📖 Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 49
Chapter 49 of Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer
Verses
Verse 1
רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַאי אוֹמֵר: רָצָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְהַכְרִית וּלְהַשְׁמִיד אֶת כָּל זֶרַע עֲמָלֵק, וְשָׁלַח לְשָׁאוּל בֶּן קִישׁ לְהַכְרִית וּלְהַשְׁמִיד כָּל זַרְעוֹ שֶׁל עֲמָלֵק. וְשָׁאוּל וְהָעָם שָׁמְעוּ וְלֹא חָסוּ עַל אָדָם בָּזוּי אֶלָּא עַל אֲגַג, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיַּחְמֹל שָׁאוּל וְהָעָם״. שָׁמַע שְׁמוּאֵל וַיֵּצֵא לִקְרָאתָם וְאָמַר לָהֶם: ״חֲמַלְתֶּם בַּעֲמָלֵק וְהוֹתַרְתֶּם שָׂרִיד מִמֶּנּוּ, וּמֵיטַב הַצֹּאן וְהַבָּקָר״. אָמְרוּ: ״הַצֹּאן וְהַבָּקָר לַעֲשׂוֹת בּוֹ זְבָחִים לֵאלֹהֶיךָ״. אָמַר לָהֶם: ״אֵין חֵפֶץ לַמָּקוֹם בְּעוֹלוֹת וּזְבָחִים, כִּי אִם לִשְׁמֹעַ בְּקוֹלוֹ וְלַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנוֹ״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל הַחֵפֶץ לַה' בְּעֹלוֹת הִנֵּה שְׁמֹעַ מִזֶּבַח טוֹב״.
THE SEED OF AMALEK || RABBI SIMEON, son of Jochai, said: The Holy One, blessed be He, wished to destroy and to cut off all the seed of Amalek. He sent to Saul, the son of Kish, to destroy and to cut off all the seed of Amalek. Saul and the people heard, and did not spare any vile man except Agag, as it is said, "But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen" (1 Sam. 15:9). Samuel heard (thereof), and he went to meet them, and he said to them: Ye have spared Amalek, and ye have left over a remnant of him. They said to him: The sheep and the oxen are for sacrifices unto thy God. (Samuel) said to (Saul): The Omnipresent hath no delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, but only in obeying His voice and in doing His will, as it is said, "And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams" (1 Sam. 15:22).
Verse 2
רַבִּי פִּנְחָס אוֹמֵר: צָפָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁעָתִיד לַעֲמֹד מֵאֲגַג אִישׁ צַר וְאוֹיֵב גָּדוֹל לַיְּהוּדִים, וְאֵי זֶה הוּא? זֶה הָמָן בֶּן הַמְּדָתָא הָאֲגָגִי צוֹרֵר כָּל הַיְּהוּדִים. וּמִזֶּרַע שָׁאוּל גּוֹאֵל וְנוֹקֵם לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאֵי זֶה הוּא? זֶה מָרְדְּכַי בֶּן יָאִיר בֶּן שִׁמְעִי בֶּן קִישׁ אִישׁ יְמִינִי.
Rabbi Phineas said: The Holy One, blessed be He, saw that in the future there would arise from Agag a man, a great enemy and adversary of the Jews. Who was this? This was Haman, as it is said, "Because Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews" (Esth. 9:24). From the seed of Saul (arose) an avenger and a redeemer for Israel, (who delivered them) out of the hand of Haman. Who was this? This was Mordecai, as it is said, "There was a certain Jew in Shushan, the capital, whose name was Mordecai… the son of Kish, a Benjamite" (Esth. 2:5).
