Difference between revisions of "How Did Esther Conceal Her Nationality/2"
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
| Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
<li><b>Aid observance</b> – Ibn Ezra asserts that Esther hid her religion so that she would be able to observe commandments in secret.<fn>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.  See also R. Saadia and Akeidat Yitzchak who assert that had Esther's Judaism been public and then Achashverosh demanded of her to violate it, the laws of "יהרג ואל יעבר" (be killed rather than transgress) would have applied.  Since Achashverosh was unaware of her religion, it meant that when he had relations, he was doing so for his own enjoyment and not to force her to violate a commandment.  In such a case she was not obligated to forfeit her life.</fn> As such, concealing her religion was just as important after being coronated as before.</li> | <li><b>Aid observance</b> – Ibn Ezra asserts that Esther hid her religion so that she would be able to observe commandments in secret.<fn>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.  See also R. Saadia and Akeidat Yitzchak who assert that had Esther's Judaism been public and then Achashverosh demanded of her to violate it, the laws of "יהרג ואל יעבר" (be killed rather than transgress) would have applied.  Since Achashverosh was unaware of her religion, it meant that when he had relations, he was doing so for his own enjoyment and not to force her to violate a commandment.  In such a case she was not obligated to forfeit her life.</fn> As such, concealing her religion was just as important after being coronated as before.</li> | ||
<li><b>Save the nation</b> – 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, only revealing it when the opportune time arrived.<fn>The Lekach Tov and Ralbag maintain that had Achashverosh known her "lowly" origins he would have rejected her and she would never have been chosen as queen, nor remained in the position, as 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.</fn></li> | <li><b>Save the nation</b> – 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, only revealing it when the opportune time arrived.<fn>The Lekach Tov and Ralbag maintain that had Achashverosh known her "lowly" origins he would have rejected her and she would never have been chosen as queen, nor remained in the position, as 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.</fn></li> | ||
| − | <li><b>Avoid becoming queen</b> – Rashi and the Rid claim that Esther wanted to hide her royal lineage | + | <li><b>Avoid becoming queen</b> – Rashi and the Rid claim that Esther wanted to hide her royal lineage so that Achashverosh would have no incentive to choose her as queen.  According to these commentators, however, it is not clear what purpose the secrecy served after Esther was chosen as queen.</li> |
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
<point><b>Double mention of concealment</b> – According to this position, the verses mention Esther's hiding of her identity twice to teach that both before and after her crowning Esther kept her identity secret.<fn>R. Yosef Kara adds that the verse explicitly states that Esther continued to do as Mordechai taught her ("מַאֲמַר מׇרְדֳּכַי אֶסְתֵּר עֹשָׂה כַּאֲשֶׁר הָיְתָה בְאׇמְנָה אִתּוֹ") to teach that despite the marriage and the fact that she now had reason to listen to her husband, Achashverosh, rather than Mordechai, Esther nonetheless continued to do as Mordechai had advised.</fn></point> | <point><b>Double mention of concealment</b> – According to this position, the verses mention Esther's hiding of her identity twice to teach that both before and after her crowning Esther kept her identity secret.<fn>R. Yosef Kara adds that the verse explicitly states that Esther continued to do as Mordechai taught her ("מַאֲמַר מׇרְדֳּכַי אֶסְתֵּר עֹשָׂה כַּאֲשֶׁר הָיְתָה בְאׇמְנָה אִתּוֹ") to teach that despite the marriage and the fact that she now had reason to listen to her husband, Achashverosh, rather than Mordechai, Esther nonetheless continued to do as Mordechai had advised.</fn></point> | ||
| − | <point><b>Achashverosh's shock at the party</b> – These sources assume that Achashverosh first learned at the party that Esther was Jewish and thus | + | <point><b>Achashverosh's shock at the party</b> – These sources assume that Achashverosh first learned at the party that Esther was Jewish and thus included in the decree of Haman, leading to his anger that someone would dare try to annihilate the queen and her nation.</point> |
