Megillat Esther - Questions for Self Study
Historical Setting
Megillat Esther and Sefer Zechayra
Part I - Historical Setting
1.
Based on what you remember, make a time line of the major
events in Jewish History from the end of the first Temple period
until the beginning of the Second Temple period (including the
time period of Megilat Esther).
In your time line, relate to:
| Year (BCE) | King |
|---|---|
| 538 | Cyrus |
| 530 | Cambyses |
| 521 | Darius (the Great) |
| 486 | Xerxes |
| 465 | Artexerxes |
Based on this table, attempt to correlate the English (or Greek) names of these kings with the names of the Persian kings mentioned in the Tanach.
6.
If you have time, scan Sefer Ezra and Nechemya.
Based on the
events described, does the above time line 'fit?'
Why do you think that these seforim do not include an exact,
or at least continuous, chronology of events?
What is the purpose of these seforim? What do they describe?
Do they have a common theme?
7.
In Megillat Esther, the entire Jewish Nation is in peril.
Does
the Megilla itself provide a prophetic reason for this impending
punishment?
If yes, what is that reason?
If not, why do you think it is omitted?
[See Mesechet Megilla 12a (about 20 lines down) -
"sha'alu talmidav et Rashbi mipnei mah nitchaivu..."]
8.
In what manner is Megillat Esther different from most all
other books of the Tanach?
[You should be able to list several
major differences.]
Can you explain why it is different?
Does your answer to question #7 relate to any of them.
9.
Read Devarim 31:14-21; make special note of 31:17-18 and its
context.
Chazal, in the Midrash, claim that 31:18 may be the
source of the name Esther. Can you explain why?
Does your answer relate in any way to the above questions?
Part II - Megillat Esther and Sefer Zechayra
1.
Does the Megilla describe the palace of Achashveyrosh in a
manner similar to the Bet HaMikdash?
If so, list those textual parallels.
Based on the questions of Part I (the Historical Setting),
can you suggest a thematic reason for this parallel?
[Why do we read "v'keilim mikeilim shonim" (1:7) to the
tune of Megillat Eicha?]
2. Based on 4:10-11, in what manner is the inner chamber of Achashveyrosh's palace similar to the Kodesh HaKodashim of the Bet HaMikdash?
3.
Based (once again) on the historical setting of the Megilla,
is there any similarity between God's expectations from Am
Yisrael (as a nation) during this time period and the behavior of
Vashti (in 1:11-12)?
Relate your answer to 1:16-18 as well!
Can you also relate your answer to 3:8?
4. How many days elapse between the edict sent out by Haman to destroy the Jews (see 3:12-15) and the second edict sent out by Esther and Mordechi which saved the Jews (see 8:9-14)?
If you follow the plot of the Megilla, approximately on what
day was Haman hung?
How many days later did Mordechi and Esther
ask Achashveyrosh to intervene to reverse the original edict?
On what approximate date do you think those letters should have
gone out?
When did they go out instead?
Do you think there is any thematic significance to the date
they went out instead, considering the number of days which
elapsed in the interim?
Can you relate your answer to Yirmiyahu 25:1-10, 29:1-14?
Does the concept of a day for a year (or visa versa) have
any other precedent in Tanach?
If so, where?
Does it thematically
relate to you answer?
[Relate also the Yechezkel chapter 4.]
5.
In the Megilla, the city of Shushan is called "Shushan HaBira."
Note the only other earlier use of the word "Bira" in Tanach in
Divrei Hayamim chapter 29.
Read 29:1-25 and note its context;
then note the use of the word "Bira" in 29:1 and 29:19.
What does the word "Bira" mean in this perek?
Based on that meaning, does it make sense that Shushan is
referred to as a Bira?
If not, why do you think it is called a Bira?
Could it relate to the historical setting of the Megilla?
6.
In Tanach, prior to Megillat Esther, is there anyone ever
called Mordechi?
Does the name stem from a Hebrew word?
Note II Melachim 25:27, where E'viil Merodach, the king of
Bavel is mentioned.
Is his name similar to Mordechi?
Can you explain why?
[By the way, for general information, Marduk is the name of
an important Babylonian god.]
7. Review the first 8 chapters of Sefer Zecharya, especially chapter 1, and chapters 7-8.
| Zecharya | Megillat Esther |
|---|---|
| 1:1-3 | 1:11-12 |
| 1:8-12,16 | 2:7 (with regard to "Hadasah," see Megilla 13a), 6:8-10 |
| 2:5-8 | 9:19 |
| 7:4-9 | 9:22 |
| 8:16-19 | 9:22, 9:29-31 |
9.
Read 9:29-32 carefully.
What is the purpose of this 'second letter?'
What does "divrei shalom v'emet" (9:30) mean?
Why is not mentioned if the 'first letter?'
Is "divrei ha'tzmot v'tza'akatam" referring to Ta'anit Esther?
If not, what other fast could it be referring to?
What is pshat in this pasuk? How does it relate to the
reason for the 'second letter'?
How and why would the mitzvah of "matanot l'evyonim" and
"mishloach manot ish l'rei'eihu" relate to Zecharya?
10.
Read Zechayra 8:20-23.
How does it relate to 8:18-19?
What is the meaning of "ish yehudi" in 8:23?
Is this phrase mentioned anywhere else in Tanach?
[You guessed it - only in the Megilla.]
Based on this, how would interpret Esther 2:5?
Compare Esther 2:5-6 to Yirmiyahu 29:1-14,
and relate it to your answer.
11.
What would be the thematic significance of these parallels
if Achashveyrosh of the Megilla is the Persian King after
Daryavesh (see questions Part I)?
Would you say that Megillat Esther takes for granted that
its reader is familiar with Sefer Zecharya?
[And how about Sefer Yirmiyahu?]
12.
Based on the above questions, would you say that the Megilla
contains a 'hidden' message?
If so, what is it, and why is it not explicit?
[What earlier neviim gave explicit rebuke?
Did the people ever listen to those rebukes?]
Can you relate this message to certain halachot regarding
Purim, e.g. the law of "mukafot chomah" from the days of
Yehoshua bin Nun, "ad d'lo yada," "masaychot," etc.?
Where is the primary city in which we celebrate
Shushan Purim? Can you explain why?