Esther Rabbah, Petichta

וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ
רַב פָּתַח (דברים כח, סו): וְהָיוּ חַיֶּיךָ תְּלֻאִים לְךָ מִנֶּגֶד, רַבָּנָן וְרַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה, רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי וְהָיוּ חַיֶּיךָ תְּלֻאִים לְךָ, זֶה שֶׁהוּא לוֹקֵחַ חִטִּים לְשָׁנָה. (דברים כח, סו): וּפָחַדְתָּ לַיְלָה וְיוֹמָם, זֶה שֶׁהוּא לוֹקֵחַ חִטִּין מִן הַסִּידְקִי. וְלֹא תַאֲמִין בְּחַיֶּיךָ, זֶה שֶׁהוּא לוֹקֵחַ לוֹ מִן הַפַּלְטֵר. וְרַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה אָמַר: וְהָיוּ חַיֶּיךָ תְּלֻאִים לְךָ, זֶה שֶׁהוּא לוֹקֵחַ לוֹ חִטִּים לְשָׁלשׁ שָׁנִים. וּפָחַדְתָּ לַיְלָה וְיוֹמָם, זֶה שֶׁהוּא לוֹקֵחַ לוֹ חִטִּים לְשָׁנָה. וְלֹא תַאֲמִין בְּחַיֶּיךָ, זֶה שֶׁהוּא לוֹקֵחַ לוֹ חִטִּים מִן הַסִּידְקִי. מְתִיבִין רַבָּנָן לְרַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה וְהַלּוֹקֵחַ מִן הַפַּלְטֵר מַהוּ, אָמַר לָהֶם לֹא דִבְּרָה תּוֹרָה בַּמֵּתִים. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וְהָיוּ חַיֶּיךָ תְּלֻאִים לְךָ מִנֶּגֶד, זֶה שֶׁהוּא נָתוּן בִּדְיוֹטִי שֶׁל קֵיסָרִין. וּפָחַדְתָּ לַיְלָה וְיוֹמָם, זֶה שֶׁהוּא יוֹצֵא לִדּוֹן. וְלֹא תַאֲמִין בְּחַיֶּיךָ, זֶה שֶׁהוּא יוֹצֵא לְהִצָּלֵב. רַב פָּתַר קְרָיָיה בְּהָמָן, וְהָיוּ חַיֶּיךָ תְּלֻאִים לְךָ מִנֶּגֶד, מֵעֵת לְעֵת מֵהֲסָרַת טַבַּעַת. וּפָחַדְתָּ לַיְלָה וְיוֹמָם, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהַכְּתָבִים פּוֹרְחִין. וְלֹא תַאֲמִין בְּחַיֶּיךָ (אסתר ג, יד): לִהְיוֹת עֲתִדִים לַיּוֹם הַזֶּה. “It was during the days of Aḥashverosh; that Aḥashverosh who reigned from India to Kush, over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces” (Esther 1:1).
Rav began: “Your life will be suspended before you, and you will fear night and day, and you will not be assured of your life” (Deuteronomy 28:66). The Rabbis and Rabbi Berekhya; the Rabbis said: “Your life will be suspended before you,” that is one who purchases wheat for a year. “And you will fear night and day,” that is one who purchases wheat for himself from the retailer. “And you will not be assured of your life,” that is one who purchases for himself from the baker.
Rabbi Berekhya said: “Your life will be suspended before you,” that is one who purchases wheat for himself for three years. “And you will fear night and day,” that is one who purchases wheat for himself for one year. “And you will not be assured of your life,” that is one who purchases wheat for himself from the retailer.
The Rabbis objected to Rabbi Berekhya: What of the one who purchases from the baker? He said to them: The Torah did not speak of the dead.
Alternatively, “your life will be suspended before you,” that is one who is placed in the prisons of Caesarea. “And you will fear night and day,” that is one who is taken to judgment. “And you will not be assured of your life,” that is one who is taken out to be hanged.
Rav interpreted the verse as relating to Haman:¹Specifically, relating to the effect of Haman’s decree on Israel. “Your life will be suspended before you,” – on the day following the removal of the ring.²Aḥashverosh removed his ring and gave it to Haman when he authorized him to do as he saw fit to the Jews (Esther 3:10-11). “And you will fear night and day” – when the letters were dispatched.³Haman sent written orders to all the provinces for the people to prepare themselves to kill the Jews (Esther 3:13-15). “And you will not be assured of your life” – “to be ready for that day” (Esther 3:14).

בַּבֹּקֶר תֹּאמַר מִי יִתֵּן עֶרֶב (דברים כח, סז), בְּבָקְרָהּ שֶׁל בָּבֶל תֹּאמַר מִי יִתֵּן עַרְבָּהּ. בְּבָקְרָהּ שֶׁל מָדַי תֹּאמַר מִי יִתֵּן עַרְבָּהּ, בְּבָקְרָהּ שֶׁל יָוָן תֹּאמַר מִי יִתֵּן עַרְבָּהּ, בְּבָקְרָהּ שֶׁל אֱדוֹם תֹּאמַר מִי יִתֵּן עַרְבָּהּ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, בַּבֹּקֶר תֹּאמַר מִי יִתֵּן עֶרֶב, בְּבָקְרָהּ שֶׁל בָּבֶל תֹּאמַר מִי יִתֵּן עַרְבָּהּ שֶׁל מָדַי, וּבְבָקְרָהּ שֶׁל מָדַי תֹּאמַר מִי יִתֵּן עַרְבָּהּ שֶׁל יָוָן, וּבְבָקְרָהּ שֶׁל יָוָן תֹּאמַר מִי יִתֵּן עַרְבָּהּ שֶׁל אֱדוֹם. לָמָּה, מִפַּחַד לְבָבְךָ אֲשֶׁר תִּפְחָד וּמִמַּרְאֵה עֵינֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר תִּרְאֶה. “In the morning you will say: Would that it were evening, and in the evening you will say: Would that it were morning – from your heart’s fear that you experience and your eyes’ sight that you see” (Deuteronomy 28:67).
“In the morning you will say: Would that it were evening” – in the morning of Babylonia you will say: ‘Would that it were its evening.’ In the morning of Media, you will say: ‘Would that it were its evening.’ In the morning of Greece, you will say: ‘Would that it were its evening.’ In the morning of Edom, you will say: ‘Would that it were its evening.’
Alternatively, “in the morning you will say: Would that it were evening,” in the morning of Babylonia you will say: Would that it were the evening of Media. In the morning of Media, you will say: Would that it were the evening of Greece. In the morning of Greece, you will say: Would that it were the evening of Edom. Why? “From your heart’s fear that you experience and your eyes’ sight that you see” (Deuteronomy 28:67).

וֶהֱשִׁיבְךָ ה' מִצְרַיִם בָּאֳנִיּוֹת (דברים כח, סח). אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק בָּאֳנִיּוֹת, בַּעֲנִיּוּת מִמַּעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים. וְלָמָּה לְמִצְרַיִם, שֶׁכִּעוּר וָרַע יֵשׁ לְעֶבֶד כְּשֶׁהוּא חוֹזֵר לְרַבּוֹ הָרִאשׁוֹן. אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי בִּשְׁלשָׁה מְקוֹמוֹת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַזְהִיר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁלֹא יַחְזְרוּ לְמִצְרַיִם, הָרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יד, יג): כִּי אֲשֶׁר רְאִיתֶם אֶת מִצְרַיִם וגו', וְהַשֵּׁנִי כְּתִיב (דברים יז, טז): וַה' אָמַר לָכֶם לֹא תֹסִפוּן לָשׁוּב בַּדֶּרֶךְ הַזֶּה, וְהָדֵין שְׁלִישִׁי, דִּכְתִיב: וֶהֱשִׁיבְךָ ה' מִצְרַיִם בָּאֳנִיּוֹת. בִּשְׁלָשְׁתָּן כָּפְרוּ וּבִשְׁלָשְׁתָּן לָקוּ. הָרִאשׁוֹנָה בִּימֵי סַנְחֵרִיב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה לא, א): הוֹי הַיֹּרְדִים מִצְרַיִם לְעֶזְרָה, מַה כְּתִיב בַּתְרֵיהּ: וּמִצְרַיִם אָדָם וְלֹא אֵל. שֵׁנִית, בִּימֵי יוֹחָנָן בֶּן קָרֵחַ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה מב, טז): וְהָיְתָה הַחֶרֶב אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם יְרֵאִים מִמֶּנָּה וגו'. וְהַשְּׁלִישִׁית בִּימֵי טְרַכִינוּס שְׁחִיק עֲצָמוֹת, יָלְדָה אִשְׁתּוֹ בְּלֵיל תִּשְׁעָה בְּאָב וְהָיוּ כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲבֵלִים, נִשְׁחַק הַוְּלַד בַּחֲנֻכָּה, אָמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל נַדְלִיק אוֹ לֹא נַדְלִיק, אָמְרוּ נַדְלִיק וְכָל מַה דְּבָעֵי לִימְטֵי עֲלָן יִמְטֵי, אַדְלִיקוּ, אֲזַלוּן וַאֲמַרוּן לִישְׁנָא בִּישׁ לְאִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁל טְרַכִינוּס, אִילֵין יְהוּדָאִין כַּד יְלֵידַתְּ הֲווֹ מִתְאַבְּלִין, וְכַד מָיֵית וַלְדָּא אַדְלִיקוּ בּוּצִינִין. שָׁלְחָה וְכָתְבָה לְבַעְלָהּ עַד דְּאַתְּ מְכַבֵּשׁ בַּרְבָּרִיִּין, בּוֹא וּכְבוֹשׁ אִילֵין יְהוּדָאִין דִּמְרָדוּ בָּךְ. סְלִיק לְאִילְפָא וַחֲשַׁב לְמֵיתֵי בַּעֲשָׂרָה יוֹמִין, וְאַיְיתֵיהּ רוּחָא בַּחֲמִשָּׁה יוֹמִין, אֲתָא וְאַשְׁכְּחִינוּן דַּהֲווֹ עֲסִיקִין בְּהָדֵין פְּסוּקָא (דברים כח, מט): יִשָֹּׂא ה' עָלֶיךָ גּוֹי מֵרָחֹק מִקְצֵה הָאָרֶץ כַּאֲשֶׁר יִדְאֶה הַנָּשֶׁר, אֲמַר לְהוֹן אֲנָא הוּא נִשְׁרָא דַּחֲשֵׁיבִית לְמֵיתֵי בַּעֲשָׂרָה יוֹמִין וְאַיְתִיתַנִי רוּחָא בַּחֲמִשָּׁה יוֹמִין, הֵקִיפוֹן לִגְיוֹנוֹתָיו וַהֲרָגָן. וְאֵין קוֹנֶה, לָמָּה אֵין קוֹנֶה, רַב אָמַר עַל יְדֵי שֶׁלֹא הִקְנֵיתֶם דִּבְרֵי הַבְּרִית, שֶׁאֵין בָּכֶם מִי קוֹנֶה דִּבְרֵי חֲמִשָּׁה סִפְרֵי תוֹרָה, מִנְיַן שֶׁל קוֹנֶה. אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן עַל יְדֵי שֶׁחָזַרְתִּי עַל כָּל הָאֻמּוֹת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם וְאֵין מִי קוֹנֶה דִבְרֵי תוֹרָה כַּיּוֹצֵא בָכֶם. אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר יִצְחָק אַתֶּם יֵשׁ לָכֶם קִנְיָן בְּאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כה, מה): וְגַם מִבְּנֵי הַתּוֹשָׁבִים הַגָּרִים עִמָּכֶם מֵהֶם תִּקְנוּ, אֲבָל לָאֻמּוֹת אֵין לָהֶם קִנְיָן בָּכֶם. וְלָמָּה יֵשׁ לָכֶם קִנְיָן בְּאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, עַל יְדֵי שֶׁהִקְנֵיתֶם אֵלֶּה דִבְרֵי הַבְּרִית. וְלָמָּה אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם אֵין לָהֶן קִנְיָן בָּכֶם, עַל יְדֵי שֶׁלֹא קָנוּ אֵלֶּה דִבְרֵי הַבְּרִית. