| 1And Mordecai knew all that had transpired, and Mordecai rent his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and he went out into the midst of the city and cried [with] a loud and bitter cry. |
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אוּמָרְדֳּכַ֗י יָדַע֙ אֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר נַֽעֲשָׂ֔ה וַיִּקְרַ֤ע מָרְדֳּכַי֙ אֶת־בְּגָדָ֔יו וַיִּלְבַּ֥שׁ שַׂ֖ק וָאֵ֑פֶר וַיֵּצֵא֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעִ֔יר וַיִּזְעַ֛ק זְעָקָ֥ה גְדוֹלָ֖ה וּמָרָֽה: |
| And Mordecai knew all that had transpired. The Master of Dreams told him that the celestial beings had concurred about it, because they had prostrated themselves to an image in the days of Nebuchadnezzar and because they had enjoyed Ahasuerus’s feast. |
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וּמָרְדְּכַי יָדַע.
בַּעַל הַחֲלוֹם אָמַר לוֹ שֶׁהִסְכִּימוּ הָעֶלְיוֹנִים עַל כָּךְ לְפִי שֶׁהִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַצֶּלֶם בִּימֵי נְבוּכַדְנֶצַר וְשֶׁנֶּהֱנוּ מִסְּעוּדַת אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ:
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| 2And he came up as far as the king's gate, for one may not enter the king's gate dressed in sackcloth. |
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בוַיָּב֕וֹא עַ֖ד לִפְנֵ֣י שַֽׁעַר־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין לָב֛וֹא אֶל־שַׁ֥עַר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בִּלְב֥וּשׁ שָֽׂק: |
| for one may not enter. It is improper to enter the king’s gate dressed in sackcloth. |
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כִּי אֵין לָבוֹא.
אֵין דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ לָבוֹא אֶל שַׁעַר הַמֶּלֶךְ בִּלְבוּשׁ שָׂק:
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| 3And in every province, wherever the king's orders and his edict reached, there was great mourning for the Jews, and fasting and weeping and lamenting; sackcloth and ashes were put on the most prominent. |
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גוּבְכָל־מְדִינָ֣ה וּמְדִינָ֗ה מְקוֹם֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר דְּבַר־הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ וְדָתוֹ֙ מַגִּ֔יעַ אֵ֤בֶל גָּדוֹל֙ לַיְּהוּדִ֔ים וְצ֥וֹם וּבְכִ֖י וּמִסְפֵּ֑ד שַׂ֣ק וָאֵ֔פֶר יֻצַּ֖ע לָֽרַבִּֽים: |
| the king’s orders and his edict. When the couriers carrying the letters passed, the edict was given in the city. |
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דְּבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ וְדָתוֹ.
כְּשֶׁהַשְּׁלוּחִים נוֹשְׂאֵי הַסְּפָרִים עוֹבְרִים שָׁם נִתְּנָה הַדָּת בָּעִיר:
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| 4And Esther's maidens and her chamberlains came and told her, and the queen was extremely terrified, and she sent clothing to dress Mordecai and to take off his sackcloth, but he did not accept [it]. |
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דוַ֠תָּב֠וֹאנָה (וַ֠תָּב֠וֹאינָה כתיב) נַֽעֲר֨וֹת אֶסְתֵּ֤ר וְסָֽרִיסֶ֨יהָ֙ וַיַּגִּ֣ידוּ לָ֔הּ וַתִּתְחַלְחַ֥ל הַמַּלְכָּ֖ה מְאֹ֑ד וַתִּשְׁלַ֨ח בְּגָדִ֜ים לְהַלְבִּ֣ישׁ אֶת־מָרְדֳּכַ֗י וּלְהָסִ֥יר שַׂקּ֛וֹ מֵֽעָלָ֖יו וְלֹ֥א קִבֵּֽל: |
| 5Then Esther summoned Hathach, [one] of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed before her, and she commanded him concerning Mordecai, to know what this was and why this was. |
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הוַתִּקְרָא֩ אֶסְתֵּ֨ר לַֽהֲתָ֜ךְ מִסָּֽרִיסֵ֤י הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶֽעֱמִ֣יד לְפָנֶ֔יהָ וַתְּצַוֵּ֖הוּ עַֽל־מָרְדֳּכָ֑י לָדַ֥עַת מַה־זֶּ֖ה וְעַל־מַה־זֶּֽה: |
| 6So Hathach went forth to Mordecai, to the city square, which was before the king's gate. |
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ווַיֵּצֵ֥א הֲתָ֖ךְ אֶֽל־מָרְדֳּכָ֑י אֶל־רְח֣וֹב הָעִ֔יר אֲשֶׁ֖ר לִפְנֵ֥י שַֽׁעַר־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ: |
| 7And Mordecai told him all that had befallen him, and the full account of the silver that Haman had proposed to weigh out into the king's treasuries on the Jews' account, to cause them to perish. |
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זוַיַּגֶּד־ל֣וֹ מָרְדֳּכַ֔י אֵ֖ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר קָרָ֑הוּ וְאֵ֣ת | פָּֽרָשַׁ֣ת הַכֶּ֗סֶף אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָמַ֤ר הָמָן֙ לִ֠שְׁק֠וֹל עַל־גִּנְזֵ֥י הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ בַּיְּהוּדִ֖ים (כתיב ביהודיים) לְאַבְּדָֽם: |
| the full account of the silver. the explanation of the silver. |
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פָּרָשַׁת הַכֶּסֶף.
