He remembered Vashti. Her beauty, and he became sad.¹

footnotes: ¹ 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.

And let his majesty appoint officials. Since every commissioner is familiar with the beautiful women in his province.²

footnotes: ² 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.

Their cosmetics. These are substances that cleanse [the skin], as in, “that shall be purged [וּמֹרַק] and rinsed.”³ These are perfumed oils, various ingredients and spices that cleanse and soften the skin.⁴

footnotes: ³ Vayikra 6:21. ⁴ Maseches Megillah 13a.

There was a Yehudite man. Because he was exiled with the exile of Yehudah.⁵ 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

footnotes: ⁵ 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) ⁶ Maseches Megillah 12b.

A Binyaminite man. He was from Binyamin, that is the plain meaning. But our Rabbis expounded what they expounded.⁷

footnotes: ⁷ Ibid.

As a daughter. Our Rabbis explained, “for a house” [i.e., לְבַת=לְבַיִת, meaning, as a wife.⁸

footnotes: ⁸ Maseches Megillah 13a. Apparently בת here does not mean [lit.] daughter, because Esther was not his child.

He eagerly delivered her cosmetics. He was more expedient and quicker with bringing her [cosmetics] than with all the others.⁹

footnotes: ⁹ To avoid eating non-kosher food Esther had Hagai provide her with natural uncooked food. See Maseches Megillah 13a.

Assigned to her. To serve her, and so they would do for all of them; and our Rabbis expounded what they expounded.¹⁰

footnotes: ¹⁰ 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.

He favored her. I.e., he changed her וַיְשַׁנֶּהָ=שִׁנָּה אוֹתָהּ.

Not to reveal it. 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

footnotes: ¹¹ According to Targum, Mordechai feared for Esther’s and the Jews’ safety.

And what would be done with her. 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 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

footnotes: ¹² I Shmuel 17:36. ¹³ Esther Rabbah 6:6. Accordingly ומה יעשה בה means “and what would be accomplished through her.”

Time. Time.

Whatever she requested. Any entertainment and types of music.

To the second harem residence. The second שֵׁנִי=הַשֵּׁנִי.¹⁴

footnotes: ¹⁴ Those who were brought to the king were required to return to the second harem residence.

In the tenth month. The cold season, when one body enjoys [the warmth of] another body.¹⁵ The Holy One Blessed Is He, designated that cold season in order to endear her to him.

footnotes: ¹⁵ Maseches Megillah 13a.

**More than all the women.**¹⁶ The married ones; for he also gathered married women.

footnotes: ¹⁶ Ibid.

He waived the colonial taxes. In her honor he released them from the tax that was [levied] upon them.¹⁷ ¹⁸

footnotes: ¹⁷ Ibid. ¹⁸ 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)

And [he] lavished gifts. He sent them gifts, and everything was in order to entice her, perhaps she would reveal her nationality.¹⁹ But nevertheless,

footnotes: ¹⁹ Maseches Megillah 13a.

Esther would not reveal [the identity of] her heritage. Because Mordechai was sitting in the king’s gate; he encouraged her and hinted to her about it.

To assault. To give him poison to drink.²⁰

footnotes: ²⁰ Ibid. 13b. According to Targum they planned to poison Esther and to murder Achashveirosh with a sword.

The matter was apprehended by Mordechai. 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 who sat in the Chamber of Hewn Stone [which housed the Great Sanhedrin].

footnotes: ²¹ 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.

This was inscribed in the book of archives. The favor that Mordechai did for the king.²²

footnotes: ²² This was recorded in the book of archives of Media and Persia, and referred to in 10:2 below.