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן אַתֶּם יֵשׁ לָכֶם פַּטְרוֹנוֹת, וּמָה הֵן אֵלֶּה דִבְרֵי הַבְּרִית. אָמַר רַבִּי יוּדָא אַתֶּם טַמִּיקָא אַתֶּם, הַלּוֹקֵחַ לוֹ עֶבֶד מִן הַטַּמִּיקָא שׁוּב אֵינוֹ מִתְחַיֵּב בְּנַפְשׁוֹ, שֶׁכֵּן אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ אוֹמֵר לְאִשְׁתּוֹ (אסתר ח, ז): הִנֵּה בֵית הָמָן נָתַתִּי לְאֶסְתֵּר, וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוּדָא בַּר רַבִּי סִימוֹן עַל דְּפָשַׁט יָדֵיהּ בְּטַמִּיקָא כֵּן הֲוָה לֵיהּ. אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק מַעֲשֶׂה בִּפְרוֹצֶפְּיָה בְּאִשָּׁה אַחַת שֶׁהָיְתָה פּוֹדָה אֶת הַשְּׁבוּיִים, בָּאֲתָה שְׁבוּיָה אַחַת וּפְדָאַתָּהּ, שְׁנִיָּה, וּפְדָאַתָּהּ, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁמָּטָה יָדָהּ וְלֹא הָיְתָה יְכוֹלָה לִפְדוֹת, מִיָּד הִקִּיפוּהָ לִגְיוֹנוֹת וַהֲרָגוּהָ, וְכָל כָּךְ לָמָּה, כְּדֵי לְזָרֵז הַשַּׁבָּאִים הַבָּאִים. רַבִּי לֵוִי וְרַבִּי יִצְחָק, רַבִּי לֵוִי אוֹמֵר מִי לָקַח לוֹ חָבֵר וּלְמָחָר הוּא לַהֲרִיגָה, מִי לָקַח לוֹ אִשָּׁה וּלְמָחָר הִיא לַהֲרִיגָה. רַבִּי יִצְחָק אָמַר לַעֲבָדִים וְלִשְׁפָחוֹת אִי אַתֶּם נִקְנִין, אֲבָל אַתֶּם נִקְנִין לְהַשְּׁמִיד לַהֲרֹג וּלְאַבֵּד, שֶׁכֵּן אֶסְתֵּר אוֹמֶרֶת לַאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ: וְאִלּוּ לַעֲבָדִים וְלִשְׁפָחוֹת נִמְכַּרְנוּ וגו'. שֶׁכֵּן כָּתַב לָנוּ משֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ בַּתּוֹרָה (דברים כח, סח): וְהִתְמַכַּרְתֶּם שָׁם לְאֹיְבֵיכֶם לַעֲבָדִים וְלִשְׁפָחוֹת וְאֵין קוֹנֶה, שֶׁמָּא לְהַשְּׁמִיד לַהֲרֹג וּלְאַבֵּד, כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאוּ הַכֹּל הִתְחִילוּ צוֹוְחִין וַוי, וַיְהִי, וַוי שֶׁהָיָה בִּימֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ. “The Lord will return you to Egypt in ships [baoniyyot], by the route of which I said to you: You will never see it again; and you will offer yourselves for sale there to your enemies, as slaves and as maidservants, and there will be no buyer” (Deuteronomy 28:68).
Rabbi Yitzḥak said: “In ships” [baoniyyot] – in poverty [baaniyyut] of good deeds. Why to Egypt? Because a slave experiences humiliation and mistreatment when he returns to his original master. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai said: In three places, the Holy One blessed be He cautions Israel not to return to Egypt. The first, as it is stated: “For as you saw Egypt [today, you shall not see them ever again]” (Exodus 14:13). The second, it is written: “The Lord said to you: You shall not return again on that way anymore” (Deuteronomy 17:16). This is the third, as it is written: “The Lord will return you to Egypt in ships” (Deuteronomy 28:68).
They [Israel] contravened all three of them and were punished for all three of them. The first, during the reign of Sanḥeriv, as it is stated: “Woe! Those who descend to Egypt for aid” (Isaiah 31:1), and what is written thereafter: “Egypt is man, not god […and all of them will perish together]” (Isaiah 31:3). Second, during the days of Yoḥanan ben Kare’aḥ, as it is stated: “It shall be that the sword which you fear [will overtake you there in the land of Egypt]” (Jeremiah 42:16). The third, during the reign of Trajan, may his bones be crushed: His wife gave birth on the Ninth of Av when all Israel was mourning. The baby died on Hanukkah. Israel said: Shall we light [Hanukkah lamps], or not light? They said: We shall light, and anything that he seeks to inflict upon us, let him inflict. They lit. They went and slandered them to Trajan’s wife: Those Jews,⁴The reference is possibly to the Jews of Egypt who participated in the Kitos War (115-117), a rebellion against the Romans during Trajan’s reign. when you gave birth, they were mourning, when the baby died, they lit lamps. She sent a missive to her husband: Before you conquer the barbarians, come and conquer these Jews who have rebelled against you. He boarded the ship and expected to arrive in ten days, and the wind brought him in five days. He arrived and found them engaged in this verse: “The Lord will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as the eagle will swoop” (Deuteronomy 28:49). He said to them: I am the eagle, as I expected to arrive in ten days and the wind brought me in five days. His legions surrounded them and killed them.
“And there is no buyer [koneh]” (Deuteronomy 28:68). Why is there no buyer? Rav said: It is because you did not impart the words of the covenant, as there is no one among you who is a buyer [koneh] of [i.e., one who learns] the five books of the Torah, the numerical value of koneh.⁵The word koneh – kof, vav, nun, heh – can be read as koneh heh, i.e. ‘buyer of heh.’ The numerical equivalent of heh is five. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: Because I went around to all the nations of the world and there was no one acquiring [no buyer of] the words of the Torah like you [Israel] did. Rabbi Shmuel bar Yitzhak said: You have acquisition of [members of] the nations of the world [i.e. the ability to buy them as slaves], as it is stated: “Also from the children of the resident aliens who reside with you, from them you shall acquire” (Leviticus 25:45); but the nations have no acquisition of you. Why do you have acquisition of the nations of the world? It is because you imparted: “These are the words of the covenant” (Deuteronomy 28:69). Why don’t the nations of the world have acquisition in you? It is because they did not acquire: “These are the words of the covenant.”
Rabbi Yonatan said: You have patrons, and what are they? They are the words of the covenant. Rabbi Yuda said: You are property of the crown; Isn’t the life of one who takes a slave from the property of the crown forfeit? And so Aḥashverosh said to his wife: “Behold, I gave the house of Haman to Esther [and they hanged him on the gibbet]” (Esther 8:7), and Rabbi Yuda bar Rabbi Simon said: It is because he extended his hand to harm the property of the crown, so it befell him.
Rabbi Yitzḥak said: There was an incident in Protzefya involving a certain woman who would redeem captives. One captive woman came, and she redeemed her. A second, and she redeemed her. When her means failed her and she was unable to redeem any more, soldiers immediately surrounded her and killed her. Why did they go to that extreme? In order to motivate future captors.⁶The local soldiers killed her in order to motivate future captors to kill their prisoners rather than hold them for ransom.
Rabbi Levi and Rabbi Yitzḥak. Rabbi Levi said: Who acquires a friend, and the next day he is executed? Who acquires a wife, and the next day she is executed? Rabbi Yitzḥak said: You will not be acquired as slaves and maidservants, but you will be acquired to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be eliminated, as Esther said to Aḥashverosh: “For we have been sold, my people and I, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be eliminated; had we been sold as slaves and as maidservants, I would have been silent” (Esther 7:4). And so Moses wrote about us in the Torah: “And you will sell yourselves there to your enemies as slaves and as maidservants, and there will be no buyer” (Deuteronomy 28:68); perhaps to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be eliminated? When everyone saw, they began screaming: ‘Woe!’ “It was [vayhi],” woe [vai] for what transpired during the reign of Aḥashverosh.⁷The first verse of Esther begins Va-yhi bi-mei Aḥashverosh, “It was during the days of Aḥashverosh.”

