📖 Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 50
Chapter 50 of Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer
Verses
Verse 1
״אִישׁ יְהוּדִי הָיָה בְּשׁוּשַׁן הַבִּירָה״ (אסתר ב, ה), רַבִּי שְׁמַעְיָה אוֹמֵר: וְכִי לֹא הָיָה בְּשׁוּשַׁן הַבִּירָה יְהוּדִי אֶלָּא מָרְדְּכַי בִּלְבַד? וַהֲא כְּתִיב ״וְהַיְּהוּדִים אֲשֶׁר בְּשׁוּשָׁן״! אִם כֵּן הָיוּ יְהוּדִים בְּשׁוּשָׁן זוּלַת מָרְדְּכַי, אֶלָּא שֶׁהָיָה בֶּן אֲבוֹת אַבְטִינָס שֶׁהָיָה מִזֶּרַע הַמְּלוּכָה וְהָיָה עוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה, לְפִיכָךְ נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ יְהוּדִי.
HAMAN "THERE was a certain Jew in Shushan, the capital, whose name was Mordecai" (Esth. 2:5). Rabbi Shema'iah said: Was there then no other Jew in Shushan, the capital, except Mordecai alone? Lo! it is written, "And the Jews that were in Shushan" (Esth. 9:15). But because he was a Jew, and a direct descendant of the patriarchs and also of the royal seed, and he was engaged in (the study of) the Torah all his days, and he was not defiled by any forbidden food in his mouth, therefore was his name called "a Jew."
Verse 2
וּשְׁמוֹ מָרְדֳּכַי, שֶׁהָיְתָה תְּפִלָּתוֹ נִכְנֶסֶת לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כְּרֵיחַ מֹר דְּרוֹר. בֶּן יָאִיר, שֶׁהָיָה מֵאִיר פָּנִים בַּהֲלָכָה. בֶּן שִׁמְעִי, שֶׁיָּצָא לְקַלֵּל אֶת דָּוִד. בֶּן קִישׁ, [שֶׁהִקִּישׁ עַל דַּלְתֵי רַחֲמִים וְנִפְתְּחוּ לוֹ]. אִישׁ יְמִינִי, מִזֶּרַע מְיַמְּנִים וּמַשְׂמְאִילִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (וּבְנֵי בִנְיָמִין) [בְּנֵי אֶפְרַיִם] נוֹשְׁקֵי רוֹמֵי קָשֶׁת (תהלים עח, ט).
"Whose name was Mordecai" (Esth. 2:5), because his prayer || ascended before the Holy One, blessed be He, like the scent of pure myrrh (טר לכי). "The son of Jair" (ibid.), because he enlightened (Mair) the faces (of the scholars) in Halakhah. "The son of Shimei" (ibid.), who went forth to curse David. "The son of Kish" (ibid.), of the seed of those who could use both the right hand and the left, as it is said, "The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows" (Ps. 78:9).
Verse 3
רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: בֹּא וּרְאֵה חָכְמָתוֹ שֶׁל מָרְדְּכַי שֶׁהָיָה יוֹדֵעַ שִׁבְעִים לָשׁוֹן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״הַבָּאִים עִם זְרֻבָּבֶל יֵשׁוּעַ נְחֶמְיָה מָרְדֳּכַי בִּלְשָׁן״. וְהָיָה יוֹשֵׁב בְּשַׁעַר הַמֶּלֶךְ לִרְאוֹת שֶׁלֹּא תִּטְמָא אֶסְתֵּר וְנַעֲרוֹתֶיהָ בְּכָל מַאֲכָל טָמֵא, וְשָׁמַע שְׁנֵי סָרִיסֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ מְדַבְּרִים בִּלְשׁוֹן כַּשְׂדִּים וְאוֹמְרִים: ״עַכְשָׁו יִשְׁכַּב הַמֶּלֶךְ עַל מִשְׁכַּב הַצָּהֳרַיִם וּכְשֶׁיָּקוּם וְיֹאמַר תְּנוּ לִי מְעַט מַיִם, נִתֵּן בְּקִיתוֹן שֶׁל זָהָב סַם הַמָּוֶת וְהוּא יִשְׁתֶּה וְיָמוּת״. וְשָׁמַע מָרְדְּכַי וְנִכְנַס וְהִגִּיד לְאֶסְתֵּר הַמַּלְכָּה, וְאֶסְתֵּר הִגִּידָה לַמֶּלֶךְ בְּשֵׁם מָרְדְּכָי. מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ: כָּל הָאוֹמֵר דָּבָר בְּשֵׁם אוֹמְרוֹ מֵבִיא גְּאֻלָּה לָעוֹלָם.
Rabbi Simeon said: Come and see the wisdom of Mordecai, for he knew seventy languages, as it is said, "Which came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua… Mordecai, Bilshan" (Ezra 2:2), and he sat in the gates of the king to see that Esther and her maidens should not become defiled by any kind of unclean food. He heard the two eunuchs of the king speaking in the language of the Chaldees, saying: Now will the king take the afternoon sleep, and when he arises he will say, Give me a little water; let a deadly poison be given to him in the golden vessel, and he will drink thereof and die. Mordecai went in and told Esther. Now Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai, as it is said, "And Esther told the king in Mordecai's name" (Esth. 2:22). Hence (the Wise Men) have said: Whosoever tells a matter in the name of its author brings redemption into the world.
