Women Of Power: Esther – Megillat Esther By Vered Hollander-Goldfarb

Previously, we got to know something about Esther’s family. She is hardly a bewildered farmer girl who ends up in the palace. She comes from nobility. Her cousin holds a position near the court. Her ability to act aristocratically should not surprise us. But is she up to planning and executing a salvation for the Jews of the kingdom? She is in the palace; no one can reach her to help her. What tools does she have at her disposal?

Why does Esther invite Haman as well to her parties with the king?

Is her intention to know what he is up to? Does she use him to create jealousy in Ahasuerus’ mind? (This is a double edged sward: If the king becomes suspicious about her relationship with Haman, she could be in trouble.) Does she hope that having Haman on hand at the moment of revelation will create enough anger in

the king to have him act impulsively against Haman?

Along these lines we should wonder: Why 2 parties?

Her life is in danger, the Jews are all waiting, and she has the steel nerves to extend the entire episode for another 24 hours. The tension she began to create in the king begins to ripen during those hours. In the night following the first party the king cannot sleep (6:1.) In class 2 we examined the Midrash that says that it was the King of the Universe that could not sleep. The Midrash goes on to say that since everyone had done their share to try to save the Jews, God was shaken up to do His share. In other words, Esther took a great risk, her second party was far from a guaranteed success, but God felt it was time to give this courageous woman a hand.

Esther’s part of the story reaches its peak during the second party (chapter 7.) According to the story told there, how did she accomplish the salvation of the Jews?

Until now we have been speculating about what her plan was. By the results we can judge what she achieved. A few things worth noting in chapter 7: The characters’ speech manner: Esther keeps herself calm and collected (vv.3-4.) Ahasuerus is fumbling, upset, in v.5. His speech is much less organized than Esther’s. Esther had managed to plant the seeds of suspicion in Ahasuerus’ mind. As he sees Haman begging Esther for his life, the scene is perceived by Ahasuerus as both sexual and a claim to the throne. (Only a king may marry a king’s widow. See the story of Adoniah in I Kings 2:13-24.) Esther partially succeeded. The king, impulsive in his rage, orders Haman hanged. (Remember that the purpose was to get rid of the decree. Getting rid of Haman was helpful, but the decree was still out there.)

What is Esther’s place in the story following the hanging of Haman?

Esther knows that she has not completed her task: She has to push further to get the decree removed. There is no mention of the risk she takes by doing so: Ahasuerus is prone to impulsive decisions. A previous queen that crossed him disappeared from the palace.

She is given Haman’s house. Is it a symbol of her victory? Is it a vote of confidence on the part of Ahasuerus?

In 9:23 she is credited (together with Modrochai) with writing all this down to keep Purim observed by all the Jews.

How does the Midrash see her?

Midrash on Esther – Midrash Abba Gorion section 1

And her royal position shall the king give to her fellow person who is better than she (Esther 1:19) – Said R. Hanina son of Abahu: It says “for He shall hurt and bandage, smite but His hands shall heal.” (Job 5:18) In this language (that of Esther 1:19) was the kingship taken away from her elder (ancestor,) as it says: “And He shall give it to your fellow person who is better than you.” (I Sam 15:28.) And with the same language was the kingship restored to her, as it says: And her royal position shall the king give to her fellow person who is better than she.

Who was the person from whom the kingship was taken away with a promise to give to someone better?

The Midrash calls this person “her elder”. The story is found in I Sam 15. You are probably quite familiar with it at this point. Not by chance did the narrator choose this language in the Megilla.

What is the role of Esther according to this Midrash?

Esther becomes a female incarnation of the king that lost the kingship. She regains it, becoming a monarch again. Remember the Yichus of Mordochai? (See class 1.) Mordochai’s family is related to Saul, the first king of Israel.

One of the interesting points of view of the Megilla is its attitude towards the leadership of Israel. At the time that the story of Esther is written, centuries have passed since Saul’s dynasty ended. Even the strength of the House of David is mainly in the hope for the future, as a large part of the Judean community is still living in exile. Those that have returned to Zion have done so with the blessing of the Persian empire, but lack the independence of a state, and have no king. (The theme of the eternity of the House of David has appeared already in the 8th century bce in the prophetic writings, and seems to be the agenda of the book of Chronicles.)

But the dynasty of Saul son of Kish is not gone, despite the many generations that have passed. The story of Esther is proposing a different hope for the future of the people: No more the dynasty under which the country and the Temple were destroyed. Now is the time to return to the days of the first God-chosen king. He now has an heir in a royal position.

Interestingly, the heir is a woman.