שְׁמוּאֵל פָּתַח (ויקרא כו, מד): וְאַף גַּם זֹאת בִּהְיוֹתָם בְּאֶרֶץ אֹיְבֵיהֶם לֹא מְאַסְתִּים וְלֹא גְעַלְתִּים לְכַלֹּתָם לְהָפֵר בְּריתִי אִתָּם כִּי אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵיהֶם. לֹא מְאַסְתִּים בְּבָבֶל, וְלֹא גְּעַלְתִּים בְּמָדַי, לְכַלּוֹתָם בְּיָוָן, לְהָפֵר בְּרִיתִי אִתָּם בְּמַלְכוּת הָרְשָׁעָה. כִּי אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵיהֶם לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא. תָּנֵי רַבִּי חִיָּא, לֹא מְאַסְתִּים בִּימֵי אַסְפַּיָאנוּס, וְלֹא גְעַלְתִּים בִּימֵי טְרַקְוִוינוֹס, לְכַלֹּתָם בִּימֵי הָמָן, לְהָפֵר בְּרִיתִי אִתָּם בִּימֵי רוֹמִיִּים, כִּי אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵיהֶם בִּימֵי גּוֹג וּמָגוֹג. “And despite this, even when they are in the land of their enemies, I have not spurned them and have not rejected them, to destroy them, to violate My covenant with them, as I am the Lord their God” (Leviticus 26:44).
Shmuel began: “And despite this, even when they are in the land of their enemies, I have not spurned them and have not rejected them, to destroy them, to violate My covenant with them, as I am the Lord their God.” – “I have not spurned them,” in Babylonia; “and have not rejected them,” in Media; “to destroy them,” in Greece; “to violate My covenant with them,” in the evil kingdom;⁸Rome. “as I am the Lord their God,” in the future. Rabbi Ḥiyya taught: “I have not spurned them,” during the reign of Vespasian; “and have not rejected them,” during the reign of Trajan; “to destroy them,” in the days of Haman; “to violate My covenant with them,” in the days of the Romans; “as I am the Lord their God,” in the days of Gog and Magog.

רַבִּי יוּדָא בַּר רַבִּי סִימוֹן פָּתַח (עמוס ה, יט): כַּאֲשֶׁר יָנוּס אִישׁ מִפְּנֵי הָאֲרִי, רַבִּי הוּנָא וְרַבִּי אַחָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חָמָא בַּר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא, כַּאֲשֶׁר יָנוּס אִישׁ מִפְּנֵי הָאֲרִי וגו' זוֹ בָּבֶל, עַל שֵׁם (דניאל ז, ד): קַדְמָיְתָא כְאַרְיֵה, וּפְגָעוֹ הַדֹּוֹב זוֹ מָדַי, עַל שֵׁם (דניאל ז, ה): וַאֲרוּ חֵיוָה אָחֳרִי תִנְיָנָה דָּמְיָה לְדֹב. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר לְדֹב כְּתִיב, דָּא הִיא דַעְתֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן (ירמיה ה, ו): עַל כֵּן הִכָּם אַרְיֵה מִיַּעַר זוֹ בָּבֶל, (ירמיה ה, ו): זְאֵב עֲרָבוֹת יְשָׁדְדֵם זוֹ מָדַי. נָמֵר שֹׁקֵד עַל עָרֵיהֶם זוֹ יָוָן. (ירמיה ה, ו): כָּל הַיּוֹצֵא מֵהֵנָּה יִטָּרֵף זוֹ אֱדוֹם, (עמוס ה, יט): וּבָא הַבַּיִת זֶה יָוָן, שֶׁהָיָה הַבַּיִת קַיָּם. וּנְשָׁכוֹ הַנָּחָשׁ זוֹ אֱדוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה מו, כב): קוֹלָהּ כַּנָּחָשׁ יֵלֵךְ, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (שיר השירים ה, ב): פִּתְחִי לִי אֲחֹתִי זוֹ בָּבֶל. רַעְיָתִי זוֹ מָדַי. יוֹנָתִי בְּיָוָן. תַּמָּתִי בֶּאֱדוֹם, שֶׁכָּל יְמֵי יָוָן הָיָה בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ קַיָּם, וְהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מַקְרִיבִין בּוֹ תּוֹרִים וּבְנֵי יוֹנָה עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. רַבִּי פִּנְחָס וְרַבִּי לֵוִי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי חָמָא בַּר חֲנִינָא פָּתְרִין, כְּתִיב (תהלים יח, ז): בַּצַּר לִי אֶקְרָא ה' בְּבָבֶל, וְאֶל אֱלֹהַי אֲשַׁוֵּעַ בְּמָדַי, יִשְׁמַע מֵהֵיכָלוֹ קוֹלִי בְּיָוָן. דְּאָמַר רַבִּי הוּנָא לְגַרְמֵיהּ, יוֹנָתִי בְּמַלְכוּת יָוָן, שֶׁכָּל יְמֵי יָוָן הָיָה הַהֵיכָל קַיָּם וְהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מַקְרִיבִין תּוֹרִים וּבְנֵי יוֹנָה עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. הֱוֵי: יִשְׁמַע מֵהֵיכָלוֹ קוֹלִי וְשַׁוְעָתִי לְפָנָיו תָּבוֹא בְאָזְנָיו בְּמַלְכוּת אֱדוֹם. דָּבָר אַחֵר, כַּאֲשֶׁר יָנוּס אִישׁ מִפְּנֵי הָאֲרִי זֶה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר, וּפְגָעוֹ הַדֹּב זֶה בֵּלְשַׁצַר, וּבָא הַבַּיִת וְסָמַךְ יָדוֹ עַל הַקִּיר וּנְשָׁכוֹ הַנָּחָשׁ זֶה הָמָן, שֶׁהָיָה נוֹשֵׁף עַמָּא כְּנָחָשׁ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (עזרא ד, ח): רְחוּם בְּעֵל טְעֵם וְשִׁמְשַׁי סָפְרָא זֶה בְּנוֹ שֶׁל הָמָן. (עזרא ד, ח): כְּתַבוּ אִגְּרָה חֲדָה לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׂתְּא מַלְכָּא כְּנֵמָא, וּמַה כְּתִיב בָּהּ (עזרא ד, כא): כְּעַן שִׂימוּ טְעֵם לְבַטָּלָא וגו' (עזרא ד, יג): מִנְדָּה זוֹ מִדַּת הָאָרֶץ, בְלוֹ זוֹ פְּרוֹגִינוֹן, וַהֲלָךְ זוֹ אַנְגַרְיָא, וְאַפְתֹם מַלְכִים תְּהַנְזִק. רַב הוּנָא וְרַבִּי פִּנְחָס אָמְרִין אֲפִלּוּ דְּבָרִים שֶׁהַמַּלְכוּת מִתְפַּתָּה בָּהֶם, כְּגוֹן בֵּי טֵיאַטְרָאוֹת וּבֵי קַרְקְסָאוֹת הִיא מַזֶּקֶת, כֵּיוָן שֶׁשָּׁלַח שָׁמַע וּבִטֵּל מְלֶאכֶת בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁרָאוּ כָךְ הִתְחִילוּ הַכֹּל צוֹוְחִין וַוי, וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ. “As when a man fled from the lion and a bear attacked him; he came home and leaned his hand on the wall, and a snake bit him” (Amos 5:19).
Rabbi Yuda son of Rabbi Simon began: “As when a man fled from the lion and a bear attacked him; he came home and leaned his hand on the wall, and a snake bit him.” Rabbi Huna and Rabbi Aḥa in the name of Rabbi Ḥama bar Rabbi Ḥanina said: “As when a man fled from the lion,” that is Babylonia, according to: “The first was like a lion” (Daniel 7:4); “and a bear attacked him,” that is Media, according to: “And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear” (Daniel 7:5).
Rabbi Yoḥanan said: le dev is written [“a second one, resembling a bear (dov)].”⁹ The words in the verse in Daniel 7:5 domeh le-dov, “resembling a bear,” could be vocalized domeh le-dev, meaning resembling a wolf, as dev can mean wolf in Aramaic. This is the opinion of Rabbi Yoḥanan, as Rabbi Yoḥanan said: “Therefore, a lion from the forest smote them” (Jeremiah 5:6), that is Babylonia; “a wolf of the deserts will plunder them” (Jeremiah 5:6), that is Media; “a leopard lies in wait near their cities” (Jeremiah 5:6), that is Greece; “everyone who emerges from them will be mauled” (Jeremiah 5:6), that is Edom; “he comes home” (Amos 5:19), that is Greece when the Temple stood; “and a snake bit him” (Amos 5:19), that is Edom, as it is stated: “Its sound will go forth like a snake” (Jeremiah 46:22).
Likewise, it says: “Open for me, my sister, my love, my dove, my faultless one,” (Song of Songs 5:2). “Open for me, my sister,” that is Babylonia; “my love,” that is Media; “my faultless one,” in Greece; “my dove,” in Edom, as throughout the days of Greece[’s hegemony] the Temple was standing and Israel was offering doves and pigeons on the altar.
Rabbi Pinḥas and Rabbi Levi in the name of Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina offered an interpretation [of “In my distress I called to the Lord and to my God I cried; from His Sanctuary He heard my voice, and my cry before Him came into His ears” (Psalms 18:7)]: It is written: “In my distress I called to the Lord,” in Babylonia; “and to my God I cried,” in Media; from His Sanctuary He heard my voice,” in Greece, as Rabbi Huna himself said: “My dove,” in Greece, as throughout the days of Greece, the Temple was standing and Israel was offering there doves and pigeons on the altar. That is: “from His Sanctuary He heard my voice and my cry before Him came into His ears,” in the kingdom of Edom.
Another matter: “ As when a man fled from the lion,” that is Nebuchadnezzar; “and a bear attacked him,” that is Belshatzar; “he came home and leaned his hand on the wall, and a snake bit him,” that is Haman, who would crush the people like a snake. That is as it is written: “Reḥum the commander and Shimshai the scribe” (Ezra 4:8), that is the son of Haman; “wrote a letter…to Artaxerxes the king, as follows” (ibid.). And what was written in it? “Now issue a decree to cease, and that this city not be rebuilt ….” (Ezra 4:21), [“they will no longer pay] minda” (Ezra 4:13), that is land tax; “belo” (ibid.), that is the poll tax; and “halakh” (ibid.), that is the king’s service; “and the revenue of the kings will be harmed” (ibid.). Rav Huna and Rabbi Pinḥas said: Even things with which the kingdom entertains itself, e.g., theaters and circuses, this people harms. When he sent it, it was received by the king, and he canceled work on the Temple. When they saw that, everyone began screaming: 'Woe [vai];' “it was [vayhi] during the days of Aḥashverosh” (Esther 1:1).

