Esther's Relations with Achashverosh/1
Esther's Relations with Achashverosh
Introduction
The second chapter of the Megillah describes how Esther is chosen to replace Vashti as Achashverosh's queen. Neither Esther nor Mordechai's reaction to the marriage is shared in the Megillah. Were they happy or horrifed by the turn of events? Hd Esther vied for the position or resisted
וְלֹא תִתְחַתֵּן בָּם בִּתְּךָ לֹא תִתֵּן לִבְנוֹ וּבִתּוֹ לֹא תִקַּח לִבְנֶךָ.
And you shall not marry into them, your daughter you shall not give to his son, and his daughter you shall not take for your son.
From this verse, many1 learn the prohibition of intermarriage. Even according to the opinion that this verse applies only to the seven nations of Canaan, intermarriage with non-Canaanite non-Jews is prohibited at least rabbinically.2
If so, how could Esther have married Achashverosh?
Related Issues
A number of issues affect the question of Esther's relationship with Achashverosh:
- Esther's Religious Identity and Mordechai's Religious Identity
- Why Conceal Esther's Nationality?
- Were the maidens, and Esther in particular, taken voluntarily or by force?