Verse 4
וּכְשֶׁעָמַד הַמֶּלֶךְ מִשְּׁנָתוֹ אָמַר לִשְׁנֵי סָרִיסָיו הַנְּהוּגִים לְהַשְׁקוֹתוֹ, ״תְּנוּ לִי מְעַט מַיִם״, וְהֵבִיאוּ קִיתוֹן שֶׁל זָהָב וְסַם הַמָּוֶת בְּתוֹכוֹ. אָמַר לָהֶם, ״שִׁפְכוּ הַמַּיִם לְפָנַי״. אָמְרוּ לוֹ, ״אֲדוֹנֵנוּ הַמֶּלֶךְ הֵם מַיִם בְּרוּרִים טוֹבִים וְיָפִים וְלָמָּה נִשְׁפְּכֵם לְפָנֶיךָ?״ אָמַר לָהֶם, ״כָּךְ עָלְתָה בְלִבִּי לְשָׁפְכָן לְפָנַי״. וְשָׁפְכוּ אֶת הַמַּיִם לְפָנָיו וּמָצָא סַם הַמָּוֶת בְּתוֹכָם וְצִוָּה לִתְלוֹתָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיִּתָּלוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם עַל עֵץ״, וְנִתְלוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם עַל עֵץ אֶחָד זֶה אַחַר זֶה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״עַל עֵץ״, וְאֵין כָּתוּב ״עַל עֵצִים״. וְכָל דָּבָר שֶׁאֵין עוֹשִׂין לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ הָיוּ כּוֹתְבִין לְפָנָיו וּמַנִּיחִים בְּאַחְמְתָא שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ. וּכְשֶׁיִּרְצֶה הַמֶּלֶךְ לִרְאוֹת מַה שֶּׁעָבְרוּ עָלָיו קוֹרְאִין בַּסְּפָרִים וְהוּא יוֹדֵעַ מַה שֶּׁעָבְרוּ עָלָיו, וְכָתְבוּ אֶת הַדָּבָר שֶׁהִגִּיד מָרְדֳּכַי (לְאֶסְתֵּר) עַל סֵפֶר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיִּכָּתֵב בְּסֵפֶר דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים״.
When the king arose from his sleep, he said to his servants, his eunuchs, who were wont to give him something to drink: Give me a little water. They brought him the golden jug, and a deadly poison || was therein. He said to them: Pour out the water before me. They said to him: O our lord, O king, this water is excellent, good, even choice. Why should we pour it out before thee? He said to them: Thus have I resolved to have it poured out before me. They poured it out before him, and he found therein the deadly poison, and he commanded that they should be hanged, as it is said, "They were both hanged on a tree" (Esth. 2:23). They were both hanged on one tree, one after the other, as it is said, "Upon a tree" (ibid.); it is not written, "Upon trees." All affairs which were enacted before the king they wrote before him, and they placed it in the king's box, and when the king wished to discover what had happened to him they read the documents, and he knew what had happened to him. So they wrote in the book the word which Mordecai had told, as it is said, "And it was written in the book of the chronicles" (ibid.).
Verse 5
רַבִּי פִּנְחָס אוֹמֵר: שְׁנֵי עֲשִׁירִים עָמְדוּ בָּעוֹלָם, אֶחָד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֶחָד בְּאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם. קֹרַח בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וְהָמָן בְּאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם. קֹרַח שֶׁמָּצָא אוֹצָרוֹת שֶׁל זָהָב שֶׁל יוֹסֵף, וְהָמָן שֶׁלָּקַח כָּל אוֹצָרוֹת שֶׁל מַלְכֵי יְהוּדָה וְאֶת כָּל אוֹצָרוֹת שֶׁל קָדְשֵׁי הַקֳּדָשִׁים. וְרָאָה הַמֶּלֶךְ עָשְׁרוֹ וַעֲשֶׂרֶת בָּנָיו סוֹפְרִים וְכוֹתְבִין נוֹטְרִין לְפָנָיו, וְרָצָה הַמֶּלֶךְ לְגַדְּלוֹ וּלְרוֹמְמוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״גִּדַּל הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ אֶת הָמָן בֶּן הַמְּדָתָא״. וְצִוָּה הַמֶּלֶךְ לִהְיוֹת כָּל עַם וָעַם כּוֹרְעִים וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוִים לְפָנָיו. מֶה עָשָׂה הָמָן? עָשָׂה לוֹ צֶלֶם מְרֻקָּם עַל בִּגְדוֹ וְעַל לִבּוֹ, וְכָל מִי שֶׁהָיָה מִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לְהָמָן מִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שֶׁעָשָׂה. וְרָאָה מָרְדֳּכַי וְלֹא קִבֵּל לְהִשְׁתַּחֲווֹת לַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּמָרְדֳּכַי לֹא יִכְרַע וְלֹא יִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה״. וְנִתְמַלֵּא עָלָיו חֵמָה וְאָמַר: ״הַיְּהוּדִים הַלָּלוּ שׂוֹנְאֵי אֲבוֹתַי הָיוּ מֵעוֹלָם, עַכְשָׁו אוֹמַר לַמֶּלֶךְ וִיאַבְּדֵם מִן הָעוֹלָם״. וְנִכְנַס הָמָן לִפְנֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ וְאָמַר לוֹ: ״אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ, יֶשְׁנוֹ עַם אֶחָד מְפֻזָּר וּמְפֹרָד בֵּין הָעַמִּים וְאֵינָם טוֹבִים לְךָ וְאֵינָם עוֹשִׂים רְצוֹנְךָ, וְלַמֶּלֶךְ אֵין שׁוֹוֶה לְהַנִּיחָם. אִם עַל הַמֶּלֶךְ טוֹב, קַח הַחֲצִי מִמָּמוֹנִי וְתֵן לִי רְשׁוּת עֲלֵיהֶם״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אִם עַל הַמֶּלֶךְ טוֹב יִכָּתֵב לְאַבְּדָם״. אָמַר לוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ: ״הֲרֵי הֵם נְתוּנִים לְךָ בְּחִנָּם וְהַמָּמוֹן שֶׁאַתָּה נוֹתֵן אֵלַי בַּעֲבוּרָם יִהְיֶה שֶׁלְּךָ״. וְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ צוֹוַחַת וְאוֹמֶרֶת: ״כֹּה אָמַר ה', חִנָּם נִמְכַּרְתֶּם וְלֹא בְכֶסֶף תִּגָּאֵלוּ״.