פֵּרוּשׁ הַכֶּסֶף:
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| 8And the copy of the writ of the decree that was given in Shushan he gave him, to show Esther and to tell her, and to order her to come before the king to beseech him and to beg him for her people. |
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חוְאֶת־פַּתְשֶׁ֣גֶן כְּתָֽב־הַ֠דָּ֠ת אֲשֶׁר־נִתַּ֨ן בְּשׁוּשָׁ֤ן לְהַשְׁמִידָם֙ נָ֣תַן ל֔וֹ לְהַרְא֥וֹת אֶת־אֶסְתֵּ֖ר וּלְהַגִּ֣יד לָ֑הּ וּלְצַוּ֣וֹת עָלֶ֗יהָ לָב֨וֹא אֶל־הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ לְהִֽתְחַנֶּן־ל֛וֹ וּלְבַקֵּ֥שׁ מִלְּפָנָ֖יו עַל־עַמָּֽהּ: |
| 9And Hathach came, and he told Esther what Mordecai had said. |
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טוַיָּב֖וֹא הֲתָ֑ךְ וַיַּגֵּ֣ד לְאֶסְתֵּ֔ר אֵ֖ת דִּבְרֵ֥י מָרְדֳּכָֽי: |
| 10And Esther said to Hathach, and she ordered him to [tell] Mordecai: |
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יוַתֹּ֥אמֶר אֶסְתֵּ֖ר לַֽהֲתָ֑ךְ וַתְּצַוֵּ֖הוּ אֶֽל־מָרְדֳּכָֽי: |
| 11"All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that any man or woman who comes to the king, into the inner court, who is not summoned, there is but one law for him, to be put to death, except the one to whom the king extends the golden scepter, that he may live, but I have not been summoned to come to the king these thirty days." |
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יאכָּל־עַבְדֵ֣י הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ וְעַם֩ מְדִינ֨וֹת הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ יֹֽדְעִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר כָּל־אִ֣ישׁ וְאִשָּׁ֡ה אֲשֶׁר יָב֣וֹא־אֶל־הַמֶּ֩לֶךְ֩ אֶל־הֶֽחָצֵ֨ר הַפְּנִימִ֜ית אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־יִקָּרֵ֗א אַחַ֤ת דָּתוֹ֙ לְהָמִ֔ית לְ֠בַ֠ד מֵֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר יוֹשִֽׁיט־ל֥וֹ הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶת־שַׁרְבִ֥יט הַזָּהָ֖ב וְחָיָ֑ה וַֽאֲנִ֗י לֹ֤א נִקְרֵ֨אתִי֙ לָב֣וֹא אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ זֶ֖ה שְׁלוֹשִׁ֥ים יֽוֹם: |
| 12And they told Esther's words to Mordecai. |
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יבוַיַּגִּ֣ידוּ לְמָרְדֳּכָ֔י אֵ֖ת דִּבְרֵ֥י אֶסְתֵּֽר: |
| 13And Mordecai ordered to reply to Esther, "Do not imagine to yourself that you will escape in the king's house from among all the Jews. |
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יגוַיֹּ֥אמֶר מָרְדֳּכַ֖י לְהָשִׁ֣יב אֶל־אֶסְתֵּ֑ר אַל־תְּדַמִּ֣י בְנַפְשֵׁ֔ךְ לְהִמָּלֵ֥ט בֵּֽית־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מִכָּל־הַיְּהוּדִֽים: |
| Do not imagine to yourself. Heb. אַל תְּדַמִי, do not think, like (Num. 33:56) “And it will be, that which I thought (דִמִיתִי).” Do not imagine to yourself; do not think to escape in the king’s palace on the day of the massacre; because you do not wish to imperil yourself now to come to the king without permission. |
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אַל תְּדַמִּי בְנַפְשֵׁךְ.
אַל תַּחְשְׁבִי, כְּמוֹ "וְהָיָה כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּמִּיתִי". "אַל תְּדַמִּי בְנַפְשֵׁךְ": "אַל תְּהִי סְבוּרָה לְהִמָּלֵט בְּיוֹם הַהֲרֵגָה בְּבֵית הַמֶּלֶךְ, שֶׁאֵין אַתְּ רוֹצָה לְסַכֵּן אֶת עַצְמֵךְ עַכְשָׁיו עַל הַסָּפֵק לָבֹא אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ שֶׁלֹּא בִרְשׁוּת":
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| 14For if you remain silent at this time, relief and rescue will arise for the Jews from elsewhere, and you and your father's household will perish; and who knows whether at a time like this you will attain the kingdom?" |
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ידכִּ֣י אִם־הַֽחֲרֵ֣שׁ תַּֽחֲרִ֘ישִׁי֘ בָּעֵ֣ת הַזֹּאת֒ רֶ֣וַח וְהַצָּלָ֞ה יַֽעֲמ֤וֹד לַיְּהוּדִים֙ מִמָּק֣וֹם אַחֵ֔ר וְאַ֥תְּ וּבֵֽית־אָבִ֖יךְ תֹּאבֵ֑דוּ וּמִ֣י יוֹדֵ֔עַ אִם־לְעֵ֣ת כָּזֹ֔את הִגַּ֖עַתְּ לַמַּלְכֽוּת: |
| and who knows whether at a time like this. And who knows whether the king will desire you next year, which is the time of the massacre. |
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וּמִי יוֹדֵעַ אִם לְעֵת כָּזֹאת הִגַּעַתְּ לַמַּלְכוּת.