רַבִּי יִצְחָק פָּתַח (משלי כט, ב): בִּרְבוֹת צַדִּיקִים יִשְׂמַח הָעָם וּבִמְשֹׁל רָשָׁע יֵאָנַח עָם, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהַצַּדִּיקִים נוֹטְלִין גְּדֻלָּה, חֶדְוָה וְשִׂמְחָה בָּעוֹלָם, וָהּ וָהּ בָּעוֹלָם, וְהַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד, וָהּ שֶׁמָּלַךְ דָּוִד. וְהַמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה, וָהּ שֶׁמָּלַךְ שְׁלֹמֹה. וְהַמֶּלֶךְ אָסָא, וָהּ שֶׁמָּלַךְ אָסָא. אֵלּוּ בְּמַלְכֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּמַלְכֵי אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (עזרא א, ד): וְהַמֶּלֶךְ כּוֹרֶשׁ, וָהּ שֶׁמָּלַךְ כּוֹרֶשׁ. וּבְשָׁעָה שֶׁהָרְשָׁעִים נוֹטְלִין גְּדֻלָּה, וַוי וַאֲנָחָה וַחֲרוֹן אַף בָּעוֹלָם, (מלכים א טז, כח): וַיִּמְלֹךְ אַחְאָב בֶּן עָמְרִי, וַוי שֶׁמָּלַךְ אַחְאָב בֶּן עָמְרִי. וַיִּמְלֹךְ הוֹשֵׁעַ בֶּן אֵלָה, וַוי שֶׁמָּלַךְ הוֹשֵׁעַ בֶּן אֵלָה, (ירמיה לז, א): וַיִּמְלֹךְ מֶלֶךְ צִדְקִיָּהוּ בֶּן יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ, וַוי שֶׁמָּלַךְ צִדְקִיָּהוּ בֶּן יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ. בְּמַלְכֵי אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ, וַוי שֶׁמָּלַךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ. Rabbi Yitzḥak began: “With the rise of the righteous the people rejoice, and with the rule of the wicked the people sigh.” (Proverbs 29:2). When the righteous achieve prominence, there is joy and happiness in the world; there is joy [va]¹⁰The word king [melekh] is preceded with the prefix vav heh. Va is an expression of joy. in the world: “And the King [vehamelekh] David” (II Samuel 3:31), va that David reigned; “and the King [vehamelekh] Solomon” (I Kings 2:45) va that Solomon reigned; “and the King [vehamelekh] Asa” (I Kings 15:22), va that Asa reigned. This is regarding kings of Israel; from where [do we know] regarding kings of the nations of the world? As it is stated: “And Cyrus the King [vehamelekh]” (Ezra 1:4), va that Cyrus reigned.
But when the wicked achieve prominence, woe [vai],¹¹The word reign [yimlokh] is preceded with the prefix vav yod. Vai is an expression of woe. sighing, and enflamed wrath are in the world. “Ahab son of Omri reigned [vayimlokh] over Israel” (I Kings 16:29), vai that Ahab son of Omri reigned. “Hoshe’a son of Ela…reigned [vayimlokh]” (II Kings 15:30), vai that Hoshe’a son of Ela reigned. “Zedekiah son of Yoshiyahu reigned [vayimlokh]” (Jeremiah 37:1), vai that Zedekiah son of Josiah reigned. Regarding kings of the nations of the world, it is as it is written: “It was [vayhi] during the days of Aḥashverosh” (Esther 1:1), vai that Aḥashverosh reigned.

רַבִּי לֵוִי פָּתַח (במדבר לג, נה): וְאִם לֹא תוֹרִישׁוּ אֶת ישְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ מִפְּנֵיכֶם וְהָיָה אֲשֶׁר תּוֹתִירוּ מֵהֶם, מְדַבֵּר בְּשָׁאוּל, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ שְׁמוּאֵל (שמואל א טו, ג): עַתָּה לֵךְ וְהִכִּיתָ אֶת עֲמָלֵק, אֲמַר לֵיהּ אֲזַלְתְּ זַכָּאָה וַאֲתֵית חַיָּיבָא וְחַסְתְּ עֲלוֹי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל א טו, ט): וַיַּחְמֹל שָׁאוּל וְהָעָם עַל אֲגָג, וְהָא צִמְחָא קַיָּימָא מִינֵּיהּ שֶׁהוּא עוֹשֶׂה לָכֶם דְּבָרִים קָשִׁים, לְשִׂכִּים בְּעֵינֵיכֶם וְלִצְנִינִם בְּצִדֵּיכֶם, וְאֵיזֶה זֶה, זֶה הָמָן, שֶׁאָמַר: לְהַשְׁמִיד לַהֲרֹג וּלְאַבֵּד, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁרָאוּ הַכֹּל כֵּן, הִתְחִילוּ צוֹוְחִין וַוי, וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ. Rabbi Levi began: “But if you will not dispossess the inhabitants of the land from before you, those who you leave will be like thorns in your eyes, and like stones in your sides, and they will trouble you in the land you inhabit” (Numbers 33:55). [This verse] refers to Saul. When Samuel said to him: “Now go and smite Amalek” (I Samuel 15:3), he said to him: You went innocent and you returned guilty and spared him, as it is stated: “Saul and the people spared Agag” (I Samuel 15:9). A scion will remain from him, who will perform harsh actions against you; “will be like thorns in your eyes, and like stones in your sides.” And who is that? It is Haman, who said: “To destroy, to kill, and to eliminate” (Esther 3:13). When everyone saw that it was so, they began screaming: ‘Woe [vai];’ “it was [vayhi] during the days of Aḥashverosh” (Esther 1:1).

רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בַּר אָדָא פָּתַח (קהלת י, יב): דִּבְרֵי פִי חָכָם חֵן זֶה כּוֹרֶשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (עזרא א, ב): כֹּה אָמַר כֹּרֶשׁ מֶלֶךְ פָּרַס כֹּל מַמְלְכוֹת הָאָרֶץ נָתַן לִי ה' אֱלֹהֵי הַשָּׁמָיִם וְהוּא פָקַד עָלַי לִבְנוֹת לוֹ בַיִת בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם אֲשֶׁר בִּיהוּדָה. (קהלת י, יב): וְשִׂפְתוֹת כְּסִיל תְּבַלְּעֶנּוּ, שֶׁאָמַר (עזרא א, ג): הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר בִּירוּשָׁלָיִם, (קהלת י, יג): תְּחִלַּת דִּבְרֵי פִיהוּ סִכְלוּת, מַה הַסִּכְלוּת (עזרא א, ג): מִי בָכֶם בְּכָל עַמּוֹ יְהִי אֱלֹהָיו עִמּוֹ. (קהלת י, יג): וְאַחֲרִית פִּיהוּ הוֹלֵלוּת רָעָה, דִּי גְּזַר וַאֲמַר דִּי עֲבַר פְּרָת עֲבַר וְדִי לָא עֲבַר לָא יַעֲבֹר. דָּבָר אַחֵר, תְּחִלַּת דִּבְרֵי וגו', זֶה אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (עזרא ד, ו): וּבְמַלְכוּת אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ בִּתְחִלַּת מַלְכוּתוֹ כָּתְבוּ שִׂטְנָה וגו', וְאַחְרִית פִּיהוּ וגו', שֶׁעָלָה וּבִטֵּל מְלֶאכֶת בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאוּ הַכֹּל כֵּן הִתְחִילוּ צוֹוְחִין וַוי, וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ. Rabbi Ḥanina bar Ada began: [“The words of the mouth of a wise man are grace, and the lips of a fool will swallow him” (Ecclesiastes 10:12).] “The words of the mouth of a wise man are grace” – that is Cyrus, as it is stated: “So said Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, God of the heavens, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has commanded me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah” (Ezra 1:2). “And the lips of a fool will swallow him” – as he (Cyrus) said: “He is the God who is in Jerusalem”¹²The implication being that He is only the god of Jerusalem, which demonstrates Cyrus’ foolishness. (Ezra 1:3).
“The beginning of the words from his mouth is foolishness and the result from his mouth is evil debauchery” (Ecclesiastes 10:13). What is the foolishness? “Any of you from all His people, may his God be with him…”¹³“His God,” implying that other nations have their own gods. (Ezra 1:3). “The result from his mouth is evil debauchery,” as he decreed, saying: Whoever crossed the Euphrates, crossed; and whoever has not crossed, shall not cross.
Another matter: “The beginning of the words...” that is Aḥashverosh, as it is stated: “In the reign of Aḥashverosh, at the beginning of his reign, they wrote a libel against the residents of Judah and Jerusalem.” (Ezra 4:6). “The result from his mouth is evil debauchery,” as he went up and cancelled the work on the Temple. When everyone saw that it was so, they began screaming: ‘Woe [vai];’ “it was [vayhi] during the days of Aḥashverosh” (Esther 1:1).