Rabbi Phineas said: Two wealthy men arose in the world, one in Israel and one among the nations of the world, Korah in Israel, and Haman among the nations of the world, who took the treasures of the kings of Judah. (When) the king saw his wealth and his ten sons keeping guard before him, he exalted him, and aggrandized him, as it is said, "After || these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman, the son of Hammedatha" (Esth. 3:1). The king commanded concerning him that all the people should bow down and show reverence to him. What did Haman do? He made for himself an image of an idol, and had it embroidered upon his dress, above his heart, so that everyone who bowed down to Haman also bowed down to the idol which he had made. Mordecai saw this, and did not consent to bow down to the idol, as it is said, "But Mordecai bowed not down, nor did him reverence" (Esth. 3:2); and (Haman) was full of wrath against him, and said: These Jews hated my forefathers from of old, and now will I say to the king that he should destroy them from the world. Haman entered before Ahasuerus, and said to him: O my lord, O king, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom" (Esth. 3:8), and they are of no benefit to thee and do not obey thee, and they do not perform thy will, and it is not for the king's profit to suffer them. If it please the king, accept half of my wealth and give me power over them, as it is said, "If it please the king, let it be written that they be destroyed" (Esth. 3:9). (The king) said to him: Behold, they are given into thy hand for nought, as it is said, "And the king said to Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also" (Esth. 3:11). The Holy Spirit cried out, saying: "Thus saith the Lord, Ye were sold for nought, || and ye shall be redeemed without money" (Isa. 52:3).
Verse 6
רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: אִיסְטְרַטְלָטוֹס הָיָה הָמָן, וְכָתַב אִגְּרוֹת פִּתְקִין וְהִפִּיל גּוֹרָלוֹת עַל הַמַּזָּלוֹת לֵידַע בֵּין יוֹם לְיוֹם, בֵּין חֹדֶשׁ לְחֹדֶשׁ, בֵּין מַזָּל לְמַזָּל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הִפִּיל פּוּר הוּא הַגּוֹרָל״. וְכָתַב אִגְּרוֹת וְשָׁלַח בְּכָל הַמְּדִינוֹת לְהַשְׁמִיד לַהֲרֹג אֶת כָּל הַיְּהוּדִים מִנַּעַר וְעַד זָקֵן טַף וְנָשִׁים בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה עָשָׂר לְחֹדֶשׁ אֲדָר בְּיוֹם שְׁלִישִׁי בְּמַזַּל אַרְיֵה. וְשָׁמַע מָרְדֳּכַי וְקָרַע אֶת בְּגָדָיו וְלָבַשׁ שַׂק וָאֵפֶר וַיֵּצֵא בִּרְחוֹב הָעִיר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּמָרְדֳּכַי יָדַע״. וְהָיָה צוֹעֵק וּבוֹכֶה וְאוֹמֵר לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ לְהַרְבּוֹת אֶת זַרְעָם כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם וְכַחוֹל אֲשֶׁר עַל שְׂפַת הַיָּם, וְעַתָּה נָתַתָּ אוֹתָנוּ כַּצֹּאן לַטִּבְחָה. זְכֹר לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּלְיַעֲקֹב אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ לָהֶם בְּךָ לְהַרְבּוֹת אֶת זַרְעָם כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם״. שָׁמְעָה אֶסְתֵּר וְתָשַׁשׁ כֹּחָהּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַתִּתְחַלְחַל הַמַּלְכָּה מְאֹד״. שָׁלְחָה וְקָרְאָה לַהֲתָךְ נֶאֱמַן בֵּיתָהּ לֵידַע מַה נַּעֲשָׂה לְמָרְדֳּכָי. וַיֵּצֵא הֲתָךְ לְמָרְדֳּכָי וַיַּגֵּד לוֹ אֶת הַדָּבָר. וְנִכְנַס הֲתָךְ וְהִגִּיד לְאֶסְתֵּר. וְרָאָה הָמָן יוֹצֵא וּבָא לַהֲתָךְ וַהֲרָגוֹ. וְלֹא מָצְאָה אֶסְתֵּר אִישׁ נֶאֱמָן אַחֵר לִשְׁלֹחַ אוֹתוֹ אֶל מָרְדֳּכָי. וְאָמְרָה הִיא בְּנַפְשָׁהּ לָבֹא אֶל מָרְדֳּכָי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַתֹּאמֶר אֶסְתֵּר לְהָשִׁיב אֶל מָרְדֳּכָי״. אָמְרָה לוֹ: ״לֵךְ כְּנוֹס אֶת כָּל הַיְּהוּדִים הַנִּמְצָאִים בְּשׁוּשָׁן וְצוּמוּ עָלַי וְאַל תֹּאכְלוּ וְאַל תִּשְׁתּוּ שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים לַיְלָה וָיוֹם״. וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: י״ג בְּנִיסָן, י״ד בְּנִיסָן, ט״ו בְּנִיסָן. אָמַר לָהּ מָרְדֳּכָי: ״וַהֲלֹא יוֹם שְׁלִישִׁי הוּא יוֹם רִאשׁוֹן שֶׁל פֶּסַח?״ אָמְרָה לוֹ: ״זָקֵן שֶׁבְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וְאַתָּה רֹאשׁ לַסַּנְהֶדְרִין וְאַתָּה אוֹמֵר דָּבָר זֶה? וְאִם אֵין יִשְׂרָאֵל לַעֲשׂוֹת הַפֶּסַח, לְמִי הוּא פֶּסַח?״ וְשָׁמַע מָרְדֳּכַי אֶת דְּבָרֶיהָ וְהוֹדָה לָהּ מָרְדֳּכַי וְעָשָׂה לָהּ כָּל אֲשֶׁר צִוְּתָהוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיַּעֲבֹר מָרְדֳּכַי וַיַּעַשׂ כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר צִוְּתָה עָלָיו אֶסְתֵּר״. מַה הוּא לְשׁוֹן ״וַיַּעֲבֹר מָרְדֳּכַי״? מְלַמֵּד שֶׁעָבַר יוֹם רִאשׁוֹן שֶׁל פֶּסַח בְּלֹא אֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה. בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי לָבְשָׁה אֶסְתֵּר בִּגְדֵי מַלְכוּת וְשָׁלְחָה וְקָרְאָה לַמֶּלֶךְ וּלְהָמָן לִסְעוּדָה שֶׁעָשְׂתָה בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר בְּנִיסָן. כֵּיוָן שֶׁאָכְלוּ וְשָׁתוּ, אָמַר הָמָן בְּלִבּוֹ: ״הַמֶּלֶךְ מְגַדֵּל אוֹתִי וְהַמַּלְכָּה מְרוֹמֶמֶת אוֹתִי וְאֵין גָּדוֹל מִמֶּנִּי בְּכָל מַלְכוּתוֹ״. וְשָׂמַח בְּלִבּוֹ הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֵּצֵא הָמָן בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא שָׂמֵחַ וְטוֹב לֵב״.
