Megillah Esther

Unit 3

Who becomes king after Shlomo?

Rachavam (was the son of King Solomon and ruled over the Kingdom of Judah)

What was the issue with Rachavam?

Lots of the people in Israel didn’t like him and wanted Yeravam to be king.

Where was Rachavam king and where was Yeravam king?

Rachavam: King of south (2/2.5 tribes)

Yeravam: King of north (9.5/10 tribes)

(THE 0.5 WERE THE LEVIS)

Which side (north or south) is bad? What happens?

North, they are Jews and not Jew-ISH because they did bad things. Hashem starts a war with Ashure (Ninveh) and Ashure wins over Israel, leading to the exile of the northern tribes.

What year does this war take place?

It started in C. 721 B.C.E

What was the next war Ashure did?

They had a war with Bavel and lost.

What did the south Jews start doing?

They began to adopt Babylonian customs and practices, straying from traditional Jewish beliefs. They didn’t learn from the Northern Jews.

Who’s the prophet that tried to help the southern Jews when they were acting bad? What happened?

Jeremiah gave BNY a warning and they didn’t listen. They ended up throwing him in jail.

Who was the king of Bavel?

Nevucha Netzar (C. 597 B.C.E)

What does the king of Babel do to the Jews?

Exiled the elite Jews (doctors, Rabbis etc.) so they can may the Jews weaker, and Bavel stronger.

What does Bavel do 11 years later?

They come back in 586 B.C.E, destroy the Beit Hamkidash and take the rest of the Jews that were in Israel.

What happens between Persia, and Bavel?

They have a war, Persia wins and now are in control of the Jews.

Who was the Persian king? What did he do for the Jews?

Cyprus, he said they could all go back to Israel (because he owns it now) only 14% of them go (probably because they were comfortable).

When does this story take place, who wrote it?

C. 485 - 465 B.C.E its believed either Anshai Kneset Hagadolah wrote it or Mordechai.

How many countries is Achashevrosh the ruler of? Where?

127, for Africa to India

What does “Vayahi “and “Bimi” mean?

Something bad is going to happen.

What’s the connection between Sarahs age of death and Achashevrosh?

Sarah died at 127 and the king has 127 countries.

Why did Achashverosh have a party in Perek aleph pasuk gimmel? (ACCORDING TO IBN EZRA)

1) He is celebrating so many Jews didn't leave to go to Israel.

2) The war ended

3) He just married Vashti

Why did Achashverosh have a party in Perek Aleph Pasuk Gimmel (ACCORDING TO ABARBANEL AND RANDOM ONE)

Abarbanel: It was his birthday

Random: He just got his tenure (no one can fire you) like Rabbi Taylor.

How long was the party? Who was there?

180 days, workers

What happened once Achashverosh ended his party?

He made a second party that lasted a week. It was for all of Shushan.

Where were the golden beds from?

They were from the Beit Hamikdash. Nevuchat Netzer took them from the temple. Because Persia won the war with Bavel (Nevuchat Nezter), Achashverosh inherited the beds. (The jews saw the king flaunting and they still didnt go.)

What was the comment on Pasuk Gimmel when they were drinking out of gold cups (at party)?

Ruet, Kohelet and Shir Hashirim all have a happy tune but Eicha has a sad tune because its Tishabav. Esther is mostly happy but has a few sad parts like Eicha. In this pasuk, this is the first time the tune is sad. It happened because those cups were used in the beit hamikdash and now have non-kosher food in them.

Why was Vashti making a party at the same time as the king?

Prof: When men are drunk, they can act inapropriate and the women didn’t want to expose themselves to that. So they had there own party.

What do the 7 men do for the king (at the party)? Why them?

They went to get Vashti to show off her beauty

Why did Vashti refuse to go to the mens party (pro and not pro)?

Pro: shes in the middle of her own party

Not: Rashi: She didnt go because she had tzarat (rash).

What was the one name that was named out of all the astrologists Acasherosh had?

Memuchan; it’s another name for Haman

What does Memuchan tell the king to do?

To make Vashti not queen anymore and, to send a letter to all 127 countries that women rule over men.

When Achashverosh listens to Memuchan very easily, what does this suggest about him?

What Memuchan said was ADVICE, the king just listens to everyone else because he has no opinions of his own.