How Did Esther Conceal Her Nationality/2

When and How Did Esther Conceal Her Nationality?

Exegetical Approaches

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Until the Banquet

Acahshverosh did not know Esther's nationality until she revealed it at the second party.

Sources:Rashi, R. Yosef Kara, Rashbam, Ibn Ezra, Ralbag  R. MItrani,  R. Yosef NachmiasEsther 2:8About R. Yosef Nachmias, Akeida YitzchakEsther 2:10About R. Yitzchak Arama [majority]

Why conceal her nationality? These sources offer an array of opinions:

• Aid observance – Ibn Ezra asserts that Esther hid her religion so that she would be able to observe commandments in secret.¹ 
• Save the nation – According to the Lekach Tov, the Rokeach and Ralbag, Esther hid her religious identity so that she would be best positioned to save the nation.²
• Avoid becoming queen – Rashi and R. Mitrani claim that Esther wanted to hide her royal lineage so that Achashverosh would have no incentive to choose her as queen.

According to the first two of these explanations, it is clear why Esther continuously hid identity, but according to Rashi and R. Mitrani, it is not clear what purpose the secerecy served once Etsher was chosen.

Until She Became Queen

Esther only kept her identity a secret until she was chosen as queen.

Never Concealed

Esther never hid that she was Jewish.

Sources:Akeidat Yitzchak #2Esther 2:10About R. Yitzchak Arama

¹ Mordechai assumed that were her Judaism known, Achashverosh would have forced her to transgress commandments, but if it were concealed there would be a chance that no one would pay attention.

² The Lekach Tov and Ralbag maintain that had Achashverosh known her "lowly" origins he would have rejected her and she would never be able to be in position to aid the people. The Rokeach adds that if she were believed to be a Gentile, she would privy to more information and might reveal any potential plot against the Jews.