Rabbi José said: Haman was an astrologer, and he wrote letters on slips, and cast lots by the constellations to know the distinction between one day and another, and between one month and another, and between one constellation and another, as it is said, "They cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month" (Esth. 3:7). He wrote and sent throughout all the provinces to destroy and to slay and to exterminate all the Jews on the thirteenth day of the month Adar, on the third day in the constellation Leo. Mordecai heard (thereof), and rent his garments, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and he went forth into the midst of the city, as it is said, "And Mordecai knew all that was done" (Esth. 4:1); and he cried before the Holy One, blessed be He, saying: Sovereign of all the worlds ! Thou didst swear to our fore-fathers to multiply their seed like the stars of the heaven, and now hast Thou given them like sheep to the slaughter. "Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel… to whom thou swarest… I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven" (Ex. 32:13). Esther heard (thereof), and her strength failed, as it is said, "And the queen was exceedingly enfeebled" (Esth. 4:4). She sent and called for Hathach, the trusty (servant) of her household, to know what had been done to Mordecai. Hathach went forth to Mordecai, who told him the words. (Hathach) went in and told Esther. Haman saw Hathach coming and returning, and he slew him, and Esther did not find another man faithful enough to send to Mordecai. She said that it was her || desire to return answer to Mordecai. She said to him, "Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days" (Esth. 4:16). These (days) were the thirteenth, the fourteenth, and the fifteenth of Nisan. Mordecai said to her: Is not the third day (of the fast) the day of Passover? She said to him: Thou art the elder in Israel. If there be no Israel, wherefore is the Passover? Mordecai hearkened to her words, and he agreed with her. "So Mordecai transgressed" (Esth. 4:17). What is the meaning of the expression, "So he transgressed"? That he transgressed the festivals and Sabbaths. On the third day (of the fast) Esther put on the royal apparel, and sent and invited the king and Haman to the banquet which she had prepared on the fifteenth of Nisan. When they had eaten and drunk, Haman said: The king exalts me, and his wife aggrandizes me, and there is none greater than I am in all the kingdoms; and Haman rejoiced very much in his heart, as it is said, "Then went Haman forth that day, joyful and glad of heart" (Esth. 5:9).
Verse 7
בַּלַּיְלָה הַהוּא נָדְדָה שְׁנַת הַמֶּלֶךְ, וְאוֹתָהּ הַלַּיְלָה נָד כִּסְאוֹ שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וְנָדְדָה הַמֶּלֶךְ שֶׁבָּאָרֶץ וְעָמַד מִשְּׁנָתוֹ, שֶׁרָאָה בַּחֲלוֹמוֹ לְהָמָן שֶׁנָּטַל אֶת הַסַּיִף לְהָרְגוֹ וְנִבְהַל וְעָמַד מִשְּׁנָתוֹ, וְאָמַר לִבְנֵי הָמָן שַׁמְשַׁי וְסָפְרֵי כּוֹתְבֵי סִפְרֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ: ״לִקְרוֹת בַּסְּפָרִים וְלִרְאוֹת וְלֵידַע מַה שֶּׁעָבְרוּ עָלָיו״. וּפָתְחוּ הַסְּפָרִים וַיִּמְצְאוּ הַדָּבָר שֶׁהִגִּיד מָרְדֳּכַי, וְלֹא הָיוּ רוֹצִים לִקְרוֹת אוֹתָהּ, וְהָיוּ גּוֹלְלִין אֶת הַסְּפָרִים. אָמַר לָהֶם הַמֶּלֶךְ: ״קִרְאוּ מַה שֶּׁכָּתוּב לִפְנֵיכֶם!״ וְלֹא הָיוּ רוֹצִין לִקְרוֹת, וְהַכְּתוּבִין הֵם נִקְרָאִים לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ מֵאֲלֵיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּהְיוּ נִקְרָאִים לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ״. וַיִּהְיוּ קוֹרְאִין [אֵין] כָּתוּב כָּאן, אֶלָּא ״וַיִּהְיוּ נִקְרָאִים״. אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ לַעֲבָדָיו: ״קִרְאוּ לִי לְהָמָן״. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: ״הֲרֵי הוּא עוֹמֵד בַּחוּץ״. אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ: ״יָבֹא וְיִכָּנֵס לְפָנַי״. וּבָא הָמָן לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ, אָמַר לוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ: ״אֲנִי רוֹצֶה לְגַדֵּל וּלְרוֹמֵם לְאִישׁ אֶחָד שֶׁנָּתַן אֵלַי הַחַיּוֹת, מַה לַּעֲשׂוֹת לוֹ?