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Rashi on Esther Chapter 8

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מָה הוּא לָהּ. אֵיךְ הוּא קָרוֹב לָהּ:

The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001

How he was related to her. How he was related to her.

לְהַעֲבִיר אֶת רָעַת הָמָן. שֶׁלֹּא תִתְקַיֵּם עֲצָתוֹ הָרָעָה:

The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001

To divert the evil decree of Haman. That his evil plan should not be realized.

הִנֵּה בֵית הָמָן וגו'. וּמֵעַתָּה הַכֹּל רוֹאִים שֶׁאֲנִי חָפֵץ בָּכֶם, וְכָל מַה שֶׁתֹּאמְרוּ יַאֲמִינוּ הַכֹּל שֶׁמֵּאִתִּי הוּא. לְפִיכָךְ, אֵין צְרִיכִין אַתֶּם לַהֲשִׁיבָם, אֶלָּא "כִּתְבוּ" סְפָרִים אֲחֵרִים "כַּטּוֹב בְּעֵינֵיכֶם":

The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001

Here, [I have given] Haman’s estate, etc. And from now on everyone sees that I favor you,¹ and whatever you say, everyone will believe that it comes from me; therefore, you do not have to rescind them, but “write” other letters “as you please.”

footnotes: ¹ Achashveirosh’s reply does not address Esther’s request that he rescind Haman’s evil plans against the Jews. Therefore Rashi explains that the meaning of Achashveirosh’s reply was that, “from now on everyone sees....” (Sifsei Chachomim)

אֵין לְהָשִׁיב. אֵין נָאֶה לַהֲשִׁיבוֹ וְלַעֲשׂוֹת כְּתַב הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּזִיּוּף:

The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001

It is not rescindable. It is not fitting to rescind it and make the king’s writ invalid.

כִּכְתָבָהּ. בָּאוֹתִיּוֹת שֶׁלָּהּ:

The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001

In its own script. With its characters [i.e., alphabet].

כִּלְשֹׁנוֹ. הוּא הַדִּבּוּר:

The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001

In its own language. The spoken language.

בְּיַד הָרָצִים. רוֹכְבֵי סוּסִים שֶׁצִּוָּה לָהֶם לָרוּץ:

The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001

Carried by couriers. The horsemen, whom he [the king] commanded to hurry.

הָאֲחַשְׁתְּרָנִים. מִין גְּמַלִּים הַמְמַהֲרִים לָרוּץ:

The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001

Of the royal breed. A type of camel that runs swiftly.

וּשְׁלָלָם לָבוֹז. כַּאֲשֶׁר נִכְתַּב בָּרִאשׁוֹנוֹת וְהֵם בַּבִּזָּה לֹא שָׁלְחוּ אֶת יָדָם, שֶׁהֶרְאוּ לַכֹּל שֶׁלֹּא נַעֲשָׂה לְשֵׁם מָמוֹן:

The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001

With their booty to be taken. As was written in the first [letters], but they did not lay their hands upon the spoils, for they showed everyone that this was not done for the sake of money.

פַּתְשֶׁגֶן. אִגֶּרֶת מְפֹרָשׁ:

The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001

The terms. An explicit letter.

מְבֹהָלִים. מְמַהֲרִים אוֹתָם לַעֲשׂוֹת מְהֵרָה, לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה לָהֶם פְּנַאי, שֶׁהָיָה לָהֶם לְהַקְדִּים רָצִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים לְהַעֲבִירָם:

The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001

Rushed. They hastened them to act swiftly, because they had no time, for they had to get ahead of the first couriers to overtake them.

וְתַכְרִיךְ בּוּץ. מַעֲטֵה בוּץ, טַלִּית הֶעָשׂוּי לְהִתְעַטֵּף:

The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001

And a cloak of linen. A wrap of linen, a shawl in which to enwrap oneself.

מִתְיַהֲדִים. מִתְגַּיְּרִים:

The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001

Converting to Judaism. Converting to Judaism.

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