There are certain Judean men: And the end of the verse (Daniel 3:12) is, "they serve not your gods."

All of your words are one: He was saying towards the book, "'All of your words,' Chronicles, 'are one.' You mention many names, x and y; but they are all one person...

And we know how to expound them: And even though you hid them, we put our [minds to it], until we know how to expound them." This is mentioned here, because we said earlier, "anyone who repudiates idolatry is called a Judean."

And his wife, the Judean, etc.: And was her name not Bityah? As behold, it is written at [the verse's] end (I Chronicles 4:18), "and these were the sons of Bityah."

To wash: To immerse; (an expression of) conversion.

Was his name not Kalev: Since the verse is speaking about Kalev.

We teach (follow) this version - and marry the daughter of Pharaoh, who rebelled against the idols of her father’s home: And that is why she changed her name with this marriage.

That he went into exile on his own: Since it was not written, "Who had been from the group that was carried into exile," but [rather] written, "Who had been exiled with the group that was carried into exile" - it is implied that he was not like the rest of Israel, who were exiled against their will. But he went into exile on his own, like Yirmiyah did. For [the latter] went into exile on his own, until the Holy One, blessed be He, told him to return.

Standing among the myrtles in the deep: Among the righteous that were exiled to Babylonia. And the verse (Zechariah 1:8) is speaking about the Divine Presence.

Istahar: Moon. She was beautiful like the moon.

She was greenish: Like that myrtle.

But a cord of kindness was strung about her from the Holy One, blessed be He. That is why she appeared beautiful to the nations and to Ahasuerus.

Why do I need, "when her father and mother were dead," since it is already written, "For she had neither father nor mother." Rather it is to teach that she did not have a father or a mother even one day.

At the time that her mother became pregnant, her father died: It comes out that she did not have a father at the time it is apt to be called father.

And when she gave birth to her, her mother died: So she was not apt to be called mother.

But the poor man had nothing: The verse is speaking about Uriah.

One ewe lamb: Batsheva.

That she would count the days of the week by them: That one would serve her on the first [day] of the week, one would serve her on the second of the week and one on the third of the week. And likewise, all of them. So when the day of the maidservant of Shabbat arrived, she knew it was Shabbat.

Pig hinds: Fatty bacons. And because of her [being] compelled, she was not punished.

So the steward took away their food and the wine that they should drink, etc.: And it is written about that matter (Daniel 1:15), "When the ten days were over, they looked better and healthier, etc."

Anpakinon is the oil of olives that have not reached one-third [of their growth]: It is taught concerning meal-offerings, "We do not bring anpakinon; and if one brought [it], it is disqualified." And Rabbi Yehudah was speaking about this, and said what anpakinon is.

Softens: Brightens.

From the disgrace of that wicked man: His disgrace is that he would have intercourse with women and send them away.

Which the body takes pleasure from a body because of the cold. And Scripture is testifying that they intended it from the Heavens, to make her beloved to her husband.

[If] he wanted to taste, etc.: That it is why it stated, "than all the women," and "than all the virgins."

He made a party, etc.: It refers back to several matters - to appease her, such that she reveal her heritage. But it did not help. And adjacent to this verse (Esther 2:19-20), "And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, etc. Esther did not reveal her heritage or her people, etc." - is that he made a banquet party in her honor, which he did not do for the other wives.

He lowered the taxes: He said, "On account of Esther, I am foregoing the head taxes from you." That is, "he instituted a reprieve" (Esther 2:18).

He sent pardishenei: Gifts to the ministers in her name. And that is that which is written, "and gave gratuities as befits a king."