<point><b>Connection to Mordechai</b> – These sources offer various scenarios to explain how Mordechai and Esther's family ties did not expose her Jewish roots:<br/> | <point><b>Connection to Mordechai</b> – These sources offer various scenarios to explain how Mordechai and Esther's family ties did not expose her Jewish roots:<br/> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li><b>Connection to Mordechai unknown</b> – R. Yosef Nachmias suggests that perhaps Esther was taken, not from Mordechai's house, but from the street when she happened to stroll outside.  Thus, no one even knew that she was related to Mordechai.<fn>See also the first opinion brought by the Akeidat Yitzchak, that maybe Esther on her own had gone to the officers.  He rejects this, however, out of hand.</fn> R. Elisha Gallico suggests instead that though Esther was taken from Mordechai's home, | + | <li><b>Connection to Mordechai unknown</b> – R. Yosef Nachmias suggests that perhaps Esther was taken, not from Mordechai's house, but from the street when she happened to stroll outside.  Thus, no one even knew that she was related to Mordechai.<fn>See also the first opinion brought by the Akeidat Yitzchak, that maybe Esther on her own had gone to the officers.  He rejects this, however, out of hand.</fn> R. Elisha Gallico suggests instead that though Esther was taken from Mordechai's home, there was much confusion as so many women were being taken, that no one remembered the connection.<fn>There might be spme support for this hypothesis from the text's emphasis on Esther being taken "וּבְהִקָּבֵץ נְעָרוֹת רַבּוֹת".</fn></li> |
| − | <li><b>Connection to Mordechai known</b> – In contrast to the above, the Akeidat Yitzchak suggests that the officers did know that Mordechai had raised Esther, but he told them that she was adopted and that he did not know who her parents | + | <li><b>Connection to Mordechai known</b> – In contrast to the above, the Akeidat Yitzchak suggests that the officers did know that Mordechai had raised Esther, but he told them that she was adopted and that he did not know who her parents werre or from what nation she hailed.</li> |
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
<point><b>"מׇרְדֳּכַי מִתְהַלֵּךְ... לָדַעַת אֶת שְׁלוֹם אֶסְתֵּר"</b> – According to the Akeidat Yitzchak, Mordechai's checking up on Esther would not have made anyone suspicious since everyone knew of their connection regardless.  The others might posit that Mordechai was "יֹשֵׁב בְּשַׁעַר הַמֶּלֶךְ" and had a position in the royal palace from even before Esther became queen. Due to this position in the royal palace,  it was normal for him to walk in the courtyard and no one even noticed that he was watching out for Esther.</point> | <point><b>"מׇרְדֳּכַי מִתְהַלֵּךְ... לָדַעַת אֶת שְׁלוֹם אֶסְתֵּר"</b> – According to the Akeidat Yitzchak, Mordechai's checking up on Esther would not have made anyone suspicious since everyone knew of their connection regardless.  The others might posit that Mordechai was "יֹשֵׁב בְּשַׁעַר הַמֶּלֶךְ" and had a position in the royal palace from even before Esther became queen. Due to this position in the royal palace,  it was normal for him to walk in the courtyard and no one even noticed that he was watching out for Esther.</point> | ||
| Line 31: | Line 31: | ||
<category>Until She Became Queen | <category>Until She Became Queen | ||
<p>Esther only kept her identity a secret until she was chosen as queen.</p> | <p>Esther only kept her identity a secret until she was chosen as queen.</p> | ||
| − | <point><b>Why conceal Esther's nationality?</b> | + | <point><b>Why conceal Esther's nationality?</b> According to this position Esther concealed her royal lineage so that Achashverosh would not desire her as queen.  As such, once she was nonetheless chosen, there was no more reason to hide her origins and she took no pains to do so.</point> |
<point><b>Double mention of concealment</b> – This approach would suggest that the second mention of Esther's secrecy related not to the period of her rule, but specifically to the second gathering of virgins, when the competition was renewed.</point> | <point><b>Double mention of concealment</b> – This approach would suggest that the second mention of Esther's secrecy related not to the period of her rule, but specifically to the second gathering of virgins, when the competition was renewed.</point> | ||
| − | <point><b>Achashverosh's shock at the party</b> – If Achashverosh | + | <point><b>Achashverosh's shock at the party</b> – If Achashverosh knew of Esther's Judaism, what was revealed at the second party?</point> |
</category> | </category> | ||
<category>Never Concealed | <category>Never Concealed | ||
Version as of 21:04, 17 March 2016
When and How Did Esther Conceal Her Nationality?
