How Did Esther Conceal Her Nationality/2

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.

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.  If her Judaism were known, Achashverosh might have actively forced her to transgress commandments. 
• 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.¹
• Prevent her becoming Queen –

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 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.