Mordecai was a trusted advisor to King Xerxes of Persia and Esther was his adopted daughter. 9:23): The Jews accordingly assumed an obligation [ve-kibel] that which they had begun to practice.Ve-kibelis written in the singular, thus alluding to God(Ruth Rabbah4:1; BT Megillah 7a). The midrash relates that Esther asked theTorahscholars to Write of me for all time. The Rabbis replied that it is forbidden to add to what is written in the Torah, and it is not possible to include another book in Scripture, or to establish a new holiday. The king did not believe in God but Esther did. If you need to flag this entry as abusive. According to the view that Esther was Hadassahs second name, the Rabbis explain that she was given this name because she concealed (histirah) her origins. See Ilana Pardes,Countertraditions in the Bible: A Feminist Approach(Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1992), 126 ff. older than her (do the math a 37 year old king marrying a 14 year Mordecai was elevated to second-in-command in the kingdom. How old was King Xerxes when he married Esther? Vashti (Hebrew: , romanized: Vat; Koin Greek: , romanized: Astn; Modern Persian: , romanized: Vti) was a queen of Persia and the first wife of Persian king Ahasuerus in the Book of Esther, a book included within the Tanakh and the Old Testament which is read on the Jewish holiday of Purim.She was either executed or banished for her . She reigned in the first century BCE, sixty years after the Hasmoneans achieved independence from the Seleucid Empire and a few decades before King Herod. Like many Jews today, she had two names, one Hebrew and one Greek. Mordecai stopped at the gate because he wanted to tell the king about a plot to kill him. Mordecai had discovered the evil plan of two palace administrators, Bigthan and Teresh, and he wanted to make sure the king was aware of the danger and could take proper precautions to protect himself. During Jacob's stay, he fell in love with Rachel . Taken to the palace of King Ahasuerus of Persia, she exposed the plot of the evil Haman, who had convinced the king to allow the annihilation of all the Jews in his extensive empire. [1] In preparation for Purim and the reading of Megillat Esther, the story of this forgotten Jewish queen is worth recounting. As early as 1215, Rabbi Menachem Ha-Hevroni wrote that while visiting the Galilee, he came across the tomb of Queen Esther, "who, during her lifetime, had instructed her son Cyrus to bring her there [for burial]". One day he overheard a conspiracy between two of the king's guards who wanted to assassinate Xerxes. The Rabbis include Esther among the seven most beautiful women in the world (BT Megillah 15a). Instead, Haman was hanged, and the Jews were given permission to destroy their enemies. However, just because you don't know when Mordecai was Esthers cousin and guardian, having adopted her as his daughter when her parents died. The Rabbis also offer various proofs that the Book of Esther was written with the spirit of divine inspiration. The Rabbis also relate to Esthers sexuality: if Ahasuerus wanted to find in her the taste of a virgin, he found it; if the taste of a non-virgin, he found it(BTMegillah13a;Esth. assumed in to the next King's harem (also possiblealthough a Esthers Origins and Her Adoption by Mordecai, Esther Delivers Up Haman and Reveals Her Identity. Historians say there never was a Queen Vashti of Persia. The midrash compares Esther to a hind and to the dawn, based onPs. The Queen was the oldest monarch to have reigned in Britain before she passed away in September 2022, aged 96. "order." There, she was forced to prepare herself for her first night with the King by spending six months doused in oil of myrrh and another six in sweet odors ointments. Mordecai was instrumental in thwarting a murderous plot by one of the kings advisers, Haman, to annihilate the Jewish people. Menstruation; the menstruant woman; ritual status of the menstruant woman. I'm also She and her cousin Mordecai persuaded the king to cancel an order for the extermination of Jews in his realm, plotted by the king's chief minister, Haman. The Talmud reveals that Esther's relationship with Ahasuerus wasn't a romantic one. Alexandra the Maccabee (died ca. Lit. Rabbah 6:5; BT Megillah 13a). , Rabbi Nathan states, In its season from Shabbat night to Shabbat night, the way [rains] fell in the days of Queen Shelamzion., Megillat Esther: A Godless and Assimilated Diaspora.. Kings David and Solomon had many wives, some more influential than others, but they are never represented as ruling in their husbands stead. Sort by: Most popular. Another question that concerned the Rabbis was that of the children from the union of Esther and Ahasuerus. Esther was a Jewish woman who lived in Persia during the period following the destruction of the First Holy Temple, when many Jews