Verse 3
וְשָׁם עָמַד שְׁמוּאֵל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, מִתְפַּלֵּל וְאוֹמֵר: רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים! אַל תִּשְׁכַּח חֲטָאַת עֵשָׂו שֶׁעָשָׂה לְאָבִיו, שֶׁלָּקַח נָשִׁים נָכְרִיּוֹת מְזַבְּחוֹת וּמְקַטְּרוֹת לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, לְמָרֵר שְׁנֵי חַיֵּי אֲבוֹתָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַתִּהְיֶיןָ מֹרַת רוּחַ לְיִצְחָק וּלְרִבְקָה״. זְכֹר חֲטָאָתוֹ עַל בָּנָיו וְעַל בְּנֵי בָנָיו עַד סוֹף כָּל הַדּוֹרוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״יִזָּכֵר עֲוֹן אֲבֹתָיו אֶל ה' וְחַטַּאת אִמּוֹ אַל תִּמָּח״. וְשָׁמַע שָׁאוּל אֶת קוֹל אֲגָג לוֹחֵשׁ בְּפִיו וְאוֹמֵר: אֶפְשָׁר סָר מִמֶּנִּי מַר הַמָּוֶת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אָכֵן סָר מַר הַמָּוֶת״. אָמַר לוֹ שְׁמוּאֵל: כְּשֵׁם שֶׁשִּׁכְּלָה חֶרֶב עֲמָלֵק זְקֵנֶיךָ אֶת בַּחוּרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֲחוֹרֵי הֶעָנָן וַיֵּשְׁבוּ נְשֵׁיהֶם שְׁכוּלוֹת וְאַלְמָנוֹת, (וּ)כִתְפִלַּת אֶסְתֵּר וְנַעֲרוֹתֶיהָ נֶהֶרְגוּ כָּל בְּנֵי עֲמָלֵק וַיֵּשְׁבוּ נְשֵׁיהֶם שְׁכוּלוֹת וְאַלְמָנוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל כַּאֲשֶׁר שִׁכְּלָה נָשִׁים חַרְבֶּךָ״ וְכוּ'.
And there stood Samuel before the Holy One, blessed be He, and he said: Sovereign of all the Universe ! Do not forget the sin which Esau did to his father, || for he took strange women (for his wives), who offered sacrifices and burnt incense to idols, to embitter the years of the life of his parents. Remember his sin unto his sons and unto his grandsons unto the end of all generations, as it is said, "Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the Lord" (Ps. 109:14). Samuel heard the voice of Agag muttering with his mouth, saying: Perhaps the bitterness of the evil death has passed from me, as it is said, "And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past" (1 Sam. 15:32). Samuel said to him: Just as the sword of Amalek thy ancestor consumed the young men of Israel who were outside the cloud, so that their women dwelt (as) childless women and widows, so by the prayer of the women all the sons of Amalek shall be slain, and their women shall dwell (as) childless women and widows. And by the prayer of Esther and her maidens all the sons of Amalek were slain and their women remained childless and widowed, as it is said, "And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women" (1 Sam. 15:33).
Verse 4
תְּפִלַּת שְׁמוּאֵל שִׁבְּרָה אֶת חֵילָם שֶׁל בְּנֵי אֲגָג מֵעַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְשַׁסֵּף שְׁמוּאֵל אֶת אֲגָג לִפְנֵי ה' בַּגִּלְגָּל״.
The prayer of Samuel destroyed the power of the children of Agag against Israel, as it is said, "And Samuel broke Agag before the Lord in Gilgal" (ibid.).
Verse 5
(אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״עָשָׂה שְׁלִיחוּתִי״) [בְּכָל הוּא עוֹשֶׂה שְׁלִיחוּתוֹ,] בַּגְּבוֹהִים הוּא שׁוֹלֵחַ עֲלֵיהֶם דְּבָרִים נְמוּכִים לְהוֹדִיעָם שֶׁאֵין כֹּחַ גְּבוּרָתָם מְאוּמָה. טִיטוּס הָרָשָׁע נִכְנַס לְבֵית קָדְשֵׁי הַקֳּדָשִׁים וְאָמַר: ״אֵין צַר וְאוֹיֵב יָכוֹל לַעֲמֹד לְפָנַי״. מֶה עָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא? שָׁלַח יַתּוּשׁ אֶחָד וְנִכְנַס בְּחוֹטְמוֹ וְהָיָה מְהַלֵּךְ וְאוֹכֵל עַד שֶׁהִגִּיעַ לְמוֹחוֹ, וְנַעֲשָׂה אוֹתוֹ יַתּוּשׁ כְּמִין גּוֹזָל בֶּן יוֹנָה מִשְׁקַל שְׁנֵי לִיטְרִין, לְהוֹדִיעוֹ שֶׁאֵין כֹּחַ גְּבוּרָתוֹ מְאוּמָה. וְיִשְׂרָאֵל כְּשֶׁהָיוּ מְהַלְּכִים בְּבֵית קָדְשֵׁי הַקֳּדָשִׁים הָיוּ אוֹמְרִים: ״אֵין צַר וְאוֹיֵב יָכוֹל לַעֲמֹד בְּפָנֵינוּ״, מֶה עָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא? שָׁלַח עֲלֵיהֶם אִישׁ גָּבְהוֹ כְּבַרְהַמִּים נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר שְׁמוֹ כְּבַרְהַמִּים, לְהוֹדִיעוֹ כִּי לֹא בְכֹחַ יִגְבַּר אִישׁ.