רַבִּי יוּדָא בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן פָּתַח (איוב לד, ל): מִמְּלֹךְ אָדָם חָנֵף מִמֹּקְשֵׁי עָם, רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְרֵישׁ לָקִישׁ, רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהַמֶּלֶךְ חָנֵף וּמוֹשֵׁל עַל הַבְּרִיּוֹת, מִמֹּקְשֵׁי עָם, מִן קַשְׁיוּתֵיהֶן וְחוֹבֵיהֶן דִּבְרִיָּתָא דִּי לָא עָבְדִין רְעוּתֵיהּ דְּבָרְיָיא עָלְמָא, רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ אוֹמֵר נוֹחַ לָהֶן לַבְּרִיּוֹת לְהַגְדִּיל לָהֶן כְּנָפַיִם וְלִפְרֹחַ בָּאֲוִיר, וְאַל יִמָּסְרוּ וְיִשְׁתַּעְבְּדוּ תַּחַת יַד מֶלֶךְ חָנֵף. דָּבָר אַחֵר, מִמְלֹךְ אָדָם חָנֵף, זֶה אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ, שֶׁהָיָה חָנֵף, שֶׁהָרַג אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ מִפְּנֵי אוֹהֲבוֹ, וּפַעַם אַחֶרֶת הָרַג אֶת אוֹהֲבוֹ מִפְּנֵי אִשְׁתּוֹ. אַבָּא אוֹרְיָן אִישׁ צִידָן אָמַר חֲמִשָּׁה דְבָרִים מִשֵּׁם רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל, מִן דִּסְגוֹ דַּיָּינֵי שִׁקְרָא סְגוֹן סַהֲדֵי שִׁקְרָא. מִן דִּסְגוֹן דֵּלָטוֹרְיָא סַגִיָן מָמוֹנְהוֹן דִּבְרִיָּיתָא מִתְבַּזְּזָה. מִדִּסְגוֹ אַפַּיָּיא חֲצִיפָתָא, אִיתְנְסֵיב הוֹדָא וַהֲדָרָא וִיקָרָא מִן בְּרִיָּיתָא. מִן דְּאַכְעֲסוּן בְּנַיָא חֲבִיבַיָא עוֹבָדֵיהוֹן קֳדָם אֲבוּהוֹן דְּבִשְׁמַיָא, אֲקֵים עֲלֵיהוֹן מַלְכָּא חֲנֵפָא וְיִתְפְּרַע מִנְּהוֹן, וְאֵי זֶה זֶה אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ. וְכֵיוָן שֶׁרָאוּ הַכֹּל כֵּן, הִתְחִלּוּ צוֹוְחִין וַי, וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ. Rabbi Yuda son of Rabbi Simon began: “From a hypocritical person’s rule; from snares of the people” (Job 34:30). Rabbi Yoḥanan and Reish Lakish: Rabbi Yoḥanan said: When the king is a hypocrite and rules the people, “from snares [mimokeshei] of the people,” it is due to the stubbornness [kashyuteihen] and the liabilities of the people who do not perform the will of the Creator of the world. Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: It is preferable for people to grow themselves wings and fly in the air rather than for them to be turned over and subjugated to a hypocritical king.
Alternatively, “from a hypocritical person’s rule,” that is Aḥashverosh, who was hypocritical, who killed his wife because of his friend, and a different time killed his friend because of his wife.
Abba Oriyan of Sidon said five things in the name of Rabban Gamliel:
When lying judges increase, lying witnesses increase.
When informants increase, the property of the people is plundered.
When brazenness increases, glory, majesty, and honor are taken from the people.
When the actions of beloved children anger their Father in Heaven, He sets over them a hypocritical king who exacts retribution from them.¹⁴Abba Oriyan is said to list five things he heard from Rabban Gamliel, and this list contains only four. In Yalkut Shimoni, Esther, 1,044, the following is inserted here: “When the younger says to the elder: I am greater than you, the lives of people are truncated.”
And who is this? It is Aḥashverosh. When everyone saw that it was so, they began screaming; ‘Woe [vai];’ “it was [vayhi] during the days of Aḥashverosh” (Esther 1:1).

רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה פָּתַח (ישעיה מא, ד): מִי פָעַל וְעָשָׂה קֹרֵא הַדֹּרוֹת מֵרֹאשׁ וגו', מִתְּחִלַּת בְּרִיָּתוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם הִתְקִין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מַה שֶּׁרָאוּי לוֹ, אָדָם רֹאשׁ לַיְצוּרִים, קַיִן רֹאשׁ לַהוֹרְגִים, הֶבֶל רֹאשׁ לַנֶּהֱרָגִים, נֹחַ רֹאשׁ לַנִּמְלָטִים, אַבְרָהָם רֹאשׁ לַמּוּלִים, יִצְחָק רֹאשׁ לַנֶּעֱקָדִים, יַעֲקֹב רֹאשׁ לַתְּמִימִים, יְהוּדָה רֹאשׁ לַשְּׁבָטִים, יוֹסֵף רֹאשׁ לַחֲסִידִים, אַהֲרֹן רֹאשׁ לַכֹּהֲנִים, משֶׁה רֹאשׁ לַנְּבִיאִים, יְהוֹשֻׁעַ רֹאשׁ לַכּוֹבְשִׁים, עָתְנִיאֵל רֹאשׁ לַמְּחַלְּקִים, שְׁמוּאֵל לַמּוֹשְׁחִים, שָׁאוּל לַנִּמְשָׁחִים, דָּוִד רֹאשׁ לַמְּנַגְנִים, שְׁלֹמֹה רֹאשׁ לַבּוֹנִים, נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר רֹאשׁ לַמַּחֲרִיבִים, אֲחַשְׁוֵרשׁ רֹאשׁ לַמּוֹכְרִים, הָמָן רֹאשׁ לַקּוֹנִים, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁרָאוּי הַכֹּל כֵּן, הִתְחִלּוּ צוֹוְחִין וַוי, וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ. Rabbi Berekhya began: “Who acted and accomplished it? He who proclaimed the generations from the beginning; I, the Lord was first and with the last, I am He” (Isaiah 41:4). From the beginning of the creation of the world, the Holy One, blessed be He, instituted for each and every person what is appropriate for him: Adam, head of the created; Cain, head of the killers; Abel, head of the killed; Noah, head of the survivors; Abraham, head of the circumcised; Isaac, head of the bound; Jacob, head of the wholehearted; Judah, head of the tribes; Joseph, head of the pious; Aaron, head of the priests; Moses, head of the prophets; Joshua, head of the conquerors; Otniel, head of the allocators;¹⁵He completed the allocation of the tribal portions that Joshua did not allocate in his lifetime. Samuel, of the anointers; Saul, of the anointed; David, of the musicians; Solomon, head of the builders; Nebuchadnezzar, head of the destroyers; Aḥashverosh, head of the sellers; Haman, head of the buyers; when everyone saw that it was so, they began screaming: ‘Woe [vai];’ “it was [vayhi] during the days of Aḥashverosh” (Esther 1:1).

רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא וְרַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה וְרַבִּי חִיָּיא רַבָּה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר פָּתְרִין, הַמִּדְרָשׁ הַזֶּה עָלָה בְּיָדֵינוּ מִן הַגּוֹלָה, כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַיְהִי אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא צָרָה. וְרַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן פָּתַר מִדְרָשׁ זֶה עָלָה בְּיָדֵינוּ, כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַיְהִי בִּימֵי, אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא צָרָה. אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן וַחֲמִשָּׁה הֵן, (בראשית יד, א): וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אַמְרָפֶל, וּמַה צָרָה הָיְתָה שָׁם עָשׂוּ מִלְחָמָה וגו'. לְאוֹהֲבוֹ שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ שֶׁהָיָה שָׁרוּי בַּמְּדִינָה, וּבִשְׁבִילוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ נִזְקַק לַמְּדִינָה, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁבָּאוּ בַּרְבָּרִין וְנִזְדַּוְּגוּ לוֹ, אָמְרוּ וַוי שֶׁאֵין הַמֶּלֶךְ נִזְקַק לַמְּדִינָה כְּמוֹת שֶׁהָיָה עוֹשֶׂה. כָּךְ אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ אוֹהֲבוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, (בראשית יב, ג): וְנִבְרְכוּ בְךָ כֹּל מִשְׁפְּחֹת הָאֲדָמָה וּבְזַרְעֶךָ. וּבִשְׁבִילוֹ הָיָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא נִזְקָק לְכָל עוֹלָמוֹ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (בראשית יד, ז): וַיָּשֻׁבוּ וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל עֵין מִשְׁפָּט הִוא קָדֵשׁ, לֹא בִקְשׁוּ לְהִזְדַּוֵּג אֶלָּא לְגַלְגַּל עֵינוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, עַיִן שֶׁעָשְׂתָה מִדַּת הַדִּין בָּעוֹלָם בִּקְּשׁוּ לְסַמּוֹתָה, הִוא קָדֵשׁ, אָמַר רַבִּי אַחָא הוּא כְּתִיב, הוּא שֶׁקִּדֵּשׁ שְׁמוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְיָרַד לְכִבְשַׁן הָאֵשׁ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאוּ הַכֹּל שֶׁבָּאוּ כָּל הַמְּלָכִים וְנִזְדַּוְּגוּ לוֹ, הִתְחִילוּ צוֹוְחִין וַוי, וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אַמְרָפֶל. (רות א, א): וַיְהִי בִּימֵי שְׁפֹט הַשֹּׁפְטִים, וּמַה צָּרָה הָיְתָה שָׁם, וַיְהִי רָעָב בָּאָרֶץ, לִמְדִינָה שֶׁהָיְתָה חַיֶּבֶת לִיפַס שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ, וְשָׁלַח הַמֶּלֶךְ גַּבַּאי טַמְיוֹן לִגְבּוֹתָהּ, מֶה עָשׂוּ בְּנֵי הַמְּדִינָה, תָּלוּ אוֹתוֹ וְהִכּוּ אוֹתוֹ וְגָבוּ אוֹתָהּ. אָמְרוּ וַוי לִכְשֶׁיַּרְגִּישׁ הַמֶּלֶךְ בַּדְּבָרִים הַלָּלוּ, מַה שֶּׁשְׁלוּחוֹ שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ מְבַקֵּשׁ לַעֲשׂוֹת לָנוּ עָשִׂינוּ לוֹ. כָּךְ כְּשֶׁהָיָה אֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל הָיָה עוֹשֶׂה דְבָרִים שֶׁלֹא כָּרָאוּי מוֹלִיכִין אוֹתוֹ אֶל הַדַּיָּן, וּמַה שֶּׁהַדַּיָּן מְבַקֵּשׁ לַעֲשׂוֹת לַנִּשְׁפָּט הָיָה הַנִּשְׁפָּט עוֹשֶׂה לַדַּיָּן, אָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אַתֶּם מְבַזִּים אֶת