Exegetical Approaches
This page is a stub.
Please contact us if you would like to assist in its development.
Please contact us if you would like to assist in its development.
Until the Banquet
Acahshverosh did not know Esther's nationality until she revealed it at the second party.
Sources:R. Saadia, Rashi, R. Yosef Kara, Rashbam, Ibn Ezra, Ralbag Rid, R. Yosef Nachmias, Akeidat Yitzchak #1 [majority]
Why conceal Esther's nationality? These sources offer an array of opinions. For elaboration, see Why Conceal Esther's Nationality?
- Aid observance – Ibn Ezra asserts that Esther hid her religion so that she would be able to observe commandments in secret.1 As such, concealing her religion was just as important after being coronated as before.
- 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, only revealing it when the opportune time arrived.2
- Avoid becoming queen – Rashi and the Rid claim that Esther wanted to hide her royal lineage so that Achashverosh would have no incentive to choose her as queen. According to these commentators, however, it is not clear what purpose the secrecy served after Esther was chosen as queen.
Double mention of concealment – According to this position, the verses mention Esther's hiding of her identity twice to teach that both before and after her crowning Esther kept her identity secret.3
Achashverosh's shock at the party – These sources assume that Achashverosh first learned at the party that Esther was Jewish and thus included in the decree of Haman, leading to his anger that someone would dare try to annihilate the queen and her nation.
Connection to Mordechai – These sources offer various scenarios to explain how Mordechai and Esther's family ties did not expose her Jewish roots:
- Connection to Mordechai unknown – R. Yosef Nachmias suggests that perhaps Esther was taken, not from Mordechai's house, but from the street when she happened to stroll outside. Thus, no one even knew that she was related to Mordechai.4 R. Elisha Gallico suggests instead that though Esther was taken from Mordechai's home, there was much confusion as so many women were being taken, that no one remembered the connection.5
- Connection to Mordechai known – In contrast to the above, the Akeidat Yitzchak suggests that the officers did know that Mordechai had raised Esther, but he told them that she was adopted and that he did not know who her parents werre or from what nation she hailed.
"מׇרְדֳּכַי מִתְהַלֵּךְ... לָדַעַת אֶת שְׁלוֹם אֶסְתֵּר" – According to the Akeidat Yitzchak, Mordechai's checking up on Esther would not have made anyone suspicious since everyone knew of their connection regardless. The others might posit that Mordechai was "יֹשֵׁב בְּשַׁעַר הַמֶּלֶךְ" and had a position in the royal palace from even before Esther became queen. Due to this position in the royal palace, it was normal for him to walk in the courtyard and no one even noticed that he was watching out for Esther.
Observance in the Palace
- Ibn Ezra posits that if no one knew Esther's religion, it was possible that no one would pay attention to her actions and think to attribute them to her Judaism. She could conceivably have kept kashrut by coming up with a excuse why she wanted to only eat vegetables.6 Similarly, with so many women serving her, it might not have been very difficult not to transgress Shabbat.7
- Alternatively, it is possible that in the palace Esther might not have been able to observe commandments8 and thus there was nothing in her actions to give her away.
Until She Became Queen
Esther only kept her identity a secret until she was chosen as queen.
Why conceal Esther's nationality? According to this position Esther concealed her royal lineage so that Achashverosh would not desire her as queen. As such, once she was nonetheless chosen, there was no more reason to hide her origins and she took no pains to do so.
Double mention of concealment – This approach would suggest that the second mention of Esther's secrecy related not to the period of her rule, but specifically to the second gathering of virgins, when the competition was renewed.
Achashverosh's shock at the party – If Achashverosh knew of Esther's Judaism, what was revealed at the second party?
Never Concealed
Esther never hid that she was Jewish.
Sources:Akeidat Yitzchak #2