״ אָמַר הָמָן בְּלִבּוֹ: ״אִי״ן אֵין חֵפֶץ הַמֶּלֶךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת יְקָר וּגְדֻלָּה יוֹתֵר מִמֶּנִּי״, וְכָל זַרְעוֹ שֶׁל עֲמָלֵק אֵין מְגַלִּין הַסּוֹד בְּפִיהֶם וְאוֹמְרִים בְּלִבָּן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֹּאמֶר הָמָן בְּלִבּוֹ״. אָמַר הָמָן: ״אֲדַבֵּר דְּבָרִים שֶׁאֶהְיֶה מֶלֶךְ כְּמוֹהוּ״. אָמַר לוֹ: ״אִם רָצִיתָ לַעֲשׂוֹת יְקָר לְאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר הַמֶּלֶךְ חָפֵץ בִּיקָרוֹ, יָבִיאוּ לְבוּשׁ מַלְכוּת אֲשֶׁר לָבַשׁ בּוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּיוֹם שֶׁהִמְלִיכוּךָ, וְסוּס שֶׁרָכַבְתָּ בּוֹ בְּיוֹם שֶׁמָּלַכְתָּ, וְאֶת הַכֶּתֶר שֶׁנָּתַן בְּרֹאשְׁךָ בְּיוֹם שֶׁמָּלַכְתָּ״. וְכָעַס הַמֶּלֶךְ עַל הַכֶּתֶר הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד, אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ: ״הָרָשָׁע הַזֶּה לֹא דַּיּוֹ שֶׁאָמַר אֵלַי עַל הַמַּלְבּוּשׁ וְעַל הַסּוּס, אֶלָּא אַף עַל הַכֶּתֶר שֶׁבְּרֹאשִׁי? אִם כֵּן מַה הִנִּיחַ לִי?״ כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאָה הָמָן שֶׁכָּעַס הַמֶּלֶךְ עַל הַכֶּתֶר, חָזַר וְאָמַר: ״וְנָתוֹן הַלְּבוּשׁ וְהַסּוּס עַל יַד אִישׁ מִשָּׂרֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ הַפַּרְתְּמִים״. אָמַר לוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ: ״צֵא וַעֲשֵׂה כֵן לְמָרְדֳּכַי״. שָׁמַע הָמָן וְנִבְהַל וְאָמַר לוֹ: ״אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ, הַרְבֵּה מָרְדֳּכַי יֵשׁ!״ אָמַר לוֹ: ״מָרְדֳּכַי הַיְּהוּדִי״. אָמַר לוֹ: ״יֵשׁ יְהוּדִים הַרְבֵּה!״ אָמַר לוֹ: ״הַיּוֹשֵׁב בְּשַׁעַר הַמֶּלֶךְ״. אָמַר לוֹ: ״אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ, לֹא הָיִיתִי סָבוּר כִּי אִם עַל שַׂר גָּדוֹל הָיִיתָ אוֹמֵר, לָזֶה תֵּן לוֹ שָׂדוֹת וּכְרָמִים וְדַיּוֹ, אֲבָל לָזֶה מַה יּוֹעִיל לוֹ?״ אָמַר לוֹ: ״עֲשֵׂה כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ, וְגַם אֲנִי יָכוֹל לָתֵת לוֹ כָּל מַה שֶּׁגָּזַרְתָּ״. אָמַר לוֹ: ״אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ, אֶתֵּן לְךָ אֶחָד מִבָּנַי הַגְּדוֹלִים וְיַעֲשֶׂה לוֹ כְּכָל מַה שֶּׁגָּזַרְתָּ עָלַי״. אָמַר לוֹ: ״חַיֵּי רֹאשִׁי וּמַלְכוּתִי! לְךָ נָאֶה לַעֲשׂוֹת כֵּן״.
"On that night the king's sleep fled" (Esth. 6:1). That night the throne of the King who is King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He, became unsteady, because He saw that Israel was in great distress. The sleep of the king on earth fled, for he had seen in his dream Haman taking the sword to slay him; || and he became agitated and arose from his sleep, and he told the sons of Haman, the scribes, to read in the books so as to see what had happened to him. They opened the books, and found the incident which Mordecai had told, but they did not wish to read this, and they rolled up the scrolls. The king said to them: Read ye what is written before you. But they were unwilling to read, and the writing was read (of its own account) by itself, as it is said, "And they were read before the king" (ibid.). It is not written here, "They were reading," but "They were read." The king spake to his servants: Call ye Haman to me. They said to him: Behold, he is standing outside. The king said: The thing is true which I saw in my dream; he has come only in this hour to slay me. He said: Let him come in. He entered before the king. The king said to him: I wish to exalt and aggrandize a certain man; what shall be done to him? Haman said in his heart, for the seed of Esau speak in their hearts, but never reveal their secret with their mouths, as it is said, "And Haman said in his heart" (Esth. 6:6). Haman said in his heart: He does not desire to exalt any other man except me. I will speak words so that I shall be a king just as he is. He said to him: Let them bring the apparel || which the king wore on the day of the coronation, and (let them bring) the horse upon which the king rode on the coronation day, and the crown which was put upon the head of the king on the day of coronation. The king was exceedingly angry because of the crown. The king said: It does not suffice this villain, but he must even desire the crown which is upon my head. Haman saw that the king was angry because of the crown; he said: "And let the apparel and the horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes" (Esth. 6:9). (The king) said to him: Go, and do thus to Mordecai. As soon as Haman heard this he became greatly agitated, and he said to him: My lord, O king! There are very many named Mordecai. The king answered: "The Jew." (Haman) said to him: There are very many Jews. The king said to him: "He who sits at the king's gate" (Esth. 6:10).
