Esther's Relations with Achashverosh/2

Esther and Achashverosh

Exegetical Approaches

This topic is still being developed and updated

Esther didn't care

Sources:Perhaps RadakBereshit 12:15About R. David Kimchi

Esther's Religious Identity

"וַתִּלָּקַח" – Radak claims that "וַתִּלָּקַח" implies going willingly, and not being taken by force.

אשת איש

לא בקשה דבר

"לֹא הִגִּידָה אֶסְתֵּר אֶת עַמָּהּ וְאֶת מוֹלַדְתָּהּ"

Halakhic Considerations

Definition of אונס

One time / Multiple Times

The Ends Justify the Means

Sources:YefetYefet Esther 2, Commentary attributed to RambamEsther 2:8Esther 5:1, RalbagEsther 2:10Esther Toelet 15About R. Levi b. Gershom, R. Yosef ChayyunEsther 2:8Esther 2:10About R. Yosef Chayyun, R. Y"S ReggioIntroduction to EstherAbout R. Yitzchak Shemuel Reggio

Esther's Religious Identity

"וַתִּלָּקַח" – Radak claims that "וַתִּלָּקַח" implies going willingly, and not being taken by force.

אשת איש

לא בקשה דבר

"לֹא הִגִּידָה אֶסְתֵּר אֶת עַמָּהּ וְאֶת מוֹלַדְתָּהּ"

Halakhic Considerations

Definition of אונס

One time / Multiple Times

Esther was forced

Sources:Seder Olam Rabbah29About Seder Olam Rabbah, Bavli Megillah15a15bAbout the Bavli, Bavli Sanhedrin74a-bAbout the Bavli, Second Targum of Megillat Esther2:84:114:16About Second Targum of Megillat Esther, R. Saadia GaonEsther 2:8Esther 2:16About R. Saadia Gaon, Ibn EzraEsther Second Version 2:8About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, R. Avraham SabaEshkol HaKopher 2:8About R. Avraham Saba, Akeidat YitzchakEsther 2:10Esther 2:15About R. Yitzchak Arama, R. Meir AramaEsther Part 1About R. Meir Arama, Yosef Lekach

Esther's Religious Identity

"וַתִּלָּקַח" – Ibn Ezra claims that the word "וַתִּלָּקַח" implies being taken by force.¹

אשת איש

• Most of these commentators understand Esther to have been an unmarried woman.
• However,

לא בקשה דבר – R. Meir Arama says this is proof that she was forced, because everyone else would pretty up voluntarily to be more appealing, but Esther did not.

"לֹא הִגִּידָה אֶסְתֵּר אֶת עַמָּהּ וְאֶת מוֹלַדְתָּהּ" – According to this opinion, Esther did not say who she was for one of two reasons:

• So that she will not be chosen as queen.
• So it will be easier for her to keep mitzvot.

Halakhic Considerations

Definition of אונס

One time / Multiple Times

Historical Background

¹ Cf. RadakBereshit 12:15About R. David Kimchi.