## Rashi on Esther Chapter 1

###### Rashi on Esther 1:1:1
[Rashi on Esther 1:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:1:1)

**וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ.** מֶלֶךְ פָּרַס הָיָה, שֶׁמָּלַךְ תַּחַת כּוֹרֶשׁ לְסוֹף שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה שֶׁל גָּלוּת בָּבֶל:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**It was in the days of Achashveirosh.** He was the king of Persia¹ who reigned in place of Koresh² at the end of the seventy years of the Babylonian exile.

footnotes:
¹ The Persians conquered the Babylonians, and Achashveirosh succeeded Koresh to the Persian throne in the year 3392.
² There were other Persian kings with the name “Achashveirosh,” therefore Rashi identifies which “Achashveirosh” he was. (Mizrachi)


###### Rashi on Esther 1:1:2
[Rashi on Esther 1:1:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:1:2)

**הוּא אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ.** הוּא בְרִשְׁעוֹ מִתְּחִלָּתוֹ וְעַד סוֹפוֹ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**He was [the] Achashveirosh.** He was equally wicked from beginning to end.³

footnotes:
³ Maseches Megillah 11a. He did not allow the resumption of the building of the Bais Hamikdosh after it had been suspended.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:1:3
[Rashi on Esther 1:1:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:1:3)

**הַמֹּלֵךְ.** שֶׁמָּלַךְ מֵעַצְמוֹ וְלֹא הָיָה מִזֶּרַע הַמְּלוּכָה:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Who reigned.** He reigned on his own, and was not of royal seed.⁴

footnotes:
⁴ Ibid. He was very wealthy and he acquired the throne by distributing his money.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:1:4
[Rashi on Esther 1:1:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:1:4)

**מֵהֹדּוּ וְעַד כּוּשׁ, וגו'.** הַמּוֹלֵךְ עַל מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים וְשֶׁבַע מְדִינוֹת כְּמוֹ שֶׁמָּלַךְ מֵהֹדוּ וְעַד כּוּשׁ שֶׁעוֹמְדִים זֶה אֵצֶל זֶה. וְכֵן "כִּי הוּא רֹדֶה בְּכָל עֵבֶר הַנָּהָר מִתִּפְסַח וְעַד עַזָּה", שֶׁהָיָה רוֹדֶה בְּכָל עֵבֶר הַנָּהָר כְּמוֹ שֶׁהוּא רוֹדֶה מִתִּפְסַח עַד עַזָּה:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**From Hodu to Cush, etc.** Who reigned over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces [with the same authority] as he reigned from Hodu⁵ to Cush,⁶ which are situated alongside one another,⁷ and similarly [we explain], “For he ruled over the entire area beyond the [Euphrates] river, from Tiphsach to Gaza,”⁸ [meaning] that he ruled over this side of the river, [with the same authority] just as he ruled over Tiphsach to Gaza.⁸

footnotes:
⁵ India.
⁶ Ethiopia.
⁷ Maseches Megillah 11a.
⁸ I Melochim 5:4.
⁸ Otherwise why mention only these two provinces.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:2:1
[Rashi on Esther 1:2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:2:1)

**כְּשֶׁבֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ, וגו'.** כְּשֶׁנִּתְקַיֵּם הַמַּלְכוּת בְּיָדוֹ. וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ פֵּרְשׁוּהוּ בְּעִנְיָן אַחֵר בְּמַסֶּכֶת מְגִילָּה:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**When King Achashveirosh had established himself, etc.** When the kingdom was firmly established under his control.⁹ Our Rabbis, however, explained it differently in Maseches Megillah.¹⁰

footnotes:
⁹ I.e., כשבת should not be interpreted literally as meaning “when he sat [on his throne].” Alternatively, Targum renders the literal translation and relates that Achashveirosh had in his possession the throne of King Shlomo. However, he was injured when he tried to sit on it.He had his craftsmen build for him a replica which had just been completed and that is the meaning of “he sat on his throne.”
¹⁰ 11b, which interpret it as “when Achashveirosh gained his composure.” Until now Achashveirosh was afraid that the Jewish exile would finish at the end of seventy years as predicted by Yirmiyahu [29:10]. However, Achashveirosh [mistakenly] calculated that the seventy years had already elapsed and concluded that the Jews would never be redeemed but will remain under his dominion. He celebrated at his feast by using the vessels confiscated from the Bais Hamikdosh.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:3:1
[Rashi on Esther 1:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:3:1)

**הַפַּרְתְּמִים.** שִׁלְטוֹנִים בִּלְשׁוֹן פָּרַס:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**The nobles.** Governors, in the Persian language.¹¹

footnotes:
¹¹ Maseches Megillah 12a. Alternatively, people of royal descent. (Ibn Ezra)