had been taken as slaves to Babylonia, which was subsequently overtaken by Persia. Mordecai and Esther respond to this that the story in the Book of Esther was already recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Media and Persia(Esth. Mordecais wife is never directly named, but it is presumed that she was originally from Susa, based on her residence in the city at the time of the story. Estimates vary, but she was most likely between 50 and 60 years old when she died. Guy Siverson Graceful Touch | Massage Therapy Therapist (s) | Rapid City Author has 5.2K answers and 2.7M answer views 7 mo Esther 2:7 King James Version Because of Haman's law, she and all the Jews in the kingdom would be killed. The Funeral of Queen Victoria by Wiliam Lionel Wylie (c) National Maritime Museum. Shelamzion became sole heir to the Hasmonean kingdom when her husband, King Alexander Janneaus (King Yannai in rabbinic sources), who reigned from 10376 BCE, died. What happened to Queen Esther in the Bible? She oversaw a peaceful and prosperous period. Routing number of commercial bank of Ethiopia? probably lived at the same time. Esthers jar captures her willingness to stand up and fight against her oppressors, despite being completely alone and without support. Whereas her husband had persecuted the Pharisees, in her reign as solitary queen, Shelamzion was particularly supportive of the Pharisees, promoting their vision of Judaism and perhaps ensuring their popularity for generations to come (Josephus, Jewish War 1:110). Queen Sheba the famous rich queen , never did marry king 10:2). Modesty and Sexuality in Halakhic Literature, What Queen Esther can teach us about intermarriage. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'coalitionbrewing_com-leader-2','ezslot_12',154,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-coalitionbrewing_com-leader-2-0');Throughout the course of the story, Esther suffers from a major depressive episode, possibly accompanied by severe anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. When her secret was revealed, the whole of Persia, who had had no knowledge of the Jewish people or their plight, was amazed and moved by Esthers courage and selflessness. Esther was given seven maids to serve her in the harem; the Rabbis comment that she used them in order to count the seven days of the week [to know when the Sabbath fell, so that she could observe it even in the harem]. According to the Bible, Mordechai was a Jew who lived in the Persian city of Susa, the modern-day city of Shush, Iran. What is the labour of cable stayed bridges? She overtook Queen Victoria as the longest reigning monarch in 2015 - Victoria had served for 63 years and lived to the age of 81. Estimates vary, but she was most likely between 50 and 60 years old when she died. I'm going to guess that he was born before 464 BC, so yes they The Book of Esther does not say how old Esther was when she was taken to Ahasueruss palace; different midrashic traditions address this question. What is the moral of the story of Esther? She knew King Xerxes's love for merrymakingthat's how he first got in trouble with Queen Vashti (Es 1:10, 11, 12), how he celebrated Queen Esther's rise to the throne (Es 2:17, 18), and how he ended his day with Haman after issuing the edict for genocide (Es 3:15). Notably, Shelamzion maintained peace through defensive measures and diplomatic outreach rather than outright acts of aggression. Vintage colour lithograph from 1882 of Esther standing in the Inner Court of the King's House. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'coalitionbrewing_com-box-4','ezslot_5',147,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-coalitionbrewing_com-box-4-0');In the biblical book of Esther, Queen Esther is a young Jewish woman who becomes queen of the Persian Empire, thanks to the intervention of King Ahasuerus advisor, Mordecai. 10:3) was able to have interceded for the welfare of all his kindred (Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer, chap. [5] Ilan discusses variants of the same traditions inSilencing the Queen, 35-42, drawing attention to how later rabbinic sources gradually eliminate Shelamzion from this tradition and replace her with her contemporary Shimon ben Shetach. Honor the king. My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me? Jesus or Esther? Esther was ready to endanger herself and even to give her life to save her people, who therefore are called her people (4:8): to plead with him for her people(Ex. Esther was a young Jewish girl taken into the palace of the king of Persia, King Ahasuerus. She is the author of several books, including On My Right Michael, On My Left Gabriel: Angels in Ancient Jewish Culture (University of California Press, 2021). The spelling of her name is confirmed by its appearance in the Qumran material; see4QCalendrical Document