וּמִי יוֹדֵעַ אִם יַחְפֹּץ בָּךְ הַמֶּלֶךְ לַשָּׁנָה הַבָּאָה שֶׁהוּא זְמַן הַהֲרֵגָה:
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| at a time like this. For he was presently in Nisan, and the time of the massacre was in Adar of the next year. |
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לְעֵת כָּזֹאת.
שֶׁהוּא הָיָה עוֹמֵד בְּנִיסָן וּזְמַן הַהֲרֵגָה בַּאֲדָר לַשָּׁנָה הַבָּאָה:
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| you will attain the kingdom. if you will attain the greatness which you now enjoy. |
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הִגַּעַתְּ לַמַּלְכוּת.
אִם תַּגִּיעִי לִגְדֻלָּה שֶׁאַתְּ בָּהּ עַכְשָׁיו:
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| 15Then Esther ordered to reply to Mordecai: |
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טווַתֹּ֥אמֶר אֶסְתֵּ֖ר לְהָשִׁ֥יב אֶֽל־מָרְדֳּכָֽי: |
| 16"Go, assemble all the Jews who are present in Shushan and fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, day and night; also I and my maidens will fast in a like manner; then I will go to the king contrary to the law, and if I perish, I perish." |
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טזלֵךְ֩ כְּנ֨וֹס אֶת־כָּל־הַיְּהוּדִ֜ים הַנִּמְצְאִ֣ים בְּשׁוּשָׁ֗ן וְצ֣וּמוּ עָ֠לַ֠י וְאַל־תֹּֽאכְל֨וּ וְאַל־תִּשְׁתּ֜וּ שְׁל֤שֶׁת יָמִים֙ לַ֣יְלָה וָי֔וֹם גַּם־אֲנִ֥י וְנַֽעֲרֹתַ֖י אָצ֣וּם כֵּ֑ן וּבְכֵ֞ן אָב֤וֹא אֶל־הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־כַדָּ֔ת וְכַֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר אָבַ֖דְתִּי אָבָֽדְתִּי: |
| contrary to the law. for it is contrary to the law for one who is not summoned to enter. And the Midrash Aggadah [explains]: contrary to the law, for until now, I was coerced [to cohabit with him], but now [I will do so] willingly. |
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אֲשֶׁר לֹא כַדָּת.
שֶׁאֵין דָּת לִכָּנֵס אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִקָּרֵא. וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה: "אֲשֶׁר לֹא כַדָּת" שֶׁעַד עַתָּה בְאֹנֶס וְעַכְשָׁיו בְּרָצוֹן:
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| and if I perish, I perish. And just as I have begun to go to destruction [by appearing before Ahasuerus without being summoned], I will go and die. And the Midrash Aggadah (ad loc.) [explains]: As I am lost to my father’s house, so will I be lost to you, for from now on, that I am submitting willingly to a heathen, I will be forbidden to you. |
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וְכַאֲשֶׁר אָבַדְתִּי אָבָדְתִּי.
וְכַאֲשֶׁר הִתְחַלְתִּי לֵילֵךְ לְאִבּוּד אֵלֵךְ וְאָמוּת. וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה: כַּאֲשֶׁר אָבַדְתִּי מִבֵּית אַבָּא אֹבַד מִמֶּךָ, שֶׁמֵּעַכְשָׁיו שֶׁאֲנִי בְרָצוֹן נִבְעֶלֶת לְעַכּוּ"ם, אֲנִי אֲסוּרָה לָךְ:
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| 17So Mordecai passed and did according to all that Esther had commanded him. |
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יזוַֽיַּֽעֲבֹ֖ר מָרְדָּכָ֑י וַיַּ֕עַשׂ כְּכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוְּתָ֥ה עָלָ֖יו אֶסְתֵּֽר: |
| So Mordecai passed. i.e., he transgressed the law by fasting on the first festive day of Passover, for he fasted on the fourteenth, the fifteenth, and the sixteenth, since the letters were written on the thirteenth day. |
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וַיַּעֲבֹר מָרְדְּכָי.
עַל דָּת, לְהִתְעַנּוֹת בְּיוֹם טוֹב רִאשׁוֹן שֶׁל פֶּסַח, שֶׁהִתְעַנָּה י"ד בְּנִיסָן וְט"ו וְט"ז, שֶׁהֲרֵי בְּיוֹם י"ג נִכְתְּבוּ הַסְּפָרִים:
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