It happened in the days of Ahasuerus—that Ahasuerus who reigned over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India to Nubia.
Rashi’s Commentary
- It was in the days of Achashveirosh. He was the king of Persia who reigned in place of Koresh at the end of the seventy years of the Babylonian exile.
- He was [the] Achashveirosh. He was equally wicked from beginning to end.
- Who reigned. He reigned on his own, and was not of royal seed.
- From Hodu to Cush, etc. Who reigned over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces [with the same authority] as he reigned from Hodu to Cush, which are situated alongside one another, and similarly [we explain], “For he ruled over the entire area beyond the [Euphrates] river, from Tiphsach to Gaza,” [meaning] that he ruled over this side of the river, [with the same authority] just as he ruled over Tiphsach to Gaza.
וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ הוּא אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ הַמֹּלֵךְ מֵהֹדּוּ וְעַד־כּוּשׁ שֶׁבַע וְעֶשְׂרִים וּמֵאָה מְדִינָה׃
רש"י
- וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ. מֶלֶךְ פָּרַס הָיָה, שֶׁמָּלַךְ תַּחַת כּוֹרֶשׁ לְסוֹף שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה שֶׁל גָּלוּת בָּבֶל:
- הוּא אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ. הוּא בְרִשְׁעוֹ מִתְּחִלָּתוֹ וְעַד סוֹפוֹ:
- הַמֹּלֵךְ. שֶׁמָּלַךְ מֵעַצְמוֹ וְלֹא הָיָה מִזֶּרַע הַמְּלוּכָה:
- 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:
[There were hangings of] white cotton and blue wool, caught up by cords of fine linen and purple wool to silver rods and alabaster columns; and there were couches of gold and silver on a pavement of marble, alabaster, mother-of-pearl, and mosaics.
Rashi’s Commentary
- [There were] pure white drapes, fine woolen cushions, bluish emerald techeiles wool. He spread out various types of colored fabrics for them as spreads.
- 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.
- Gold and silver couches. He set [them] up to sit upon for the meal.
- On a floor. Floors of green and white, etc. Our Rabbis identified them as types of precious stones. According to the apparent meaning of the verse, these were their names.
חוּר כַּרְפַּס וּתְכֵלֶת אָחוּז בְּחַבְלֵי־בוּץ וְאַרְגָּמָן עַל־גְּלִילֵי כֶסֶף וְעַמּוּדֵי שֵׁשׁ מִטּוֹת זָהָב וָכֶסֶף עַל רִצְפַת בַּהַט־וָשֵׁשׁ וְדַר וְסֹחָרֶת׃
רש"י
- חוּר כַּרְפַּס וּתְכֵלֶת. מִינֵי בְגָדִים צִבְעוֹנִים פֵּרַס לָהֶם לְמַצָּעוֹת:
- אָחוּז בְּחַבְלֵי בוּץ וְאַרְגָּמָן. מְרֻקָּמִים בִּפְתִילֵי בוּץ וְאַרְגָּמָן. אוֹתָן פֵּרַס לָהֶם עַל גְּלִילֵי כֶסֶף וְעַל עַמּוּדֵי שֵׁשׁ:
- מִטּוֹת זָהָב וָכֶסֶף. עָרַךְ לֵישֵׁב עֲלֵיהֶם לִסְעוּדָה:
- עַל רִצְפַת. קַרְקָעוֹת שֶׁל בַּהַט וָשֵׁשׁ, וגו'. מִינֵי אֲבָנִים טוֹבוֹת פֵּרְשׁוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ. וּלְפִי מַשְׁמָעוּת הַמִּקְרָא כַּךְ שְׁמָם:
Royal wine was served in abundance, as befits a king, in golden beakers, beakers of varied design.
Rashi’s Commentary
- As for drinking; golden utensils. [The word וְהַשְׁקוֹת means the same] as וּלְהַשְׁקוֹת and to give to drink.
- Sundry. Different one from the other, and similarly, “and their customs differ,” and our Rabbis expounded what they expounded.