שׁוֹפְטֵיכֶם חַיֵּיכֶם שֶׁאֲנִי מֵבִיא עֲלֵיכֶם דָּבָר שֶׁאֵין אַתֶּם יְכוֹלִין לַעֲמֹד בּוֹ, וְאֵיזֶה זֶה, זֶה הָרָעָב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיְהִי בִּימֵי שְׁפֹט הַשֹּׁפְטִים וַיְהִי רָעָב בָּאָרֶץ. (ישעיה ז, א): וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אָחָז, וּמַה צָּרָה הָיְתָה שָׁם, דִּכְתִיב (ישעיה ט, יא): אֲרָם מִקֶּדֶם וּפְלִשְׁתִּים מֵאָחוֹר, לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁמָּסַר בְּנוֹ לְפַדְגוֹג וְהָיָה פַּדְגוֹגוֹ שׂוֹנֵא אוֹתוֹ, אָמַר אִם אֲנִי הוֹרְגוֹ אֲנִי מִתְחַיֵּב מִיתָה לַמֶּלֶךְ, אֶלָּא הֲרֵינִי מוֹשֵׁךְ מֵינִקְתּוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ וְהוּא מֵת מֵאֵלָיו. כָּךְ אָמַר אָחָז אִם אֵין גְּדָיִים אֵין תְּיָשִׁים אִם אֵין תְּיָשִׁים אֵין צֹאן, אִם אֵין צֹאן אֵין רוֹעֶה אִם אֵין רוֹעֶה אֵין עוֹלָם מִתְקַיֵּם, כָּךְ הָיָה אָחָז סָבוּר וְאוֹמֵר אִם אֵין קְטַנִּים אֵין גְּדוֹלִים, אִם אֵין גְּדוֹלִים אֵין תַּלְמִידִים, אִם אֵין תַּלְמִידִים אֵין חֲכָמִים, אִם אֵין חֲכָמִים אֵין זְקֵנִים, אִם אֵין זְקֵנִים אֵין תּוֹרָה, אִם אֵין תּוֹרָה אֵין בָּתֵּי כְנֵסִיּוֹת וּבָתֵּי מִדְרָשׁוֹת, אִם אֵין בָּתֵּי כְנֵסִיּוֹת וּמִדְרָשׁוֹת אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַשְׁרֶה שְׁכִינָתוֹ בָּעוֹלָם, מֶה עָשָׂה עָמַד וְנָעַל כָּל בָּתֵּי כְנֵסִיּוֹת וּמִדְרָשׁוֹת שֶׁלֹא לְהִתְעַסֵּק בַּתּוֹרָה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ישעיה ח, טז): צוֹר תְּעוּדָה חֲתוֹם תּוֹרָה בְּלִמֻּדָי. רַבִּי הוּנָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ אָחָז, שֶׁאָחַז בָּתֵּי כְנֵסִיּוֹת וּמִדְרָשׁוֹת. רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב בַּר אַבָּא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אַחָא שָׁמַע לָהּ מִן הָדֵין קְרָא, דִּכְתִיב (ישעיה ח, יז): וְחִכִּיתִי לַה' הַמַּסְתִּיר פָּנָיו מִבֵּית יַעֲקֹב וְקִוֵּיתִי לוֹ, אֵין לְךָ שָׁעָה שֶׁהָיְתָה קָשָׁה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל כְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים לא, יח): וְאָנֹכִי הַסְתֵּר אַסְתִּיר אֶת פָּנַי בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא עַל כָּל הָרָעָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה וגו', וּמֵאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה קִוֵּיתִי לוֹ, דִּכְתִיב: כִּי לֹא תִשָּׁכַח מִפִּי זַרְעוֹ, וּמָה אַתְּ מוֹעִיל (ישעיה ח, יח): הִנֵּה אָֹנכִי וְהַיְלָדִים אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לִי ה' לְאֹתוֹת וּלְמוֹפְתִים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְכִי יְלָדָיו הָיוּ וַהֲלֹא לֹא הָיוּ אֶלָּא תַּלְמִידָיו, אֶלָּא מִכָּאן שֶׁתַּלְמִידוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם נִקְרָא בְּנוֹ, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁרָאוּ הַכֹּל שֶׁאָחַז בָּתֵּי כְנֵסִיּוֹת וּבָתֵּי מִדְרָשׁוֹת, הִתְחִילוּ אוֹמְרִים וַוי, וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אָחָז. (ירמיה א, ג): וַיְהִי בִּימֵי יְהוֹיָקִים בֶּן יֹאשִׁיָּהוּ, מַה צָּרָה הָיְתָה שָׁם (ירמיה ד, כג): רָאִיתִי אֶת הָאָרֶץ וְהִנֵּה תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ וגו', לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁשָּׁלַח כְּתָבִים מִמְּדִינָה לִמְדִינָה וּבְכָל מְדִינָה וּמְדִינָה שֶׁהָיוּ מַגִּיעִים כְּתָבָיו שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ הָיוּ מְחַבְּקִים וּמְנַשְּׁקִים אוֹתָם עוֹמְדִים עַל רַגְלֵיהֶם וּפוֹרְעִים רָאשֵׁיהֶם וְקוֹרִין אוֹתָם בְּיִרְאָה בְּאֵימָה בִּרְתֵת וּבְזִיעַ, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהִגִּיעוּ לִמְדִינָתוֹ שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ קָרְאוּם וּקְרָעוּם וּשְׂרָפוּם. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ירמיה לו, כג): וַיְהִי כִּקְרוֹא יְהוּדִי שָׁלשׁ דְּלָתוֹת וְאַרְבָּעָה וגו', כִּתְלָתָא אוֹ כְּאַרְבָּעָה פְּסוּקִים, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהִגִּיעוּ לַפָּסוּק הַחֲמִישִׁי הָיוּ צָרֶיהָ לְרֹאשׁ, מִיָּד (ירמיה לו, כג): יִקְרָעֶהָ בְּתַעַר הַסֹּפֵר וְהַשְׁלֵךְ אֶל הָאֵשׁ אֲשֶׁר אֶל הָאָח וגו', וְכֵיוָן שֶׁרָאוּ הַכֹּל כָּךְ הִתְחִילוּ צוֹוְחִין וַוי, וַיְהִי בִּימֵי יְהוֹיָקִים, וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ, מַה צָּרָה הָיְתָה שָׁם, לְהַשְׁמִיד לַהֲרֹג וּלְאַבֵּד. לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁנִּכְנַס בְּכֶרֶם וְנִזְדַּוְגוּ לוֹ שְׁלשָׁה שׂוֹנְאִים, הָרִאשׁוֹן הִתְחִיל מְקַטֵּף בָּעוֹלֵלוֹת, הַשֵּׁנִי הִתְחִיל מְזַנֵּב בָּאֶשְׁכּוֹלוֹת, וְהַשְּׁלִישִׁי הִתְחִיל עוֹקֵר בַּגְּפָנִים. כָּךְ פַּרְעֹה הָרָשָׁע הִתְחִיל מְקַטֵּף בָּעוֹלֵלוֹת, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שמות א, כב): וַיְצַו פַּרְעֹה לְכָל עַמּוֹ לֵאמֹר כָּל הַבֵּן הַיִּלּוֹד הַיְאֹרָה תַּשְׁלִיכֻהוּ. נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר שְׁחִיק עֲצָמוֹת הִתְחִיל מְזַנֵּב בָּאֶשְׁכּוֹלוֹת, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (מלכים ב כד, טז): וְהֶחָרָשׁ וְהַמַּסְגֵּר אֶלֶף. רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יְהוּדָה הֶחָרָשׁ אֶלֶף וְהַמַּסְגֵּר אֶלֶף. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי הֶחָרָשׁ וְהַמַּסְגֵּר אֶלֶף. רַבִּי יוּדָא בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר אֵלּוּ תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים. וְרַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר רַבִּי יִצְחָק אָמַר אֵלּוּ הַּבַּלְיוֹטִין. הָמָן הָרָשָׁע שְׁחִיק מְחִיק הִתְחִיל עוֹקֵר בַּגְּפָנִים, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: לְהַשְׁמִיד לַהֲרֹג וּלְאַבֵּד, בִּקֵּשׁ לְקַעְקֵעַ בֵּיצָתָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּעָא דְּיִזְבּוֹן בְּכָל בֵּיתָא, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁרָאוּ הַכֹּל כֵּן, הִתְחִלּוּ צוֹוְחִין וַוי, וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ. שִׁמְעוֹן בַּר אַבָּא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן אָמַר כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַיְהִי, מְשַׁמֵּשׁ צָרָה וְשִׂמְחָה, אִם צָרָה אֵין צָרָה כַּיּוֹצֵא בָהּ, אִם שִׂמְחָה אֵין שִׂמְחָה כַּיּוֹצֵא בָהּ. אֲתָא רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן וַעֲבָדָהּ פַּלְגוּ, כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַיְהִי מְשַׁמֵּשׁ צָרָה, וְכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְהָיָה, שִׂמְחָה. אֲתִיבוּן וְהָא כְתִיב וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי אוֹר וַיְהִי אוֹר. אֲמַר לוֹן אַף הִיא אֵינָהּ שִׂמְחָה, שֶׁלֹא זָכָה הָעוֹלָם לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ לְאוֹתָהּ אוֹרָה. אָמַר רַבִּי יוּדָא בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן, אוֹרָה שֶׁנִּבְרֵאת בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן הָיָה אָדָם צוֹפֶה וּמַבִּיט בָּהּ מִסּוֹף הָעוֹלָם וְעַד סוֹפוֹ, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁצָּפָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּדוֹר אֱנוֹשׁ וּבְדוֹר הַמַּבּוּל וּבְדוֹר הַפְלָגָה שֶׁהֵן עֲתִידִין לַחֲטוֹא לְפָנָיו, עָמַד וּגְנָזָהּ מֵהֶם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (איוב לח, טו): וְיִמָּנַע מֵרְשָׁעִים אוֹרָם, וְהֵיכָן גְּנָזָהּ, בְּגַן עֵדֶן, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים צז, יא): אוֹר זָרֻעַ לַצַּדִּיק וּלְיִשְׁרֵי לֵב שִׂמְחָה. אֲתִיבוּן וַיְהִי עֶרֶב וַיְהִי בֹקֶר יוֹם אֶחָד, אֲמַר לוֹן אַף הֲדָא אֵינָהּ שִׂמְחָה, שֶׁכָּל מַה שֶּׁנִּבְרָא בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן הֵן עֲתִידִין לְהִבָּלוֹת, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ישעיה נא, ו): כִּי שָׁמַיִם כֶּעָשָׁן נִמְלָחוּ וְהָאָרֶץ כַּבֶּגֶד תִּבְלֶה. אֲתִיבוּן וְהָכְתִיב יוֹם שֵׁנִי, יוֹם שְׁלִישִׁי, עַד יוֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁי, אֲמַר לוֹן אַף הֲדָא אֵינָהּ שִׂמְחָה, שֶׁכָּל מַה שֶּׁנִּבְרָא בְּשֵׁשֶׁת יְמֵי בְרֵאשִׁית צְרִיכִין עֲשִׂיָּה, שֶׁאֵינָן נַעֲשִׂין עֲשִׂיָּה שְׁלֵמָה, כְּגוֹן הַחִטִּים צְרִיכִים לְהִטָּחֵן, וְהַחַרְדָּל וְהַתֻּרְמוֹסִין צְרִיכִין לְהִמָּתֵק. אֲתִיבוּן (בראשית לט, ב): וַיְהִי ה' אֶת יוֹסֵף, אֲמַר לוֹן אַף הֲדָא אֵינָהּ שִׂמְחָה, שֶׁמִּתּוֹךְ כָּךְ נִתְגָרְתָה אוֹתָהּ הַדֹּב. אֲתִיבוּן (ויקרא ט, א): וַיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי קָרָא משֶׁה לְאַהֲרֹן וּלְבָנָיו, אֲמַר לוֹן אַף הֲדָא אֵינוֹ טוֹב, שֶׁבְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם מֵתוּ נָדָב וַאֲבִיהוּא וּבָכוּ לָהֶם כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא י, ו): וַאֲחֵיכֶם כָּל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל יִבְכּוּ אֶת הַשְֹּׂרֵפָה. אֲתִיבוּן (במדבר ז, א): וַיְהִי בְּיוֹם כַּלּוֹת משֶׁה לְהָקִים אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן, אֲמַר לוֹן אַף הֲדָא אֵינָהּ שִׂמְחָה, שֶׁנִּגְנַז בּוֹ בִּנְיָנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם. אֲתִיבוּן (יהושע ז, א): וַיְהִי ה' אֶת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, אֲמַר לוֹן אֵינָהּ שִׂמְחָה שֶׁבּוֹ בַּיּוֹם נֶהֱרַג יָאִיר שֶׁהָיָה שָׁקוּל כְּרֻבָּה שֶׁל סַנְהֶדְּרִין, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (יהושע ז, ה): וַיַּכּוּ מֵהֶם אַנְשֵׁי הָעַי כִּשְׁלשִׁים וְשִׁשָּׁה אִישׁ, שְׁלשִׁים וְשִׁשָּׁה אֲנָשִׁים אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן אֶלָּא כִּשְׁלשִׁים וְשִׁשָּׁה אִישׁ זֶה יָאִיר שֶׁשָּׁקוּל כְּרֻבָּה שֶׁל סַנְהֶדְּרִין, מַה כְּתִיב שָׁם וַיִּקְרַע יְהוֹשֻׁעַ שִׂמְלוֹתָיו. אֲתִיבוּן (שמואל א יח, יד): וַיְהִי דָוִד בְּכָל דְּרָכָו מַשְׂכִּיל, אֲמַר לוֹן אֵינָהּ שִׂמְחָה, שֶׁמִּתּוֹךְ כָּךְ כְּתִיב (שמואל א יח, ט): וַיְהִי שָׁאוּל עוֹיֵן אֶת דָּוִד. אֲתִיבוּן (דברי הימים א יז, א): וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר יָשַׁב דָּוִד בְּבֵיתוֹ, אֲמַר לוֹן אֵינָהּ שִׂמְחָה, שֶׁבְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם בָּא נָתָן הַנָּבִיא וְאָמַר לוֹ (דברי הימים א יז, א): לֹא אַתָּה תִּבְנֶה לִי הַבַּיִת. אָמְרִין לֵיהּ אַמְרִינַן דִּילָן, אֱמֹר אַתְּ דִּילָךְ, אָמַר לָהֶם כְּתִיב (יואל ד, יח): וְהָיָה בַיּוֹם הַהוּא יִטְפוּ הֶהָרִים עָסִיס. (זכריה יד, ח): וְהָיָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יֵצְאוּ מַיִם חַיִּים מִירוּשָׁלַיִם. (ישעיה ז, כא): וְהָיָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יְחַיֶּה אִישׁ עֶגְלַת בָּקָר וּשְׁתֵּי צֹאן. (מיכה ה, ז): וְהָיָה שְׁאֵרִית יַעֲקֹב בַּגּוֹיִם. (ישעיה כז, יג): וְהָיָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִתָּקַע בְּשׁוֹפָר גָּדוֹל. (תהלים א, ג): וְהָיָה כְּעֵץ שָׁתוּל עַל פַּלְגֵי מָיִם. אֲתִיבוּן לֵיהּ (ירמיה לח, כח): וְהָיָה כַּאֲשֶׁר נִלְכְּדָה יְרוּשָׁלָיִם. אֲמַר לוֹן אַף הַהִיא אֵינָהּ צָרָה אֶלָּא שִׂמְחָה, שֶׁבּוֹ בַּיּוֹם נוֹלַד מְנַחֵם וְנָטְלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אַפּוּכֵי עַל עֲוֹנוֹתֵיהֶן, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל אַפּוּכֵי גְדוֹלָה נָטְלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל עֲוֹנוֹתֵיהֶן בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁחָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (איכה ד, כב): תַּם עֲוֹנֵךְ בַּת צִיּוֹן. Rabbi Tanḥuma, Rabbi Berekhya, and Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great interpreted in the name of Rabbi Elazar: This midrash came up with us from the Exile. Everyplace that vayhi is stated, it means nothing but trouble. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman interpreted in the name of Rabbi Yonatan: This midrash came into our possession. Everyplace that vayhi bimei is stated, it means nothing but trouble.
Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: They are five:
“It was during the days of [vayhi bimei] Amrafel king of Shinar, Ariokh, king of Elasar, Kedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Tidal, king of Goyim” (Genesis 14:1). What was the trouble there? “They waged war with Bera, king of Sodom…” (Genesis 14:2). [This is analogous] to the beloved of a king who resided in a province and, for his sake, the king attended to that province. When barbarians came and afflicted him [the beloved of the king], they [the other residents of the province] said: ‘Woe unto us that the king is not attending to the province the way that he once did.’ So too, Abraham our patriarch, the beloved of the Holy One, blessed be He, “all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you” (Genesis 12:4). For his sake, the Holy One blessed be He attended to His entire world. That is what is written: “They returned and came to Ein Mishpat, which is Kadesh” (Genesis 14:7). They sought to afflict only the eye of the world [Abraham]. They sought to blind the eye that acts upon the attribute of justice in the world. ¹⁶ This probably means that Abraham is responsible for the suppression of the attribute of justice, the result of which is that God rules the world through the attribute of mercy. “Which is [hi] Kadesh” – Rabbi Aḥa said: Hu [i.e. he rather than she] is written. He [Abraham] sanctified [kiddesh] the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, and he went into the fiery furnace. When everyone saw that all the kings came to afflict him, they began screaming: ‘Woe [vai];’ “it was [vayhi] during the reign of Amrafel.”
“It was during the days [vayhi bimei] when the judges judged; there was a famine in the land and a man from Bethlehem in Judah went to stay in the field of Moab, he, his wife, and his two sons” (Ruth 1:1). What was the trouble there? “There was a famine in the land.” [This is comparable] to a province that owed a tax to the king, and the king sent a tax collector to collect it. What did the residents of the province do? They suspended him [on a pole] and struck him and extracted it [the money] from him. They said: Woe unto us when the king becomes aware of these matters; we did to the emissary of the king what he sought to do to us. So too, when one of the people of Israel would perform inappropriate actions, they would take him to the judge, and what the judge sought to do to the defendant, the defendant would do to the judge. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: You humiliate your judges; by your lives, I will bring upon you a matter that you are unable to endure. What is that? It is famine, as it is stated: “It was during the days when the judges judged, there was a famine in the land” (Ruth 1:1).
“It was during the days of [vayhi bimei] Aḥaz son of Yotam, son of Uziyahu, king of Judah; Retzin, king of Aram and Pekaḥ, son of Remalyahu, king of Israel, went to war against Jerusalem, but he was unable to make war against it” (Isaiah 7:1). What was the trouble there? It was as it is written: “Aram from the east and the Philistines from the west” (Isaiah 9:11). [This is comparable] to a king who handed his son over to a tutor, and his tutor hated him. He said: If I kill him, I will be condemned to death by the king; instead, I will withhold his nurse from him, and he will die on his own. So too, Aḥaz said: If there are no kids, there are no goats, and if there are no goats there is no flock, and if there is no flock there is no shepherd, and if there is no shepherd, the world cannot exist. So Aḥaz thought and said: If there are no children, there are no adults, and if there are no adults there are no students, if there are no students there are no scholars, if there are no scholars there are no elders, if there are no elders there is no Torah, if there is no Torah there are no synagogues and study halls, if there are no synagogues and study halls, the Holy One, blessed be He, will not rest His Divine Presence in the world. What did he do? He arose and locked all the synagogues and study halls, so that no one would engage in Torah study. That is what is written: “Bind the testimony, seal the Torah in my disciples” (Isaiah 8:16).
Rav Huna said in the name of Rabbi Elazar: Why was he named Aḥaz? It is because he seized [aḥaz] the synagogues and study halls. Rabbi Yaakov bar Abba in the name of Rabbi Aḥa derived it from this verse, as it is written: “I will wait for the Lord, who conceals His face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope for Him” (Isaiah 8:17). There was no time that was as grim for Israel as that time, as it is stated: “I will conceal My face on that day because of all the evil that they did…” (Deuteronomy 31:18). But from that moment I hoped for Him,¹⁷A reference to the verse quoted above “I will wait for the Lord, who conceals His face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope for Him” (Isaiah 8:17). as it is written: “As it will not be forgotten from the mouths of their descendants” (Deuteronomy 31:21). What did you [Aḥaz] accomplish? “Behold, I [Isaiah] and the children whom the Lord gave me are to become signs and wonders in Israel” (Isaiah 8:18). Were they his children? Surely, they were nothing but his students! Rather, from here [we learn] that a person’s student is called his son. Once everyone saw that he seized the synagogues and study halls, they began screaming: Woe [vai]: “it was [vayhi] during the days of Aḥaz.”