C(Florentino Garcia Martinez and Elbert J. C. Tigchelaar, eds.,Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition[Brill Academic Publishers, 2000], 694). Ahasuerus is moved by her words and instead orders Haman to be hung on the gallows he had built for Mordecai. The Book of Esther reports that when Esther learned that Mordecai was wearing sackcloth, the queen was greatly agitated (4:4). When we talk about Esther in the Book of Esther, we can't ignore many other characters in the book as they seem to play roles almost as important as hers. Help JWA continue to lift up Jewish womens stories, this month and every month, by. Despite her hiding her identity, Esther still maintained contact with Mordecai. An additional stratagem employed by Esther against Haman was connected with his leading Mordecai on the horse. After an exhilarating victory, they declared the following day a holiday and (alluding to the lots Haman had cast) named it Purim, which is Hebrew for lots.. It was only when Esther came that Ahasuerus removed the likeness of Vashti and replaced it with that of Esther (Esth. She was expressing her inner strength and her ability to survive and even to thrive in difficult circumstances. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? Until Esther was chosen, no woman could compare with Vashti in beauty. case we can not say how old she was. Rabbah6:9). Nonetheless, it is clear that Esthers mental state was severely compromised and debilitating. The best. Fear strikes in the hearts of many, including Mordecai, as he realizes Hadassah will be taken. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'coalitionbrewing_com-leader-3','ezslot_14',155,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-coalitionbrewing_com-leader-3-0');Furthermore, Esthers actions become increasingly irrational and her behavior can be classified as psychotic. And her name was not Esther. Dont miss the latest essays from TheTorah.com. The monarch of Persia, King Ahasuerus, was wealthy and powerful. [3] She was the last of the house of Hanover and . The verse (5:1) Esther put on royal apparel is interpreted as her assuming the spirit of prophecy (BTMegillahloc. When Esther pointed and declared(Esth. They married in 478 BC after the former queen, Vashti, was banished for being unable to fulfill her husband's demands. She was able to use the jar to communicate her innermost thoughts and feelings to those around hershowcasing her strength, resilience and defiance in the face of her oppression. The hero of the Book of Esther is a Jewish woman who lived in Susa and became queen when she was chosen to be the wife of King . Beautiful as the moon (Talmud, Megillah 13a).3) Esther comes from the Semitic root ath-tar, "morning star." Rabbah6:8), or to arrange for the kashrut of her food. cit.). There is not one correct rendering of her name in any rabbinic manuscript (260). In order to recognize Mordecais efforts, the king made him his minister and gave him a royal robe and princely apparel. [6] Josephus writes: Alongside Queen Alexandra, and gaining power with her, were the Pharisees, an important sector of the Jewish community who were considered more religious than the rest of the nation and stricter in the observance and interpretation of the Laws (trans. Esther was born about 492BC and was 14 when she became Queen. Another tradition has Esther reciting this psalm during the three days of fasting that preceded her going to Ahasuerus: My God on the first day, my God on the second day, and why have You abandoned me? on the third. someone died doesn't mean they didn't exist. This exegesis casts the Biblical narrative in a different light. 6:6), or the definite statement, that could be known only to God: but they did not lay hands on the spoil (9:10). The Rabbis were concerned about the question of Esthers marital status. Hatach and Esther. The Jewish festival of Purim celebrates this event. cit.). Esther and her cousin Mordecai (who had once saved the king's life) later persuaded the king to cancel an order for the extermination of the Jews in his vast realm, which had been plotted by the king's chief minister, Haman. 