- And plenty of royal wine. It was abundant. And our Rabbis said that he gave each one wine to drink that was older than he.
וְהַשְׁקוֹת בִּכְלֵי זָהָב וְכֵלִים מִכֵּלִים שׁוֹנִים וְיֵין מַלְכוּת רָב כְּיַד הַמֶּלֶךְ׃
רש"י
- וְהַשְׁקוֹת בִּכְלֵי זָהָב. כְּמוֹ וּלְהַשְׁקוֹת:
- שׁוֹנִים. מְשֻׁנִּים זֶה מִזֶּה, וְכֵן "וְדָתֵיהֶם שֹׁנוֹת". וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ דָרְשׁוּ מַה שֶׁדָּרְשׁוּ:
- וְיֵין מַלְכוּת רָב. הַרְבֵּה. וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ אָמְרוּ: שֶׁהִשְׁקָה אוֹתָם כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד יַיִן שֶׁהוּא זָקֵן מִמֶּנּוּ:
And the rule for the drinking was, “No restrictions!” For the king had given orders to every palace steward to comply with each man’s wishes.
Rashi’s Commentary
- 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.”
- Basically instructed. An expression referring to a foundation [יְסוֹד], meaning, so he instituted and commanded.
- All his palace officials. All stewards of the feast: the chief baker, the chief butcher and the chief butler.
- To satisfy each individual’s desire. For each one his desire.
וְהַשְּׁתִיָּה כַדָּת אֵין אֹנֵס כִּי־כֵן יִסַּד הַמֶּלֶךְ עַל כׇּל־רַב בֵּיתוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת כִּרְצוֹן אִישׁ־וָאִישׁ׃
רש"י
- כַדָּת. לְפִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ סְעוּדוֹת שֶׁכּוֹפִין אֶת הַמְּסֻבִּין לִשְׁתּוֹת כְּלִי גָדוֹל, וְיֵשׁ שֶׁאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לִשְׁתּוֹתוֹ כִּי אִם בְּקֹשִׁי, אֲבָל כַּאן: "אֵין אוֹנֵס":
- יִסַּד. לְשׁוֹן יְסוֹד, כְּלוֹמַר, כֵּן תִּקֵּן וְצִוָּה:
- עַל כָּל רַב בֵּיתוֹ. עַל כָּל שָׂרֵי הַסְּעוּדָה, שַׂר הָאוֹפִים וְשַׂר הַטַּבָּחִים וְשַׂר הַמַּשְׁקִים:
- לַעֲשׂוֹת כִּרְצוֹן אִישׁ וָאִישׁ. לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד רְצוֹנוֹ:
But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command conveyed by the eunuchs. The king was greatly incensed, and his fury burned within him.
Rashi’s Commentary
- Queen Vashti refused. Our Rabbis said because leprosy broke out on her, 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.
- Angered. Because she sent him words of insult.
וַתְּמָאֵן הַמַּלְכָּה וַשְׁתִּי לָבוֹא בִּדְבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲשֶׁר בְּיַד הַסָּרִיסִים וַיִּקְצֹף הַמֶּלֶךְ מְאֹד וַחֲמָתוֹ בָּעֲרָה בוֹ׃
רש"י
- 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:
- וַיִּקְצֹף. שֶׁשָּׁלְחָה לוֹ דִבְרֵי גְנַאי:
Then the king consulted the sages learned in procedure. (For it was the royal practice [to turn] to all who were versed in law and precedent.
Rashi’s Commentary
- 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.”
His closest advisers were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven ministers of Persia and Media who had access to the royal presence and occupied the first place in the kingdom.)
Rashi’s Commentary
- Most intimately associated with him. To present his affairs before them were the following: Carshena, Shesar, etc.
Thereupon Memucan declared in the presence of the king and the ministers: “Queen Vashti has committed an offense not only against Your Majesty but also against all the officials and against all the peoples in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.
Rashi’s Commentary
- Has aggrieved. An expression of iniquity [עָוֹן].
For the queen’s behavior will make all wives despise their husbands, as they reflect that King Ahasuerus himself ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.