“It was during the days of [vayhi bimei] Yehoyakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the exile of Jerusalem in the fifth month” (Jeremiah 1:3). What was the trouble there? “I saw the land, and behold, it is emptiness and disorder; the heavens, and their light is not” (Jeremiah 4:23). [This is comparable] to a king who sent letters from province to province and in each and every province that his letters reached, they would embrace and kiss them, standing on their feet, baring their heads and reading them with reverence, fear, quaking, and trembling. When they reached the king’s province, they read them, ripped them, and burned them. That is what is written: “It was, as Yehudi would read three columns or four,” (Jeremiah 36:23) – three or four verses. When they reached the fifth verse: “Its besiegers are ascendant” (Lamentations 1:5), immediately: “He would cut it with a scribe’s razor and cast it into the fire that was in the fireplace” (Jeremiah 36:23). Once everyone saw that it was so, they began screaming: ‘Woe [vai];’ “it was [vayhi] during the days of Yehoyakim.”
“It was during the days of [vayhi bimei] Aḥashverosh; that Aḥashverosh who reigned from India to Kush, one hundred and twenty-seven provinces” (Esther 1:1). What was the trouble there? It was “to destroy, to kill, and to eliminate” (Esther 3:13). [This is comparable] to a king who entered a vineyard and encountered three enemies: The first began picking unripe grapes, the second began trimming the clusters, and the third began uprooting vines. So too, wicked Pharaoh began picking unripe grapes; that is what is written: “Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying: Every son who is born you shall cast into the Nile…” (Exodus 1:22).
Nebuchadnezzar, may his bones be crushed, began trimming the clusters; that is what is written: “He exiled Yehoyakhin…and the artisans and the smiths, one thousand” (II Kings 24:14). Rabbi Berekhya in the name of Rabbi Yehuda said: One thousand artisans and one thousand smiths; the Rabbis said: One thousand artisans and smiths. Rabbi Yuda son of Rabbi Simon said: These are the Torah scholars. Rabbi Shmuel bar Rabbi Yitzḥak said: These are the notables.
Haman the wicked, may he be crushed and wiped out, began uprooting the vines; that is what is written: “To destroy, to kill, and to eliminate” (Esther 3:13). He sought to undermine the foundation of Israel, he wanted to devastate the whole house [of Israel]. Once everyone saw that it was so, they began screaming: ‘Woe [vai];’ “it was [vayhi] during the days of Aḥashverosh.”
Shimon bar Abba in the name of Rabbi Yonatan said: Everywhere that vayhi is stated it refers to trouble or to joy; if it is to trouble, it is unparalleled trouble, if it is to joy, it is unparalleled joy. Rabban Shmuel bar Naḥman came and suggested a different distinction: Everywhere that it says vayhi (it was), it refers to trouble, everywhere that it says vehaya (it will be), joy.
They objected: Is it not written: “God said: Let there be light, and there was [vayhi] light”? He said to them: Even that is not joy, as the world did not merit to use that light. Rabbi Yuda son of Rabbi Simon said: By the light that was created on the first day, a person could look out and see from one end of the world to the other end. When the Holy One, blessed be He, perceived that the generation of Enosh, the generation of the flood, and the generation of the dispersion (after the Tower of Babel) were destined to sin before Him, He arose and concealed it from them. That is what is written: “From the wicked was withheld their light” (Job 38:15). Where did He conceal it? In the Garden of Eden; that is what is written: “Light is sown for the righteous and joy for the upright” (Psalms 97:11).
They objected: “It was [vayhi] evening and it was morning, one day” (Genesis 1:5). He said to them: That, too, is not joy, as everything that was created on the first day is destined to wither; that is what is written: “As the heavens will be eroded like smoke and the earth will be tattered like a garment” (Isaiah 51:6).
They objected: It is written: “It was [vayhi] evening and it was morning, a second day,” “…a third day,” through the sixth day. He said to them: That, too, is not joy, as everything that was created during the six days of Creation requires action, as they were not completely made, e.g. wheat requires grinding, and mustard and lupines require sweetening.
They objected: “The Lord was [vayhi] with Joseph” (Genesis 39:2). He said to them: That, too, is not joy, as that resulted in that bear¹⁸Potifar’s wife. confronting him.
They objected: “It was [vayhi] on the eighth day, Moses summoned Aaron and his sons” (Leviticus 9:1). He said to them: That, too, is not good, as on that day, Nadav and Avihu died and all of Israel lamented them, as it is stated: “Your brethren, the entire house of Israel, will lament the burning” (Leviticus 10:6).
They objected: “It was [vayhi] on the day that Moses completed assembling the Tabernacle” (Numbers 7:1). He said to them: That, too, is not joy, as it was put away when the eternal Temple was built.
They objected: “The Lord was [vayhi] with Joshua” (Joshua 6:27). He said to them: That, too, is not joy, as on that day Ya’ir, who was equivalent to the majority of Sanhedrin, was killed; that is what is written: “The men of Ai smote them, about thirty-six men” (Joshua 7:5). Thirty-six men is not written, but rather “like thirty-six;”¹⁹ The verse says: “The men of the Ai killed about thirty-six [ki-shloshim ve-shisha] men…” The prepositional ‘ki-’ can designate approximation, “about thirty-six” or comparison, “like thirty-six.” that is Ya’ir, who was equivalent to the majority of Sanhedrin [of 70 or 71 members]. What is written there? “Joshua rent his garments” (Joshua 7:6).
They objected: “David was [vayhi] successful in all his ways” (I Samuel 18:14). He said to them: That, too, is not joy, as it resulted in what is written: Saul felt enmity to David” (I Samuel 18:9).
They objected: “It was [vayhi] when David dwelled in his house” (I Chronicles 17:1). He said to them: That, too, is not joy, as on that day, Natan the prophet came and said to him: “It will not be you who builds Me the House” (I Chronicles 17:4).
They said to him: We said ours, now you say yours. He said to them, it is written: “It will be [vehaya] on that day, the mountains will drip with nectar and the hills will flow with milk” (Joel 4:18). “It will be [vehaya] on that day that spring water will emerge from Jerusalem” (Zechariah 14:8). “It will be [vehaya] on that day, each man shall keep a calf of the herd and two sheep alive, and from the abundance of milk produced, he will eat butter, for everyone who remains in the midst of the land will eat butter and honey” (Isaiah 7:21-22). “The remnant of Jacob will be [vehaya] among the nations, in the midst of many peoples like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he passes, tramples and mauls, and there is no deliverer” (Micah 5:7). “It will be [vehaya] on that day, that a great shofar will be sounded, and the lost in the land of Assyria and the outcasts in the land of Egypt will come and bow down to the Lord on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 27:13). “He will be [vehaya] like a tree planted near streams of water which yields fruit in season; its leaves shall not wither, and whatever he does will prosper” (Psalms 1:3).
They objected to him: “And it was [vehaya] when Jerusalem was captured” (Jeremiah 38:28). He said to them: Even that is not trouble but joy, as on that day, Menaḥem²⁰The Messiah. was born and Israel made penance for its sins, as Rav and Shmuel say: Israel made great penance at the moment that the Temple was destroyed. That is what is written: “Your sin is completed, daughter of Zion” (Lamentations 4:22).

רַב וּשְׁמוּאֵל, רַב אָמַר כָּל מַה שֶּׁאָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, בּוֹ אָמַר, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ישעיה יד, כב): וְהִכְרַתִּי לְבָבֶל שֵׁם וּשְׁאָר וְנִין וָנֶכֶד, שֵׁם זֶה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר, וּשְׁאָר זֶה אֱוִיל מְרוֹדַךְ, וְנִין זֶה בֵּלְשַׁצַר, וָנֶכֶד זוֹהִי וַשְׁתִּי. דָּבָר אַחֵר, שֵׁם זֶה הַכְּתָב שֶׁלָּהֶן, וּשְׁאָר זֶה לָשׁוֹן, וְנִין וָנֶכֶד בַּר וּבַר בַּר. וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר כָּל מַה שֶּׁאָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, בּוֹ אָמַר, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ירמיה מט, לח): וְשַׂמְתִּי כִסְאִי בְּעֵילָם וְהַאֲבַדְתִּי מִשָּׁם מֶלֶךְ וְשָׂרִים, מֶלֶךְ זוֹ וַשְׁתִּי, וְשָׂרִים אֵלּוּ שִׁבְעַת שָׂרֵי פָּרַס וּמָדַי. רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי אָמַר (דברים כח, לו): יוֹלֵךְ ה' אֹתְךָ וְאֶת מַלְכְּךָ, אִם תֹּאמַר לְבָבֶל, וַהֲלֹא מִבָּבֶל הָיוּ, אִם כֵּן לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר: אֶל גּוֹי אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָדַעְתָּ אַתָּה וַאֲבֹתֶיךָ, אֶלָּא זוֹ מָדַי, הֱוֵי וַיְהִי בִּימֵי. Rav and Shmuel: Rav said: Everything that the Holy One blessed be He said, He said about him.²¹Aḥashverosh, who would be the king during whose reign the punishment would be completed. That is what is written: “I will eliminate from Babylonia name and remnant, child and grandchild” (Isaiah 14:22). “Name,” that is Nebuchadnezzar; “and remnant,” that is Evil Merodakh; “child,” that is Belshatzar; “and grandchild,” that is Vashti. Alternatively, “name,” that is their script; “and remnant,” that is their language; “child and grandchild,” that is child and grandchild.²² Evil Merodakh and Belshatzar.
And Shmuel said: Everything that the Holy One blessed be He said, He said about him. That is what is written: “I will place My throne in Elam, and I will eliminate king and princes from there, says the Lord” (Jeremiah 49:38). “King,” that is Vashti, “and princes,” these are the seven princes of Media and Persia.
Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: “The Lord will lead you, and your king whom you have set over you, to a nation unknown to you or your fathers, and you will serve there other gods, of wood and stone” (Deuteronomy 28:36). If you say [the exile foretold is] to Babylonia, were they not [originally] from Babylonia?²³ Abraham, the ancestor of Israel, was originally from Ur of the Chaldees in Babylonia. If so, why is it stated: “To a nation that you did not know, you and your fathers?” Rather, this is Media. That is: “It was [vayhi bimei] during the days of Aḥashverosh.”²⁴ The midrash identifies Aḥashverosh as a Mede.