Verse 8
מִיָּד לָקַח הָמָן הַלְּבוּשׁ וְהַסּוּס וְהָלַךְ אֵצֶל מָרְדֳּכַי וְשָׁאַל לוֹ בְּשָׁלוֹם. אָמַר לוֹ מָרְדֳּכַי: ״אֵין שָׁלוֹם אָמַר ה' לָרְשָׁעִים״. אָמַר לוֹ הָמָן: ״קוּם לְבוֹשׁ פּוֹרְפּוּרְיוֹן שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ״. אָמַר לוֹ: ״רָשָׁע! אֵין אַתָּה רוֹאֶה כִּי אֲנִי לָבוּשׁ שַׂק וְיוֹשֵׁב עַל הָאֵפֶר מִמַּה שֶּׁעָשִׂיתָ לִי? אֶלָּא הוֹלִיכֵנִי לְבֵית הַמֶּרְחָץ וְאַחַר כָּךְ אֶלְבַּשׁ פּוֹרְפְּרִיוֹן שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ״. מָה עָשְׂתָה אֶסְתֵּר? צִוְּתָה לְבַל יַעֲשֶׂה מֶרְחָץ, וְאִם יֹאמַר הָמָן לְבַעֲלֵי הַמֶּרְחָץ לְהַדְלִיקוֹ, אַל יִשְׁמְעוּ לוֹ. הָלַךְ הָמָן בְּכָל הַמֶּרְחֲצָאוֹת וְלֹא מָצָא, וְהִדְלִיקוֹ בְּעַל כָּרְחוֹ הוּא בְּעַצְמוֹ. וְשָׁלַח לִבְנוֹ הַגָּדוֹל לִקְרֹא אֶת מָרְדֳּכַי לַמֶּרְחָץ. לָקַח מָרְדֳּכַי וְהִכָּה אוֹתוֹ בְּרַגְלָיו. אָמַר לוֹ: ״וְלָמָּה לֹא בָּא אָבִיךָ בְּעַצְמוֹ? וַהֲלֹא עֶבֶד הוּא לִי!״ הָלַךְ אֵצֶל אָבִיו וְאָמַר לוֹ. הָלַךְ הוּא בְּעַצְמוֹ בְּעַל כָּרְחוֹ וְנִכְנַס עִמּוֹ לְבֵית הַמֶּרְחָץ וְגִלַּח אֶת רֹאשׁוֹ וְיָצָא וְהִלְבִּישׁוֹ. אָמַר: ״עֲלֵה וּרְכַב עַל הַסּוּס״. אָמַר לוֹ: ״מֵעִנּוּי הַצּוֹם אֵין בִּי כֹּחַ לַעֲלוֹת וְלִרְכֹּב עַל הַסּוּס״. מָה עָשָׂה הָמָן? הִשְׁפִּיל אֶת עַצְמוֹ וְנָתַן מָרְדֳּכַי רַגְלוֹ עַל צַוָּארוֹ וְעָלָה וְרָכַב עַל הַסּוּס. וּמִדְּרָמֵי עֲלֵיהּ חַד כַּרְעָא, בָּטַשׁ בֵּיהּ בְּכַרְעָא אַחֲרִיתִי. אָמַר לוֹ הָמָן: ״וַהֲלֹא כָּתוּב בַּתּוֹרָה 'בִּנְפֹל אוֹיִבְךָ אַל תִּשְׂמָח'?״ אָמַר לוֹ: ״רָשָׁע! בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל כָּתוּב זֶה, אֲבָל בְּאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם 'וְאַתָּה עַל בָּמוֹתֵימוֹ תִדְרֹךְ'״. וּבָא מָרְדֳּכַי אֵצֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ, וְהוּא מַכְרִיז עָלָיו: ״כָּכָה יֵעָשֶׂה לָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר הַמֶּלֶךְ חָפֵץ בִּיקָרוֹ״. וַיָּשָׁב לוֹ בְּמוֹשַׁב כְּבוֹדוֹ עַל שַׁעַר הַמֶּלֶךְ, וְהָמָן נִדְחַף אֶל בֵּיתוֹ אָבֵל וַחֲפוּי רֹאשׁ עַל מַה שֶּׁאֵרַע לוֹ.
Haman took the apparel and the horse and went to Mordecai. (Haman) said to him: Arise, and put on the purple of the king. (Mordecai) said to him: Villain! Dost thou not know that for three days I have put on sack-cloth with ashes, sitting on the ashes, because of that which thou hast done to me? Now take me to the bath-house, and afterwards will I put on the purple of the king. And he washed him and dressed him. (Haman) said to him: Mount and ride upon the horse. He said to (Haman): On account of the affliction of the fast I have no strength to mount and ride upon the horse. What did Haman do? He lowered himself, || and Mordecai put his foot upon his neck, and he mounted and rode upon the horse. Mordecai said: Blessed be the Omnipresent, who hath not let aught of His words fall to the earth, to fulfil that which is said, "But thou shalt tread upon their high places" (Deut. 33:29). Mordecai betook himself to his seat of honour at the king's gate, whilst Haman was hurried along, and he went "to his house mourning and having his head covered" (Esth. 6:12), because of that which had happened to him.
Verse 9
אָמְרָה לוֹ זֶרֶשׁ אִשְׁתּוֹ וְכָל אִסְטְרוֹגוֹלִין שֶׁלּוֹ: שָׁמַעְתָּ מַה עָשׂוּ לְפַרְעֹה בְּמִצְרַיִם? ״אִם מִזֶּרַע הַיְּהוּדִים מָרְדֳּכַי אֲשֶׁר הַחִלּוֹתָ לִנְפֹּל לְפָנָיו – לֹא תוּכַל לוֹ, כִּי נָפוֹל תִּפּוֹל לְפָנָיו״.
Zeresh his wife and all his astrologers said to him: Hast thou not heard what was done unto Pharaoh? as it is said, "And Zeresh his wife said unto him, If Mordecai, before whom thou hast begun to fall, be of the seed of the Jews, thou shalt not prevail against him" (Esth. 6:13).