The Holy One, blessed be He, said: He has made his attack against the heavenly beings, (and God) will send against them insignificant things, to teach them that the power of their might is nought. When Titus, the wicked, entered the Holy of Holies, he said: No adversary || or enemy can prevail against me. What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do to him? He sent a single gnat, and it went into his nostril, and it ate its way into his brain. That gnat became like a young pigeon, weighing two pounds, to teach him that there was nothing at all in the might of his power. When Israel walked in the Holy of Holies with a proud heart, and said: No adversary or enemy is able to stand before us. What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do to them? He sent against them a man, proud and like one sifting the sea, Nebuchadnezzar, whose name was Kabbīr Mayim (like one sifting the sea), to teach; "For by strength shall no man prevail" (1 Sam. 2:9).
Verse 6
רַבִּי חֲכִינַאי אוֹמֵר: לֹא נָתַן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא קִצְבָה לַמַּלְכֻיּוֹת אֶלָּא לְשִׁעְבּוּד מִצְרַיִם וּלְמַלְכוּת בָּבֶל. לְשִׁעְבּוּד מִצְרַיִם מִנַּיִן? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַעֲבָדוּם וְעִנּוּ אֹתָם אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה״. וְעָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּרֹב רַחֲמָיו וַחֲסָדָיו וְקִצֵּר חֶצְיָים – מָאתַיִם וְעֶשֶׂר שָׁנִים. מַלְכוּת בָּבֶל מִנַּיִן? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לְפִי מְלֹאת לְבָבֶל שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה״.
Rabbi Chakhinai said: The Holy One, blessed be He, set no limit to the kingdoms, except to the Egyptian bondage, and to the kingdom of Babylon. Whence do we know this about the Egyptian bondage? Because it is said, "And they shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years" (Gen. 15:13). The Holy One, blessed be He, dealt according to the abundance of His tender mercy, and He shortened (this time limit) by its half, 210 years. Whence do we know about the Babylonian kingdom? Because it is said, "For thus saith the Lord, After seventy years be accomplished for Babylon, I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place" (Jer. 29:10).
Verse 7
רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ אוֹמֵר: אַרְבָּעִים וְחָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים מָלַךְ נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר. תֵּדַע לְךָ שֶׁהוּא כֵּן, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁמָּלַךְ וְעָלָה לִירוּשָׁלַיִם וְכָבַשׁ אֶת יְהוֹיָקִים, וְאַחַד עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה מָלַךְ עַל מַלְכוּת צִדְקִיָּהוּ – הֲרֵי תְּשַׁע עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה עַד שֶׁלֹּא חָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ. וּמִשֶּׁחָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ – שִׁשָּׁה וְעֶשְׂרִים. תֵּדַע לְךָ שֶׁהוּא כֵּן, בֹּא וּרְאֵה: מִגָּלוּת יְהוֹיָכִין עַד שֶׁמָּלַךְ אֱוִיל מְרֹדַךְ בְּנוֹ – שְׁלֹשִׁים וָשֶׁבַע שָׁנָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְהִי בִשְׁלֹשִׁים וָשֶׁבַע שָׁנָה לְגָלוּת יְהוֹיָכִין מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה, בִּשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ בְּעֶשְׂרִים וְשִׁבְעָה לַחֹדֶשׁ, נָשָׂא אֱוִיל מְרֹדַךְ מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל בִּשְׁנַת מַלְכוּתוֹ אֶת רֹאשׁ יְהוֹיָכִין מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה וַיֹּצֵא אוֹתוֹ מִבֵּית הַכֶּלֶא״.
