8
votes
Accepted
How do we learn that Esther was a prophet?
Talmud Bavli, Megillah 14a lists the seven prophetesses as:
Sarah
Miriam
Deborah
Hannah
Abigail
Huldah
Esther
(Interestingly enough, Eve is not listed as one of the prophetesses.)
The Talmud ...
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8
votes
Accepted
Why didn't Esther reveal her origin earlier?
The following is culled from Oz V'hadar's Mesivta on Megillas Esther, page 37, note 89; pages 230-232; and pages 251-252. Unless otherwise specified, the mefarshim are on Esther 2:10.
Mordechai ...
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7
votes
Why are Mordechai and Esther buried in Hamedan, considering it is distant from Shushan?
Encyclopedia Judaica's entry for "Hamadan, Iran" says:
The Persian Jews identify Hamadan with "Shushan ha-Bira," which obviously is a mistake.
An essay entitled "Esther’s Tomb Iran's Jewish queen ...
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4
votes
Accepted
How did Achashveirosh not know that Esther was Jewish?
The Talmud in Megillah 7a says the following:
דר"ע דלמא כר' אלעזר דאמר מלמד שכל אחד ואחד נדמתה לו כאומתו
Against the proof of R.
Akiba it may be objected that perhaps the fact is as stated ...
- 49k
4
votes
What Beit Ester survived?
Vayikra Rabbah 13:5 records a tradition that King Darius was the son of Esther (and Ahasuerus):
אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן דָּרְיָוֶשׁ הָאַחֲרוֹן בְּנָהּ שֶׁל אֶסְתֵּר הָיָה, טָהוֹר ...
- 41.6k
3
votes
What was Esther’s reaction to Haman’s begging and ambush
At the simplest level, as I read it, it was a matter of split-second timing. Haman had been standing near Esther, begging, and half a second before Achasheveirosh walked back in, he tripped and fell ...
- 131k
3
votes
Accepted
Why don't we refer to Esther by her Hebrew name?
Main points and answers in Bold.
There are many aspects that need to be discussed in order to properly answer this question, but this will only really be a question according to the (minor) minority ...
- 20.9k
3
votes
Why does the megillah change the order of Esther not telling her nation or birthplace
You'll be interested to know that (a) Yosef Lekach to 2:10 and Malbim to 2:20 ask your question, and (b) Targum Sheni to 2:20 rewords the verse to be the same order as the first one:
ארמית: אין ...
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3
votes
Why does Achashveirosh ask who is responsible for the decree against the Jews?
Haman hated the Jewish people and yearned to wipe them out, but he doubted that Achashveirosh would agree. Therefore, he fooled Achashveirosh into issuing a decree to destroy the Jewish people.
Haman ...
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3
votes
Why didn't Esther reveal her origin earlier?
According to the Targum Sheni (2:10) Mordechai was concerned with Esther revealing this because the king would become upset with Esther at some point and direct his anger out on her people. Just as (...
- 6,864
2
votes
Accepted
Are women required to keep the Fast of Esther?
According to this website, a woman is required to fast unless she doesn't feel well enough to do so
Many authorities, including the Kaf Ha’haim (based on the Bah), the Elya Rabba, the Kisur Shulhan ...
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2
votes
How did Esther reveal to Achashveroch that Mordechai is her husband
I'm afraid I have no source for this, but my reading of Esther 8:1 is that she revealed to Achashverosh only that Mordechai was her cousin, and did not tell him that he was also her husband.
- 5,398
2
votes
Why did Esther's handmaidens fast?
Perhaps they fasted because they were Esther's, similar to how the people of Ninveh made their animals fast when they repented.
- 488
2
votes
Why does the king need to extend the scepter to Esther a second time?
Ralbag on Esther 8:3 that the rule was that any time someone came unsummoned he was in risk of his life unless the king extended the scepter. Note that Haman had come and waited in the outer chamber ...
- 42.9k
2
votes
Did Esther have the halachic status of a captive?
The gemarah ketubot 51b states as follows (with explanation from Sefaria.org)
ת"ר שבויי מלכות הרי הן כשבויין גנובי ליסטות אינן כשבויין והתניא איפכא
The Sages taught: With regard to women ...
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2
votes
Did Esther have the halachic status of a captive?
Rambam (Matnos Aniyim 8:10, Meszler translation) seems to understand that a halachic "captive" must be one who is in danger:
פִּדְיוֹן שְׁבוּיִים קוֹדֵם לְפַרְנָסַת עֲנִיִּים וְלִכְסוּתָן. ...
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1
vote
What really happened to the ten sons of Haman?
According to the Gemara Megillah 15b those were different sons. Rav says there were 30 sons: 10 died in battle, 10 were hanged, and 10 became impoverished. The Rabbis say 70 became impoverished. And ...
- 1,539
1
vote
Who was Queen Ester's son with Achashverosh?
Who was Queen Ester's son with Achashverosh?
There are traditions that Esther's son was Darius (Tosafoth RH 3b, DH shenath, Leviticus Rabbah 13:5). This would mean that Darius, as the son of a Jewish ...
- 6,361
1
vote
Accepted
Did Mordechei ever tell Esther she was allowed to reveal her nationality?
I found a source.
Its a Pesikta Rabsi
פסיקתא זוטרתא (לקח טוב) אסתר ד:ח ד"ה ואת פתשגן - עד עתה אין אסתר מגדת, מעתה נתן לה רשות להודיע שהיא יהודית, שנאמר על עמה, וכן אמרה אסתר כי נמכרנו אני ועמי:
...
- 5,355
1
vote
According to Rashi, why does Esther split up her argument?
At the time she has asked for both using the chen which the king has shown her. Once Haman is dead and Mordechai made the King's representative, she sees that only the first part of her request has ...
- 42.9k
1
vote
Why does the megillah change the order of Esther not telling her nation or birthplace
The Malbim asks this question and answers that initially they just wanted to know who she was, and the social norm was to inquire about nationality first when getting to know someone. However later ...
- 6,457
1
vote
Why did Esther's handmaidens fast?
The Maharal to that verse assumes like your two assumptions: (a) her handmaidens weren't Jewish, as that would have raised suspicion that she was Jewish and (b) no seeming purpose that they should ...
- 19.6k
1
vote
What are the parameters of "one should not return a ruinous report"?
When Hatach was relating the information to Esther it was to prompt her for immediate action as she has got the responsibility to take care of her brethren.Relating this was not relating information ...
1
vote
Why didn't Mordechai accept the clothes sent by Esther?
Malbim (Esther 4:4) addresses this directly by saying that Mordechai felt that it would have been inappropriate for him to stop his supplication/prayer at that point:
ולא קבל כי לא רצה להפסיק רגע ...
- 20.9k
1
vote
Are women required to keep the Fast of Esther?
Rabeinu, Without getting a little Meshuge, the answer really is in the fact that Esther fasted for 3 days before she went in to see the King. Remember this was no little undertaking. Whether she was ...
1
vote
Was Cyrus really Queen Esther's son?
The Kalla Rabbasi 2:15 seems to indicate this.
מה בנה של אסתר כתיב (ישעיה מה) אני לפניך אלך והדורים אישר דלתות נחושה אשבר ובריחי
ברזל אגדע...
- 6,864
1
vote
Was Cyrus really Queen Esther's son?
Rashi says that Cyrus was the son of Esther. I have a source at home, I'll have to dig it up.
- 11
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