Rashi’s Commentary
- 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.
כִּי־יֵצֵא דְבַר־הַמַּלְכָּה עַל־כׇּל־הַנָּשִׁים לְהַבְזוֹת בַּעְלֵיהֶן בְּעֵינֵיהֶן בְּאׇמְרָם הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ אָמַר לְהָבִיא אֶת־וַשְׁתִּי הַמַּלְכָּה לְפָנָיו וְלֹא־בָאָה׃
רש"י
- כִּי יֵצֵא דְבַר הַמַּלְכָּה עַל כָּל הַנָּשִׁים. זֶה שֶׁבִּזְּתָה אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ עַל כָּל הַנָּשִׁים לְהַבְזוֹת אַף הֵן אֶת בַּעֲלֵיהֶן:
This very day the ladies of Persia and Media, who have heard of the queen’s behavior, will cite it to all Your Majesty’s officials, and there will be no end of scorn and provocation!
Rashi’s Commentary
- The noblewomen in Persia and Media will say, etc. This thing to all the king’s ministers. This is an abbreviated verse.
- Causing enormous disparagement and rage. And in this matter there is much contempt and wrath.
וְהַיּוֹם הַזֶּה תֹּאמַרְנָה שָׂרוֹת פָּרַס־וּמָדַי אֲשֶׁר שָׁמְעוּ אֶת־דְּבַר הַמַּלְכָּה לְכֹל שָׂרֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וּכְדַי בִּזָּיוֹן וָקָצֶף׃
רש"י
- תֹּאמַרְנָה שָׂרוֹת פָּרַס וּמָדַי וגו'. לְכֹל שָׂרֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה. וַהֲרֵי זֶה מִקְרָא קָצֵר:
- וּכְדַי בִּזָּיוֹן. וְיֵשׁ בַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה הַרְבֵּה בִזָּיוֹן וָקָצֶף:
“If it please Your Majesty, let a royal edict be issued by you, and let it be written into the laws of Persia and Media, so that it cannot be abrogated, that Vashti shall never enter the presence of King Ahasuerus. And let Your Majesty bestow her royal state upon another who is more worthy than she.
Rashi’s Commentary
- A royal edict. A royal decree of revenge, i.e., that he commanded to execute her.
- To be recorded in the bylaws of Persia and Media. In the books of the statutes and the customs of the kingdom.
- Never to be revoked. This statute from among them; this should be a statute and a law for anyone who shows contempt for her husband.
- That Vashti must never again appear. And therefore she was executed.
אִם־עַל־הַמֶּלֶךְ טוֹב יֵצֵא דְבַר־מַלְכוּת מִלְּפָנָיו וְיִכָּתֵב בְּדָתֵי פָרַס־וּמָדַי וְלֹא יַעֲבוֹר אֲשֶׁר לֹא־תָבוֹא וַשְׁתִּי לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ וּמַלְכוּתָהּ יִתֵּן הַמֶּלֶךְ לִרְעוּתָהּ הַטּוֹבָה מִמֶּנָּה׃
רש"י
- דְבַר מַלְכוּת. גְּזֵרַת מַלְכוּת שֶׁל נְקָמָה שֶׁצִּוָּה לְהָרְגָהּ:
- וְיִכָּתֵב בְּדָתֵי פָרַס וּמָדַי. בְּסִפְרֵי חֹק וּמִנְהַג הַמַּלְכוּת:
- וְלֹא יַעֲבוֹר. חוֹק זֶה מִבֵּינֵיהֶם שֶׁיְּהֵא זֶה חוֹק וְדָת לְכָל הַבּוֹזָה אֶת בַּעְלָהּ:
- אֲשֶׁר לֹא תָבוֹא וַשְׁתִּי. וּלְכַךְ נֶהֶרְגָה:
Dispatches were sent to all the provinces of the king, to every province in its own script and to every nation in its own language, that every man should wield authority in his home and speak the language of his own people.
Rashi’s Commentary
- And his people’s language be the one spoken. He can compel his wife to learn his language if her native tongue is different.