Rabbi Abbahu said: Forty-five years did Nebuchadnezzar reign. Know that it is so. In the year when he began to reign, he went up to Jerusalem, and conquered Jehoiakim, king of Judah, as it is said, "In the third year of the reign of || Jehoiakim, king of Judah, came Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem, and besieged it" (Dan. 1:1). For eight years he ruled over the kingdom of Jehoiakim, and eleven years Zedekiah ruled. (Behold,) nineteen years before he destroyed the Temple. (Thereafter he ruled) twenty-six years. Know that it is so. Come and see from the exile of Jehoiachin until his son Evil-Merodach reigned thirty-seven years elapsed, as it is said, "And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin, king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evil-Merodach, king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, did lift up the head of Jehoiachin, king of Judah, out of prison" (2 Kings 25:27).
Verse 8
רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן אוֹמֵר: סוֹף מַלְכֵי מָדַי וּפָרַס הָיָה אַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׂתָּא מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל, וּשְׁנַיִם וּשְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה מָלַךְ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּבְכָל זֹאת לֹא הָיִיתִי בִירוּשָׁלִָם, כִּי אִם לִמְלֹאות שְׁלֹשִׁים וּשְׁתַּיִם שָׁנָה לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׂתָּא מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל, וּלְקֵץ הַיָּמִים נִשְׁאַלְתִּי מִן הַמֶּלֶךְ״.
Rabbi Jonathan said: The last of the kings of Media was Artaxerxes, king of Babylon, and he reigned thirty-two years, as it is said, "But in all this time I was not in Jerusalem; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes, king of Babylon, I went unto the king" (Neh. 13:6).
Verse 9
אָמַר רַבִּי תַּחֲנָא: בֹּא וּרְאֵה עָשְׁרוֹ שֶׁל אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ, שֶׁהָיָה עָשִׁיר מִכָּל מַלְכֵי מָדַי וּפָרַס, וְעָלָיו הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר ״וְהָרְבִיעִי יַעֲשִׁיר עֹשֶׁר גָּדוֹל״. וּמַה הָיָה עָשְׁרוֹ שֶׁל אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ? שֶׁהֶעֱמִיד מִטּוֹת זָהָב וָכֶסֶף בִּרְחוֹב הָעִיר לְהַרְאוֹת לְכָל הָעַמִּים עָשְׁרוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״מִטּוֹת זָהָב וָכֶסֶף״. וְכָל כְּלֵי תַשְׁמִישָׁיו שֶׁל אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ לֹא הָיוּ בִּכְלֵי כֶסֶף אֶלָּא בִּכְלֵי זָהָב. וְהֵבִיא כְּלֵי בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, וְכָל כְּלֵי בֵיתוֹ כֻּלָּן הָיוּ מִשְׁתַּנִּין וְנַעֲשִׂין כְּעוֹפֶרֶת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וְכֵלִים מִכֵּלִים שׁוֹנִים״.
Rabbi Tachanah said: Come and see how wealthy Ahasuerus was, for he was wealthier than all the kings of Media and Persia, and concerning him the Scripture saith, "And the fourth shall be far richer than they all" (Dan. 11:2). What was the wealth of Ahasuerus? He erected couches of gold and silver in the streets of the city, to show all the peoples how rich he was, as it is said, "The couches were of gold and silver" (Esth. 1:6). All the vessels used by Ahasuerus were not vessels of silver, but vessels of gold. He brought the vessels of the Temple, and all the vessels of his palace were changed in appearance, so that they became like lead, as it is said, "The vessels being diverse one from another" (Esth. 1:7).