Verse 10
בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה בָּאוּ נַעֲרֵי אֶסְתֵּר, לָקְחוּ אֶת הָמָן אֶל הַמִּשְׁתֶּה אֲשֶׁר עָשְׂתָה אֶסְתֵּר בְּשִׁשָּׁה עָשָׂר בְּנִיסָן. כֵּיוָן שֶׁאָכְלוּ וְשָׁתוּ אָמַר לָהּ הַמֶּלֶךְ: ״מַה שְּׁאֵלָתֵךְ אֶסְתֵּר הַמַּלְכָּה וְתִנָּתֵן לָךְ וּמַה בַּקָּשָׁתֵךְ עַד חֲצִי הַמַּלְכוּת וְתֵעָשׂ?״ אָמְרָה לוֹ: ״אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ, אֵינִי שׁוֹאֶלֶת מִמְּךָ אֶלָּא לָתֵת לִי נַפְשִׁי בִּשְׁאֵלָתִי וְעַמִּי בְּבַקָּשָׁתִי, שֶׁבָּא אָדָם אֶחָד וְקָנָה אוֹתָנוּ לְהַשְׁמִיד לַהֲרֹג וּלְאַבֵּד. וְאִלּוּ לַעֲבָדִים וְלִשְׁפָחוֹת נִמְכַּרְנוּ אֲנִי וְעַמִּי הֶחֱרַשְׁתִּי״. אָמַר לָהּ הַמֶּלֶךְ: ״וּמִי הוּא הָאָדָם הַזֶּה וְאֵי זֶה הוּא אֲשֶׁר מְלָאוֹ לִבּוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת כֵּן?״ אָמְרָה לוֹ: ״הָמָן הָרָע הַזֶּה״. מִיָּד ״חָפוּ פָנָיו״. ״וְהַמֶּלֶךְ קָם בַּחֲמָתוֹ מִמִּשְׁתֵּה הַיַּיִן וְנִכְנַס בְּגִנַּת הַבִּיתָן״, מֶה עָשָׂה מִיכָאֵל? הִתְחִיל מְקַצֵּץ נְטִיעוֹת לְפָנָיו. וְרָאָה הַמֶּלֶךְ כֵּן, אָמַר לוֹ: ״מַה זֶּה?״ אָמַר לוֹ: ״אֲנִי מִבָּנָיו שֶׁל הָמָן שֶׁכָּךְ צִוַּנִי אַבָּא״. מִיָּד ״וַחֲמָתוֹ בָּעֲרָה בוֹ״, וְנִבְעַר חֵמָה עַל חֵמָה, וְשָׁב מִגִּנַּת הַבִּיתָן. מֶה עָשָׂה מִיכָאֵל הַמַּלְאָךְ? הִגְבִּיהַּ אֶת הָמָן מֵעַל אֶסְתֵּר כְּאִלּוּ רוֹצֶה לָבֹא עָלֶיהָ. אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ: ״הָרָשָׁע הַזֶּה לֹא דַיּוֹ שֶׁקָּנָה אֶת אִשְׁתִּי לְהַשְׁמִיד וְלַהֲרֹג וּלְאַבֵּד, אֶלָּא רוֹצֶה לָבֹא עָלֶיהָ? הֲגַם לִכְבּוֹשׁ אֶת הַמַּלְכָּה עִמִּי בַּבַּיִת?״ וְשָׁמַע הָמָן אֶת הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה וְנָפְלוּ פָנָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּפְנֵי הָמָן חָפוּ״. וְצִוָּה הַמֶּלֶךְ לִתְלוֹתוֹ עַל הָעֵץ. בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה מֶה עָשָׂה אֵלִיָּהוּ זָכוּר לַטּוֹב? נִדְמָה לְחַרְבוֹנָא אֶחָד מִסָּרִיסֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ. אָמַר לוֹ: ״אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ, יֵשׁ עֵץ בְּבֵיתוֹ שֶׁל הָמָן מִבֵּית קָדְשֵׁי הַקֳּדָשִׁים״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּבֶן אֶת בֵּית יַעַר הַלְּבָנוֹן וַיַּעַשׂ אֶת אוּלָם הָעַמּוּדִים חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה אָרְכּוֹ וְשָׁלֹשׁ אַמּוֹת רָחְבּוֹ״. מִיָּד צִוָּה הַמֶּלֶךְ לִתְלוֹתוֹ, וּכְתִיב: ״וַיִּתְלוּ אֶת הָמָן״. לָקַח הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר לְהָמָן וְנָתַן לְמָרְדֳּכַי וּלְאֶסְתֵּר, לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּבֵיתֵהּ נְוָלִי יִתְעֲבֵד עַל דְּנָא״. וְצִוָּה הַמֶּלֶךְ וְאָמַר: ״כִּתְבוּ עַל הַיְּהוּדִים כְּתוֹב בְּעֵינֵיכֶם בְּשֵׁם הַמֶּלֶךְ״. וְכָתְבוּ וְחָתְמוּ אִגְּרוֹת פְּתָקִים וְשָׁלְחוּ בְּכָל הַמְּדִינוֹת לְהַשְׁמִיד לַהֲרֹג וּלְאַבֵּד אֶת כָּל שׂוֹנְאֵי הַיְּהוּדִים בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה עָשָׂר לְחֹדֶשׁ אֲדָר בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי בְּמַזַּל אַרְיֵה. מָה הָאֲרִי הַזֶּה מֶלֶךְ עַל כָּל הַחַיּוֹת וְכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁהוּא רוֹצֶה הוּא הוֹפֵךְ אֶת פָּנָיו, וְהוּא חָשַׁב וְהָפַךְ לְהַשְׁמִיד לַהֲרֹג וּלְאַבֵּד אֶת כָּל הַיְּהוּדִים, נַהֲפוֹךְ הוּא עַל שׂוֹנְאֵיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְנַהֲפוֹךְ הוּא אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁלְטוּ הַיְּהוּדִים הֵמָּה בְּשׂוֹנְאֵיהֶם״.
