1 After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.
2 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:
4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
5 Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;
6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
7 And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
8 So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.
10 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.
12 Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)
13 Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.
14 In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.
15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
18 Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.
19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.
20 Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
21 In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.
22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name.
23 And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
<html><b>He remembered Vashti.</b> Her beauty, and he became sad.1<i class=“footnote”>He was remorseful having realized that her refusal to appear before him was justified and the decree against her was wrong. Providence, however, had ordained her execution because she had persuaded Achashveirosh to prohibit the restoration of the Bais Hamikdosh which had been destroyed by Nevuchadnetzar, her grandfather. </i> </html>
<html><b>And let his majesty appoint officials.</b> Since every commissioner is familiar with the beautiful women in his province.2<i class=“footnote”>Rather than appoint commissioners from Shushan, he should appoint local commissioners in his provinces because they would be more readily able to find the most beautiful women in their own provinces. </i> <b>Their cosmetics.</b> These are substances that cleanse [the skin], as in, “that shall be purged [וּמֹרַק] and rinsed.”3<i class=“footnote”>Vayikra 6:21. </i> These are perfumed oils, various ingredients and spices that cleanse and soften the skin.4<i class=“footnote”>Maseches Megillah 13a. </i> </html>
<html><b>There was a Yehudite man.</b> Because he was exiled with the exile of Yehudah.5<i class=“footnote”>Rashi offers this explanation to reconcile the contradiction at the end of this verse where Mordechai is described as a Binyaminite man. Targum renders איש יהודי, “a pious Jew.” Alternatively, יהוד is similar to יחוד [=unification], i.e., Mordechai publicly unified God’s Name by refusing to bow before Haman, who wore an idolatrous image. (Esther Rabbah 6:2 and see Maseches Megillah 12b-13a) </i> All those who were exiled with the kings of Yehudah were called יְהוּדִים [Yehudites] among the nations, even if they were from another tribe.6<i class=“footnote”>Maseches Megillah 12b. </i> <b>A Binyaminite man.</b> He was from Binyamin, that is the plain meaning. But our Rabbis expounded what they expounded.7<i class=“footnote”>Ibid. </i> </html>
<html><b>As a daughter.</b> Our Rabbis explained, “for a house” [i.e., לְבַת=לְבַיִת, meaning, as a wife.8<i class=“footnote”>Maseches Megillah 13a. Apparently בת here does not mean [lit.] daughter, because Esther was not his child. </i> </html>
<html><b>He eagerly delivered her cosmetics.</b> He was more expedient and quicker with bringing her [cosmetics] than with all the others.9<i class=“footnote”>To avoid eating non-kosher food Esther had Hagai provide her with natural uncooked food. See Maseches Megillah 13a. </i> <b>Assigned to her.</b> To serve her, and so they would do for all of them; and our Rabbis expounded what they expounded.10<i class=“footnote”>Ibid. By having seven maidservants Esther was able to know when it was Shabbos. She called each one on a different day of the week and when the one that was assigned for Shabbos would come, she knew it was Shabbos. Another reason for having seven maidservants, one for each day of the week, so that the maidservants for weekdays would not observe her resting on Shabbos and detect that she was Jewish. According to Targum, each maidservant’s name corresponded to a specific day’s part of creation. </i> <b>He favored her.</b> I.e., he changed her וַיְשַׁנֶּהָ=שִׁנָּה אוֹתָהּ. </html>
<html><b>Not to reveal it.</b> So that they should say that she was from an ignoble family and dismiss her, for if they knew that she was of the family of King Shaul, they would keep her.11<i class=“footnote”>According to Targum, Mordechai feared for Esther’s and the Jews’ safety. </i> </html>
<html><b>And what would be done with her.</b> He [Mordechai] was one of two righteous men to whom a hint of salvation was given; Dovid and Mordechai. Dovid as it is stated, “Even the lion and the bear has your servant slain.”12<i class=“footnote”>I Shmuel 17:36. </i> He [Dovid] said [to himself], “this incident did not happen to me only that I should rely on it and do battle with this one [Golyas].” And similarly, Mordechai [said to himself], “It did not happen to this righteous woman that she should be taken to a gentile’s bed only that she is destined to rise to save Yisroel.” He therefore repeatedly went around to find out what would be her fate.13<i class=“footnote”>Esther Rabbah 6:6. Accordingly ומה יעשה בה means “and what would be accomplished through her.” </i> </html>
<html><b>Time.</b> Time.</html>
<html><b>Whatever she requested.</b> Any entertainment and types of music.</html>
<html><b>To the second harem residence.</b> The second שֵׁנִי=הַשֵּׁנִי.14<i class=“footnote”>Those who were brought to the king were required to return to the second harem residence. </i> </html>
<html><b>In the tenth month.</b> The cold season, when one body enjoys [the warmth of] another body.15<i class=“footnote”>Maseches Megillah 13a. </i> The Holy One Blessed Is He, designated that cold season in order to endear her to him. </html>
<html><b>More than all the women.</b>16<i class=“footnote”>Ibid. </i> The married ones; for he also gathered married women. </html>
<html><b>He waived the colonial taxes.</b> In her honor he released them from the tax that was [levied] upon them.17<i class=“footnote”>Ibid. </i> 18<i class=“footnote”>Because he did not know Esther’s ancestry Achashveirosh tried to the draw the secret from her. He waived the taxes of all the provinces and she still did not tell him. However, once he was apprized of her ancestry he restored the tax; below 10:1. (Gra) </i> <b>And [he] lavished gifts.</b> He sent them gifts, and everything was in order to entice her, perhaps she would reveal her nationality.19<i class=“footnote”>Maseches Megillah 13a. </i> But nevertheless, </html>
<html><b>Esther would not reveal [the identity of] her heritage.</b> Because Mordechai was sitting in the king’s gate; he encouraged her and hinted to her about it.</html>
<html><b>To assault.</b> To give him poison to drink.20<i class=“footnote”>Ibid. 13b. According to Targum they planned to poison Esther and to murder Achashveirosh with a sword. </i> </html>
<html><b>The matter was apprehended by Mordechai.</b> For they were discussing their affairs before him in the Tarsian language, and they did not know that Mordechai was familiar with seventy languages, for he was one of those [Sanhedrin]21<i class=“footnote”>Ibid. Each member of Sanhedrin was familiar with all seventy languages in order to understand and hear direct testimony without the means of a translator. </i> who sat in the Chamber of Hewn Stone [which housed the Great Sanhedrin]. </html>
<html><b>This was inscribed in the book of archives.</b> The favor that Mordechai did for the king.22<i class=“footnote”>This was recorded in the book of archives of Media and Persia, and referred to in 10:2 below.</i></html>