Verse 10
וְעַל רִצְפַּת פַּלְטֵרִין שֶׁלּוֹ הָיוּ אֲבָנִים טוֹבוֹת וּמַרְגָּלִיּוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״עַל רִצְפַּת בַּהַט וָשֵׁשׁ וְדַר וְסֹחָרֶת״.
All the pavement of his palace consisted of precious stones and pearls, || as it is said, "Upon a pavement of porphyry, and white marble, and alabaster, and stone of blue colour" (Esth. 1:6).
Verse 11
רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: חֲצִי שָׁנָה עָשָׂה אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ סְעוּדוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת לְכָל הָעַמִּים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״יָמִים רַבִּים שְׁמוֹנִים וּמְאַת יוֹם״. וְכָל עַם שֶׁהָיָה מַאֲכָלוֹ בְּטֻמְאָה – הָיָה נוֹתֵן מַאֲכָלוֹ בְּטֻמְאָה, וְכָל עַם שֶׁהָיָה מַאֲכָלוֹ בְּטָהֳרָה – הָיָה נוֹתֵן לוֹ מַאֲכָלוֹ בְּטָהֳרָה, לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר ״לַעֲשׂוֹת כִּרְצוֹן אִישׁ וָאִישׁ״.
Rabbi Eliezer said: For half the year Ahasuerus made great banquets for all the peoples, as it is said, "Many days, even an hundred and eighty days" (Esth. 1:4). Every people who ate its food in impurity, had its food provided in impurity, and every people who ate its food in purity had its food provided (according to the regulations of) purity, as it is said, "That they should do according to every man's pleasure" (Esth. 1:8).
Verse 12
רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: כָּל מִנְהָגָן שֶׁל מַלְכֵי מָדַי, כְּשֶׁהָיוּ אוֹכְלִין וְשׁוֹתִין, הָיוּ מְבִיאִין נְשֵׁיהֶם גְּלוּיוֹת בָּשָׂר עֶרְוָה, מְשַׂחֲקוֹת וּמְרַקְּדוֹת לְפָנִים וְלִרְאוֹת בְּיֹפִי תֹּאֲרָן. וּכְשֶׁנִּכְנַס יַיִן בְּלִבּוֹ שֶׁל אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ, בִּקֵּשׁ לַעֲשׂוֹת כֵּן לְוַשְׁתִּי הַמַּלְכָּה. וּבַת מְלָכִים הָיְתָה, וּבִקֵּשׁ שֶׁתָּבֹא לְפָנָיו עֲרֻמָּה. וְשָׁלְחָה לוֹ לֵאמֹר: ״אִישׁ שׁוֹטֶה וְשִׁכּוֹר! אִם אָבֹא לְפָנֶיךָ עֲרֻמָּה וְיִרְאוּ אוֹתִי בְּעֶרְוָה, יָבוּזוּ לְךָ בְּשֻׁלְחָנְךָ. וְאִם יִרְאוּ אוֹתִי שֶׁאֲנִי יְפַת תֹּאַר, אֶחָד מֵהַשָּׂרִים יַהֲרֹג אוֹתְךָ בִּשְׁעַת הַיַּיִן״. כְּשֶׁשָּׁמַע הַמֶּלֶךְ לִדְבָרֶיהָ, צִוָּה לְהָרְגָהּ. וּכְשֶׁיָּצָא הַיַּיִן מִלִּבּוֹ שֶׁל אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ, בִּקֵּשׁ לוֹ אֶת וַשְׁתִּי הַמַּלְכָּה וְלֹא מְצָאָהּ. הִגִּידוּ לוֹ הַשָּׂרִים הַגְּזֵרָה שֶׁגָּזַר עָלֶיהָ, וְהִתְחִיל וּבוֹכֶה עַל הַגְּזֵרָה שֶׁנִּגְזְרָה עָלֶיהָ. וְלָמָּה נִגְזְרָה עָלֶיהָ גְּזֵרָה זוֹ? שֶׁהָיְתָה מְבִיאָה בְּנוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲרֻמּוֹת וְעוֹשׂוֹת בָּהֶן מְלָאכָה בְּשַׁבָּת. וְעַל זֶה נִגְזַר עָלֶיהָ גְּזֵרָה שֶׁתִּשָּׁחֵט עֲרֻמָּה בְּשַׁבָּת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אֶת וַשְׁתִּי וְאֵת אֲשֶׁר עָשְׂתָה וְאֵת אֲשֶׁר נִגְזַר עָלֶיהָ״.
