])
She was the wife of ...
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Are women required to keep the Fast of Esther?
I had learned that women are only required to fast on Yom Kippur and Tisha B'Av.* But sometimes, women are obligated in mitzvos that they wouldn't ordinarily be expected (such as the time-bound ...
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Why are Mordechai and Esther buried in Hamedan, considering it is distant from Shushan?
According to Google Maps, Hamedan is about 470 KM from Shush, the Biblical town of Shushan.
If Mordechai and Esther lived in Shushan (where Esther served as Queen), why were they buried so far away ...
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Was Cyrus really Queen Esther's son?
Are there any Talmudic sources that back up the claim that Cyrus was really the son of Queen Esther?
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What was Mordechai's excuse for checking on Ester? [duplicate]
When Ester was in the harem, and presumably after she became queen, Mordechai was constantly around to see how she was doing.
וּבְכָל־י֣וֹם וָי֔וֹם מָרְדֳּכַי֙ מִתְהַלֵּ֔ךְ לִפְנֵ֖י חֲצַ֣ר בֵּית־...
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Is it really kosher to "apply" to become a gentile king's wife?
Near the beginning of the Purim story, Esther lives in King Achashverosh's harem and "applies" to be queen by spending the night with him. What do our interpretations say about why she did this and ...
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Why didn't Esther reveal her origin earlier?
Mordechai tells Esther not to reveal her origin (Esther 2:10) ostensibly in the hopes that they would assume she was of ignoble birth and dismiss her (Rashi ad loc.). Once she is chosen by the king, ...
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How was Charvonah at Esther's private party?
If, as Haman states (Esther 5:12), only Haman and Achashveirosh were invited to Esther's party what is Charvonah doing there?
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How did Achashveirosh not know that Esther was Jewish?
In the Megila, Esther is taken from the house of Mordechai - who was clearly known as a Jew, and then Mordechai is constantly expressing interest in Esther: (2:11)
ובכל יום ויום מרדכי מתהלך לפני ...
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How old was Esther?
How old was Esther when she was selected by Achashveirosh? I am familiar with the Yalkut (Esther 2:8) which offers ages up to 80 and seems to settle on 74/75 the numerical value of Haddasah, however ...
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Why does Esther change her name?
Esther is initially called Hadassah (Esther 2:7). Why does she change her name, ostensibly even before she is brought to the king's harem?
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Yael vs Esther comparison
There are two women that made a similar act. Esther went to Achashverosh to save Jews and Yael tempted Sisra to kill him and save Jews.
I want to compare among these acts.
Does Yael was forbidden to ...
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What is the conceptual definition of tzniut?
When the concept of tzniut is discussed it is defined as 'modesty' and used overwhelmingly in regard to sexuality. However we know there are other uses for the term such as from the gemarah (Megillah ...
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Mordecai: Esther's uncle?
The m'gila says clearly that Ester was "bas dodo", which seems to mean she was the daughter of Mord'chay's uncle, i.e., his first cousin. The targum renders this as "b'ras achvoy". Does that mean "his ...
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