Esther's Relations with Achashverosh/2
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Esther's Relations with Achashverosh
Exegetical Approaches
Esther was forced
Sources:Seder Olam Rabbah, Bavli Megillah, Bavli Sanhedrin, Second Targum of Megillat Esther, Rashi, R. Saadia Gaon, Ibn Ezra, Commentary attributed to Rambam, R. Avraham Saba, Akeidat Yitzchak, R. Meir Arama
Did Esther Hide? According to Seder Olam Rabbah, Esther was hidden for four years. Similarly, the Second Targum also says she was hidden, but that eventually it became life-threatening to keep hiding Esther, so Mordechai took her out of hiding. In contrast, according to Ibn Ezra and R. Avraham Saba, since Esther and Mordechai lived in or near the palace, they did not have a chance to hide Esther, and she was immediately seized.
How Was Esther Taken? According to the Second Targum, once Achashverosh announced that women found hiding will be killed, Mordechai left Esther in the street. In contrast, R. Saadia suggests that Mordechai may have actively resisted the taking of Esther, although he prefers the possibility that Mordechai only passively resisted.
"וַתִּלָּקַח" – Ibn Ezra and R. Meir Arama claim that the word "וַתִּלָּקַח", in both 2:8 and 2:16, implies being taken by force and unwillingly.1
"לֹא הִגִּידָה אֶסְתֵּר אֶת עַמָּהּ וְאֶת מוֹלַדְתָּהּ" – According to this opinion, Esther concealed her nationality to either avoid becoming queen (Rashi) or to enable Torah observance (Ibn Ezra, Akeidat Yitzchak). For further details, see Why Conceal Esther's Nationality.
"לֹא בִקְשָׁה דָּבָר" – A commentary found in MS Munich 5, the Akeidat Yitzchak, and R. Meir Arama see the contrast between Esther who took nothing with her and the other women who would request music or jewelry, as proof that she was forced to go before Achashverosh.
Halakhic Considerations – The Bavli Sanhedrin suggests that due to the public nature of Esther's relationship with Achashverosh, Esther should have been required to die instead. However, two explanations are brought in the Bavli: Abaye suggests that Esther is considered "קרקע עולם" (she was totally passive), and thus did not violate any prohibition, while Rava permits violating a prohibition for the pleasure of the gentile when faced with death.2
"וּבְכֵן אָבוֹא אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲשֶׁר לֹא כַדָּת וְכַאֲשֶׁר אָבַדְתִּי אָבָדְתִּי" – R. Abba in Bavli Megillah (and, following him, the Second Targum and Rashi) seems to understand the word "אָבוֹא" to have sexual connotations,3 and apparently explains that Esther intended to seduce Achashverosh into saving the Jews. Thus, he understands that "אֲשֶׁר לֹא כַדָּת" refers to Torah laws (Esther was violating the Torah's prohibitions on improper sexual relations) and not Persian laws against entering the King's throne room. Continuing with this theme, he explains the duplication of "וְכַאֲשֶׁר אָבַדְתִּי אָבָדְתִּי" to refer to her leaving her family, and to the requirement that she leave Mordechai.4 The commentary attributed to Rambam also seems to understand that Esther intended to seduce Achashverosh, although according to him, this was no sin, as she was intending to save Israel.
Mordechai and Esther's Religious Identity – According to this approach, Esther and Mordechai were fully observant Jews.
Was Esther Married? A number of Rabbis, cited in the Bavli Megilah, understand that Mordechai and Esther were married, and some even say that they continued to have marital relations even after she became queen. However, most of these commentators understand Esther to have been an unmarried woman before she was taken to Achashverosh.5
Definition of אונס
The Ends Justify the Means
Esther wanted to become queen, in order to protect the Jews.
Did Esther Hide? According to Yefet, Esther originally hid, but then left her hiding place so she will be chosen as queen. However, according to R. Yosef Chayyun, Esther never hid, but rather sat in public so that she will be found easily.
Did Esther Go Willingly? According to this approach, Esther went willingly.6
Mordechai's Precognition – According to Ralbag, Mordechai knew (in some sort of prophecy) that Esther will be chosen. Contrarily, R. Yosef Chayyun understands that Mordechai did not know anything definite, but was only hoping that Esther will be chosen. However, both of them agree that Mordechai was not aware of any specific threat, but was just maneuvering Esther into a useful position in case something happens. In contrast, the opinion cited in Ibn Ezra claims that Mordechai received a prophecy or a dream that explicitly said that Esther will save the Jews.
Mordechai and Esther's Religious Identity – These commentators understand that Esther and Mordechai were observant Jews, who decided on this course of action within the framework of Halakha.
"לֹא הִגִּידָה אֶסְתֵּר אֶת עַמָּהּ וְאֶת מוֹלַדְתָּהּ" – According to these commentators, Esther concealed her nationality in order that she will be chosen as queen, and would not be rejected as from a lowly nation. See Why Conceal Esther's Nationality for more details.
Halakhic Considerations – R. Yosef Chayyun says that Mordechai believed that the good coming from the fact that Esther could protect the Jews from religious persecution was worth the fact that Esther would transgress on certain prohibitions. He compares this to the Halakhah that one should violate Shabbat once so that one may keep many Shabbatot.
Esther didn't care
Esther wanted to become queen for the honor and power involved.
Did Esther Go Willingly? Radak claims that "וַתִּלָּקַח" implies going willingly, and not being taken by force.
Mordechai and Esther's Religious Identity – R. Elazar HaRokeach understands the three day fast of Esther to be an atonement for three sins, including improper sexual relations and eating non-kosher food, which implies that until then Esther was not fully observant. R. Y"S Reggio is less explicit, although he agrees that Esther and Mordechai were certainly not knowledgeable in Halakhah. According to both of them, therefore, Mordechai and Esther did not see any issue with Esther becoming queen and marrying a non-Jew.
"לֹא הִגִּידָה אֶסְתֵּר אֶת עַמָּהּ וְאֶת מוֹלַדְתָּהּ" – According to R. Y"S Reggio, Esther was embarrassed by her exilic origins. See Why Conceal Esther's Nationality for more details.