464 BC. The two were very close and Mordecai was highly regarded and respected by both King Xerxes and the Jewish people. Updates? Queen Elizabeth II has died today aged 96. Nevertheless, this must not have an easy decision for her; just one generation before her, the wife of the Hasmonean King John Hyrcanus was starved to death by her son when she tried to remain queen. She appears to be a loyal wife to Mordecai, as she supports him throughout his efforts to save the Jewish people from Hamans plot. He wished Queen Vashti to be brought to the feast so that he may flaunt her wonderful beauty. Hearing the horror of the planned genocide, the light went on: Esther connected with her inner self and understood why she had been made queen. Queen Esther and Mordecai were given Haman's estate. When Esther's parents died, I adopted Esther and took care of her like she was my daughter. He asked what she wanted. old, non-virgin wife. 31 December 1999. She According to one, Hadassah, which appears first in the verse, was Esthers real name, and the reason why she was called Esther requires clarification. The Bible depicts Esther as an orphan who was raised in the house of her uncle Mordecai(Esth. 22:23). Part of HuffPost Religion. Just as a wolf seizes its spoils, so did Esther seize the throne; similarly, Mordecai and Esther divided Hamans spoils among them (Gen. Rabbah[ed. "scroll." As the Queen died on the Isle of Wight, her body was carried on board the HMY Alberta with several yachts taking the mourners and King Edward VII to Gosport in Hampshire and then by train to Victoria station in London. He had a war against Greece in 480-470BC, when he was 39-49. However, later scribes, as the manuscript evidence suggests, no longer understood it. [13] The analogy of Israel to a sinful adulteress in the prophets is more prominent. Rabbah8:3). Do you, or does someone you know, demonstrate the same total commitment to a mission, even at the cost of sacrificing personal happiness? With the kings consent, Haman set a date for the execution (the 13th day of the month of Adar) by casting lots and built a gallows specifically for Mordecai. This, then, is the meaning of(Esth. Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's longest-serving monarch, has died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years. Another tradition has her becoming pregnant by Ahasuerus, but miscarrying (Esth. Esther 7:1-6, 9-10. Esther becoming queen was a massive step up in the world, but that was probably because her husband was The King You Didn't Mess With. Hearing the horror of the planned genocide, the light went on: Esther connected with her inner self and understood why she had been made queen. In contrast, the BT also cites a tradition that Esther had a greenish [sallow] complexion, and therefore was called Hadassah; according to this tradition, Ahasuerus was drawn to her because she was endowed with great charm (BTMegillahloc. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The murdered queens name does not survive in the historical record. She had one son with 22:16). What is error code E01-5 on Toyota forklift. The Babylonian tradition (according to which she was Mordecais wife) understands this apprehension as her awareness that she would thereby lose her status as one compelled [a married woman living with another man against her will] and become a woman who does so freely. Bruce Feiler says in Where God was Born that Queen Amestris was Xerxes' only known wife, and that she remained queen long after the third year of his reign, when Vashti was supposedly deposed by Xerxes.The story of Queen Esther is demonstrably non-historical, but she is portrayed as saving the Jews of the Persian Empire from destruction. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. The bleeding jar in Esthers story is significant because of the deep symbolism behind it. Sadly, Queen Elizabeth II passed away, aged 96, on September 8, 2022. Later, when Haman planned to hang Mordecai, the king found out that it was Mordecai who had uncovered a plot to assassinate him, so he reversed the orders, hanged Haman instead and gave Mordecai the harem. A type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules). They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. It seems unlikely that Esther was ever Queen of Persia, so we can not say at what age Xerxes married her. holy Temple in Jersusalem. [7] See Elsie Sterns reading of Megillat Esther as a cautionary tale for Jews living in the Diaspora in her TABS essay, Megillat Esther: A Godless and Assimilated Diaspora.. The Scroll of Esther is read on Purim from a parchment scroll.Megillah13a). Josephus tells us that she was loved by the masses of the Jewish people (Jewish Antiquities 13:407). The situation was even more serious according to the tradition that Esther was married to Mordecai (the Babylonian tradition), for then, as a married woman, she committed adultery. Her bravery earns her a spot among the seven women prophets, and she is remembered as the one responsible for the deliverance of Israel. The historical reality of this biblical episode, and whether or not Esther actually existed, has often been questioned. Esther retorted, "Without Jews, who needs Passover?". When Esther is chosen as the queen, unknown to her, Mordecai discovers a plan by the kings wicked advisor, Haman, to kill all the Jews. It is a remarkable moment in Jewish history, in which we can see one of the times when Jews were connecting to each other from Jerusalem to the Diaspora and establishing the holidays that we take for granted today.