###### Rashi on Esther 1:4:1
[Rashi on Esther 1:4:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:4:1)

**יָמִים רַבִּים.** עָשָׂה לָהֶם מִשְׁתֶּה:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**[For] many days.** He made a feast for them.¹²

footnotes:
¹² I.e., “for many days” refers back to “the feast” [v. 3] and not to the exhibition of “the affluence and eminence of his kingdom.” [v. 4] (Sifsei Chachomim)


###### Rashi on Esther 1:5:1
[Rashi on Esther 1:5:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:5:1)

**גִּנַּת.** מְקוֹם זֵרְעוֹנֵי יְרָקוֹת:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Of the garden.** A place where vegetables are sown.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:5:2
[Rashi on Esther 1:5:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:5:2)

**בִּיתַן.** נָטוּעַ בְּאִילָנוֹת:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Orchard.** Where trees are planted.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:6:1
[Rashi on Esther 1:6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:6:1)

**חוּר כַּרְפַּס וּתְכֵלֶת.** מִינֵי בְגָדִים צִבְעוֹנִים פֵּרַס לָהֶם לְמַצָּעוֹת:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**[There were] pure white drapes, fine woolen cushions, bluish emerald *techeiles* wool.** He spread out various types of colored fabrics for them as spreads.¹³

footnotes:
¹³ Maseches Megillah 12a.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:6:2
[Rashi on Esther 1:6:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:6:2)

**אָחוּז בְּחַבְלֵי בוּץ וְאַרְגָּמָן.** מְרֻקָּמִים בִּפְתִילֵי בוּץ וְאַרְגָּמָן. אוֹתָן פֵּרַס לָהֶם עַל גְּלִילֵי כֶסֶף וְעַל עַמּוּדֵי שֵׁשׁ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Brocaded with strands of linen and mauve, woolen *argaman* threads.** Embroidered with threads of linen and purple; he spread these out for them on rods of silver and columns of marble.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:6:3
[Rashi on Esther 1:6:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:6:3)

**מִטּוֹת זָהָב וָכֶסֶף.** עָרַךְ לֵישֵׁב עֲלֵיהֶם לִסְעוּדָה:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Gold and silver couches.** He set [them] up to sit upon for the meal.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:6:4
[Rashi on Esther 1:6:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:6:4)

**עַל רִצְפַת.** קַרְקָעוֹת שֶׁל בַּהַט וָשֵׁשׁ, וגו'. מִינֵי אֲבָנִים טוֹבוֹת פֵּרְשׁוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ. וּלְפִי מַשְׁמָעוּת הַמִּקְרָא כַּךְ שְׁמָם:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**On a floor.** Floors of green and white, etc. Our Rabbis identified them as types of precious stones.¹⁴ According to the apparent meaning of the verse, these were their names.

footnotes:
¹⁴ Ibid.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:7:1
[Rashi on Esther 1:7:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:7:1)

**וְהַשְׁקוֹת בִּכְלֵי זָהָב.** כְּמוֹ וּלְהַשְׁקוֹת:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**As for drinking; golden utensils.** [The word וְהַשְׁקוֹת means the same] as וּלְהַשְׁקוֹת and to give to drink.¹⁵

footnotes:
¹⁵ Shemos 2:16.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:7:2
[Rashi on Esther 1:7:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:7:2)

**שׁוֹנִים.** מְשֻׁנִּים זֶה מִזֶּה, וְכֵן "וְדָתֵיהֶם שֹׁנוֹת". וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ דָרְשׁוּ מַה שֶׁדָּרְשׁוּ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Sundry.** Different one from the other, and similarly, “and their customs differ,”¹⁶ and our Rabbis expounded what they expounded.¹⁷

footnotes:
¹⁶ Below 3:8.
¹⁷ Maseches Megillah 12a. The Rabbis said that these vessels were taken from the Bais Hamikdosh.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:7:3
[Rashi on Esther 1:7:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:7:3)

**וְיֵין מַלְכוּת רָב.** הַרְבֵּה. וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ אָמְרוּ: שֶׁהִשְׁקָה אוֹתָם כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד יַיִן שֶׁהוּא זָקֵן מִמֶּנּוּ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And plenty of royal wine.** It was abundant.¹⁸ And our Rabbis said that he gave each one wine to drink that was older than he.¹⁹

footnotes:
¹⁸ I.e., רב = הרבה. See Rashi in Bamidbar 16:3.
¹⁹ Maseches Megillah 12a.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:8:1
[Rashi on Esther 1:8:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:8:1)

**כַדָּת.** לְפִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ סְעוּדוֹת שֶׁכּוֹפִין אֶת הַמְּסֻבִּין לִשְׁתּוֹת כְּלִי גָדוֹל, וְיֵשׁ שֶׁאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לִשְׁתּוֹתוֹ כִּי אִם בְּקֹשִׁי, אֲבָל כַּאן: "אֵין אוֹנֵס":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Proper.** Because there are feasts in which they coerce those seated to drink [the contents] of a large vessel, and some can only drink it with difficulty, but here it was “with no coercion.”²⁰

footnotes:
²⁰ Alternatively, no one was coerced into finishing his drink quickly in order to make his cup available to someone else because there were enough cups for all [השתיה כדת].