Rabbi José said: It was the universal custom of the kings of Media when they were eating and drinking to cause their women to come before them stark naked, playing and dancing, in order to see the beauty of their figures. When the wine entered the heart of Ahasuerus, he wished to act in this manner with Vashti the queen. She was the daughter of a king, and she was not willing to do this. He decreed concerning her, and she was slain. When the wine had passed from the heart of Ahasuerus, he sought after Vashti, but he did not find her. They told him of the deed which had been done, and (also) of the decree which had been ordained concerning her. Why was the decree passed against her? Because she used to make the daughters of Israel come and toil for her on Sabbaths, therefore was the decree ordained against her that she should be slain naked on the Sabbath, as it is said, "He remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her" (Esth. 2:1).
Verse 13
רַבִּי זְכַרְיָה אוֹמֵר: מְגַלְגְּלִין זְכוּת עַל יְדֵי זַכַּאי. עַל יַד דָּנִיֵּאל נִתְגַּלְגְּלָה מַלְכוּת אֶסְתֵּר, שֶׁאָמַר לַמֶּלֶךְ: אַל יִבְכֶּה עָלֶיהָ, שֶׁכָּל מַה שֶּׁעָשִׂיתָ כַּדָּת וְכַשּׁוּרָה עָשִׂיתָ, שֶׁכָּל הַמְקַיֵּם אֶת הַתּוֹרָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְקַיֵּם אֶת מַלְכוּתוֹ, שֶׁכָּךְ אָמְרָה תוֹרָה הָאִישׁ יִמְשֹׁל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וְהוּא יִמְשָׁל בָּךְ״. וְשָׁלַח הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּכָל הַמְּדִינוֹת לַעֲשׂוֹת כִּדְבָרָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״לִהְיוֹת כָּל אִישׁ שֹׂרֵר בְּבֵיתוֹ״. וְעוֹד אָמַר לַמֶּלֶךְ: ״יְבַקְשׁוּ לַמֶּלֶךְ נְעָרוֹת בְּתוּלוֹת טוֹבוֹת מַרְאֶה״, וְלֹא כָּל נְעָרוֹת אֶלָּא נְעָרוֹת יְפוֹת מַרְאֶה. ״וְהַנַּעֲרָה אֲשֶׁר תִּיטַב בְּעֵינָיו״ כְּתִיב כָּאן. וּכְתִיב לְהַלָּן ״וַתִּיטַב הַנַּעֲרָה בְּעֵינָיו״ – זוֹ אֶסְתֵּר, וְהִטָּה עָלֶיהָ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא חֵן וָחֶסֶד בְּעֵינֵי כָּל רוֹאֶיהָ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַתְּהִי אֶסְתֵּר נֹשֵׂאת חֵן בְּעֵינֵי כָּל רֹאֶיהָ״.
Rabbi Zechariah said: || Merit is transmitted by the hand of the worthy. By the hand of Daniel the sovereignty was transferred to Esther, because he said to the king, Let not the king weep, since all that thou hast done thou hast done according to the Torah. And whosoever keeps the Torah, the Holy One, blessed be He, preserves his kingdom; for thus the Torah says that the man shall rule his wife, as it is said, "And he shall rule over thee" (Gen. 3:16). The king sent in all the provinces to do according to his words, as it is said, "That every man should bear rule in his own house" (Esth. 1:22). He also said to the king: "Let there be sought for the king fair young virgins" (Esth. 2:2). Not "all young virgins," but "fair young virgins." "And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti" (Esth. 2:4); and it is written elsewhere, "And the maiden pleased him" (Esth. 2:9). This refers to Esther. The Holy One, blessed be He, invested her with grace and love in the eyes of all who saw her. "And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her" (Esth. 2:15 ).