In that hour the pages of Esther came and took Haman to the banquet which she had prepared on the sixteenth of Nisan. When they had eaten and taken (wine) the king said to Esther: "What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee; and what is thy request?" (Esth. 7:2). She said to him: My lord, O king! I ask nought of thee, except my life, and my people. Because one man has come and has bought us to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish. "But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my peace" (Esth. 7:4). The king said to her: Who is this man? She answered him: This one is the wicked Haman, as it is said, "And Esther said, An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman" (Esth. 7:6). "The king arose in his wrath" (Esth. 7:7). What did the angel Michael do? He began to cut down the plants in his presence. || Intense wrath was kindled within him, and the king returned from the palace garden to the place of the banquet of wine. What did the angel Michael do? He lifted up Haman from Esther. The king exclaimed: As for this villain, he is not satisfied with having purchased the people of Esther to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, but he must needs come upon her! "Will he even force the queen before me in the house?" (Esth. 7:8). Haman heard this word and his countenance fell, as it is said, "They covered Haman's face" (ibid.). And the king commanded that he should be hanged on the gallows. What did Elijah, his memory be a blessing, do? He assumed the guise of Harbonah, one of the chamberlains of the king. He said to him: My lord, O king! There is a tree in Haman's house (taken) from the Holy of Holies, fifty cubits high. Whence do we know that it was from the Holy of Holies? Because it is said, "And he built the house of the forest of Lebanon" (1 Kings 7:2). Forthwith the king commanded that he should be hanged thereon, as it is said, "And (the king) said, Hang him thereon" (Esth. 7:9), so as to fulfil that which is said, "Let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this" (Ezra 6:11). And it says, "So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai" (Esth. 7:10). The king took all that belonged to Haman and gave it to Mordecai and to Esther. He said to them: Write concerning the Jews as seems good in your eyes in the name of the king. They wrote official letters, and they sent throughout all the provinces to destroy, to slay, || and to cause all the enemies of the Jews to perish on the thirteenth of the month of Adar, on the third day in the constellation of Leo. Just as the lion is the king over all the beasts, and he turns his gaze towards any place as he wishes; likewise did he think fit, and he turned his face to destroy and to slay all the enemies of Israel, as it is said, "In the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have rule over them" (Esth. 9:1).
Verse 11
רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: אַרְבָּעִים בָּנִים הָיוּ לוֹ לְהָמָן, עֲשָׂרָה כּוֹתְבֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וּשְׁלֹשִׁים מוֹשְׁלִים בְּכָל הַמְּדִינוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וְאֶת עֲשֶׂרֶת בְּנֵי הָמָן תָּלוּ״. וְכֻלָּם נִתְלוּ עַל עֵץ אֲבִיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״עֲשֶׂרֶת בְּנֵי הָמָן תָּלוּ עַל הָעֵץ״, וְכָתוּב אַחֵר אוֹמֵר ״וְאֶת עֲשֶׂרֶת בְּנֵי הָמָן תָּלוּ״.
Rabbi Eliezer said: Haman had forty sons; ten of them were the scribes of the books of the king, and thirty were ruling in all the provinces, as it is said, "And the ten sons of Haman, in the rest of the king's provinces" (Esth. 9:12). They were all hanged upon the gallows of their father, as it is said, "And they hanged Haman's ten sons" (Esth. 9:14) upon the gallows. Another Scripture text says, "And they hanged Haman's ten sons" (ibid.).
Verse 12
רַבִּי פִּינְחָס אוֹמֵר: מָלַךְ מָרְדֳּכַי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּמָרְדֳּכַי יָצָא מִלִּפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ בִּלְבוּשׁ מַלְכוּת תְּכֵלֶת וָחוּר״ וְכוּ'. מַה הַמֶּלֶךְ לוֹבֵשׁ פּוֹרְפִּרְיָא, [כָּךְ מָרְדֳּכַי], שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּמָרְדֳּכַי יָצָא מִלִּפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ בִּלְבוּשׁ מַלְכוּת תְּכֵלֶת וָחוּר״. מַה הַמֶּלֶךְ עֲטָרָה כְּלוּלָה בְּרֹאשׁוֹ, כָּךְ מָרְדֳּכַי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַעֲטֶרֶת זָהָב גְּדוֹלָה״. מַה הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵימָתוֹ עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ, כָּךְ מָרְדֳּכַי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי נָפַל פַּחַד מָרְדֳּכַי עֲלֵיהֶם״. מַה הַמֶּלֶךְ שִׁמְעוֹ הוֹלֵךְ בְּכָל הָאָרֶץ, כָּךְ מָרְדֳּכַי שִׁמְעוֹ הוֹלֵךְ בְּכָל הָאָרֶץ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי גָדוֹל מָרְדֳּכַי בְּבֵית הַמֶּלֶךְ וְשִׁמְעוֹ הוֹלֵךְ בְּכָל הַמְּדִינוֹת״. מַה הָיְתָה שִׁמְעוֹ שֶׁל מָרְדֳּכַי? כִּי הָיָה אָדָם נִכְבָּד וְהָיָה עוֹמֵד בְּצַד הַמֶּלֶךְ וְאֶסְתֵּר הַמַּלְכָּה הָיְתָה יוֹשֶׁבֶת בַּצַּד הָאַחֵר, כִּי מָרְדֳּכַי הָיָה אִישׁ טוֹב וּמְבַקֵּשׁ שָׁלוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי מָרְדֳּכַי הַיְּהוּדִי מִשְׁנֶה לַמֶּלֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ וְגָדוֹל לַיְּהוּדִים וְרָצוּי לְרֹב אֶחָיו דּוֹרֵשׁ טוֹב לְעַמּוֹ וְדוֹבֵר שָׁלוֹם לְכָל זַרְעוֹ״. וְעָלָיו הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר: ״שְׁמׇר תָּם וּרְאֵה יָשָׁר כִּי אַחֲרִית לְאִישׁ שָׁלוֹם״.
Rabbi Phineas said: Mordecai ruled over the Jews. Just as the king is dressed in purple, so was Mordecai dressed in purple, as it is said, "And Mordecai went forth from the presence of the king in royal apparel" (Esth. 8:15). Just as the king has a crown upon his head, so Mordecai had a crown upon his head, as it is said, "And Mordecai went forth… with a great crown of gold" (ibid.). Just as the king's fear obtains in all the land, so was the fear of Mordecai upon them, as it is said, "Because the fear of Mordecai was fallen upon them…" (Esth. 9:3). Just as the king's money is current throughout the land, || so was Mordecai's money current in all the land, as it is said, "For Mordecai was great" (Esth. 9:4). What was the money of Mordecai? On the one side was (the face of) Mordecai and on the other (the face of) Esther. Wherefore? Because he was a good man, and a man of peace and seeking the peace of his people, as it is said, "For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews" (Esth. 10:3); concerning him the Scripture saith, "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the latter end of (that) man is peace" (Ps. 37:37).