###### Rashi on Esther 1:8:2
[Rashi on Esther 1:8:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:8:2)

**יִסַּד.** לְשׁוֹן יְסוֹד, כְּלוֹמַר, כֵּן תִּקֵּן וְצִוָּה:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Basically instructed.** An expression referring to a foundation [יְסוֹד], meaning, so he instituted and commanded.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:8:3
[Rashi on Esther 1:8:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:8:3)

**עַל כָּל רַב בֵּיתוֹ.** עַל כָּל שָׂרֵי הַסְּעוּדָה, שַׂר הָאוֹפִים וְשַׂר הַטַּבָּחִים וְשַׂר הַמַּשְׁקִים:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**All his palace officials.** All stewards of the feast: the chief baker, the chief butcher and the chief butler.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:8:4
[Rashi on Esther 1:8:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:8:4)

**לַעֲשׂוֹת כִּרְצוֹן אִישׁ וָאִישׁ.** לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד רְצוֹנוֹ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**To satisfy each individual’s desire.** For each one his desire.²¹

footnotes:
²¹ Each person was served wine from his native land. (See Maseches Megillah 12a)


###### Rashi on Esther 1:10:1
[Rashi on Esther 1:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:10:1)

**בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי.** רַבּוֹתֵינוּ אָמְרוּ: שַׁבָּת הָיָה:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**On the seventh day.** Our Rabbis said²² that it was on Shabbos.²³

footnotes:
²² Maseches Megillah 12b.
²³ Corresponding to “the seventh day” of the week.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:12:1
[Rashi on Esther 1:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:12:1)

**וַתְּמָאֵן הַמַּלְכָּה וַשְׁתִּי.** רַבּוֹתֵינוּ אָמְרוּ: לְפִי שֶׁפָּרְחָה בָהּ צָרַעַת כְּדֵי שֶׁתְּמָאֵן וְתֵהָרֵג. לְפִי שֶׁהָיְתָה מַפְשֶׁטֶת בְּנוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲרֻמּוֹת וְעוֹשָׂה בָהֶן מְלָאכָה בַּשַּׁבָּת, נִגְזַר עָלֶיהָ שֶׁתִּפָּשֵׁט עֲרֻמָּה בַּשַּׁבָּת:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Queen Vashti refused.** Our Rabbis said because leprosy broke out on her,²⁴ so that she should refuse and be executed. Because she would force Jewish girls to disrobe and make them do work on Shabbos, it was decreed upon her to be stripped naked on Shabbos.²⁵

footnotes:
²⁴ Ibid. Vashti did not refuse out of modesty. She was as lewd as her husband and would have attended had she not broken out with leprosy. Another opinion is that the angel Gavriel caused her to grow a tail.
²⁵ This punishment was in the form of מדה כנגד מדה, just as she had done, so it was decreed upon her. (Maseches Megillah 12b)


###### Rashi on Esther 1:12:2
[Rashi on Esther 1:12:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:12:2)

**וַיִּקְצֹף.** שֶׁשָּׁלְחָה לוֹ דִבְרֵי גְנַאי:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Angered.** Because she sent him words of insult.²⁶

footnotes:
²⁶ And that is why the king was extremely angered. (Maseches Megillah 11b)


###### Rashi on Esther 1:13:1
[Rashi on Esther 1:13:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:13:1)

**כִּי כֵן דְּבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ.** כִּי כֵן מִנְהַג הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּכָל מִשְׁפָּט לָשׂוּם אֶת הַדָּבָר "לִפְנֵי כָּל יוֹדְעֵי דָּת וָדִין":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**For the king would thus place matters.** For such was the king’s custom in every judgment, to present the matter “before all who were versed in procedural and legal concerns.”²⁷

footnotes:
²⁷ The Midrash states that Achashveirosh originally sought the advice of the Sages and asked them to judge Vashti. Realizing that judging Vashti would expose them to great danger, they opted to defer judgment by explaining to Achashveirosh that they were unfit to judge in a capital case. (Maseches Megillah 12b)


###### Rashi on Esther 1:14:1
[Rashi on Esther 1:14:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:14:1)

**וְהַקָּרֹב אֵלָיו.** לַעֲרֹךְ דְּבָרָיו לִפְנֵיהֶם. אֵלּוּ הֵם: כַּרְשְׁנָא שֵׁתָר, וגו':

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Most intimately associated with him.** To present his affairs before them were the following: Carshena, Shesar, etc.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:15:1
[Rashi on Esther 1:15:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:15:1)

**כְּדָת מַה לַּעֲשׂוֹת.** מוּסָב עַל "וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ לַחֲכָמִים":

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Concerning the proper procedure to follow.** This refers back to “The king consulted the sages.”²⁸

footnotes:
²⁸ Above, v. 13.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:16:1
[Rashi on Esther 1:16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:16:1)

**עָוְתָה.** לְשׁוֹן עָו‍ֹן:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Has aggrieved.** An expression of iniquity [עָו‍ֹן].²⁹

footnotes:
²⁹ From the root עוה. However, according to the Ibn Ezra the root is עות meaning to act perversely.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:17:1
[Rashi on Esther 1:17:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:17:1)

**כִּי יֵצֵא דְבַר הַמַּלְכָּה עַל כָּל הַנָּשִׁים.** זֶה שֶׁבִּזְּתָה אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ עַל כָּל הַנָּשִׁים לְהַבְזוֹת אַף הֵן אֶת בַּעֲלֵיהֶן:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**For the affair of the queen will extend to all women.** That she showed contempt for the king, [this will cause] all the women to show contempt for their husbands as well.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:18:1
[Rashi on Esther 1:18:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:18:1)

**תֹּאמַרְנָה שָׂרוֹת פָּרַס וּמָדַי וגו'.** לְכֹל שָׂרֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה. וַהֲרֵי זֶה מִקְרָא קָצֵר:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**The noblewomen in Persia and Media will say, etc.** This thing to all the king’s ministers. This is an abbreviated verse.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:18:2
[Rashi on Esther 1:18:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:18:2)

**וּכְדַי בִּזָּיוֹן.** וְיֵשׁ בַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה הַרְבֵּה בִזָּיוֹן וָקָצֶף:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Causing enormous disparagement and rage.** And in this matter there is much contempt and wrath.³⁰

footnotes:
³⁰ Esther Rabbah 4:8. “Contempt” because she had insulted him, and “wrath” because she had disobeyed him. The Gra explains the difference between the two terms חמה (fury) and קצף (anger). The latter [קצף] is displayed outwardly for all to see, and the former (;חמה one keeps to himself.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:19:1
[Rashi on Esther 1:19:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:19:1)

**דְבַר מַלְכוּת.** גְּזֵרַת מַלְכוּת שֶׁל נְקָמָה שֶׁצִּוָּה לְהָרְגָהּ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**A royal edict.** A royal decree of revenge, i.e., that he commanded to execute her.³¹

footnotes:
³¹ And let it become a law that any woman guilty of a similar offense against her husband shall be executed.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:19:2
[Rashi on Esther 1:19:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:19:2)

**וְיִכָּתֵב בְּדָתֵי פָרַס וּמָדַי.** בְּסִפְרֵי חֹק וּמִנְהַג הַמַּלְכוּת:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**To be recorded in the bylaws of Persia and Media.** In the books of the statutes and the customs of the kingdom.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:19:3
[Rashi on Esther 1:19:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:19:3)

**וְלֹא יַעֲבוֹר.** חוֹק זֶה מִבֵּינֵיהֶם שֶׁיְּהֵא זֶה חוֹק וְדָת לְכָל הַבּוֹזָה אֶת בַּעְלָהּ:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**Never to be revoked.** This statute from among them;³² this should be a statute and a law for anyone who shows contempt for her husband.

footnotes:
³² ממוכן is another name for Haman (Maseches Megillah 12b). Haman was concerned that Achashveirosh might reconsider and take back Vashti, leaving him vulnerable to her vengeance. Haman therefore requested that the decree be irrevocable.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:19:4
[Rashi on Esther 1:19:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:19:4)

**אֲשֶׁר לֹא תָבוֹא וַשְׁתִּי.** וּלְכַךְ נֶהֶרְגָה:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**That Vashti must never again appear.** And therefore she was executed.


###### Rashi on Esther 1:22:1
[Rashi on Esther 1:22:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Esther/r/1:22:1)

**וּמְדַבֵּר כִּלְשׁוֹן עַמּוֹ.** כּוֹפֶה אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ לִלְמֹד אֶת לְשׁוֹנוֹ אִם הִיא בַּת לָשׁוֹן אַחֵר:

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
**And his people’s language be the one spoken.** He can compel his wife to learn his language if her native tongue is different.³³

footnotes:
³³ Ibid. 4:12. The purpose for this law was to make wives show respect and subjugation to their husbands.