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Megillah 12a

מגילה י״ב ע״א

Learn Megillah 12a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Megillah 12a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The seventy years of exile and כורש's role, followed by a phrase-by-phrase reading of אחשורוש's feast in the first chapter of the מגילה.

Overview

This עמוד starts by finishing the count of the seventy years of exile. A ברייתא shows that one year was still missing after בלשאצר, and רבא shows that even דניאל miscalculated. Two פסוקים seem to count the seventy years from different starting points. רבא explains that the count 'for בבל' ended only with פקידה, כורש's permission to return. A side teaching explains that God complained to משיח that כורש only let the Jews go up and did not rebuild. The גמרא then goes back to the opening פסוקים of the מגילה. It explains why פרס and מדי switch order, says that אחשורוש wore the בגדי כהונה, and records whether he was clever or foolish to feast the faraway guests first. רבי שמעון בן יוחאי explains that the Jews deserved destruction for bowing to the idol, but only for show, so ה׳ only threatened them. The גמרא then explains the feast's seating, fabrics, couches, floor stones, cups and wine, and the roles of מרדכי and המן. It ends with ושתי's feast in the royal house, and רבא's folk saying about it continues on the next עמוד.

Opening lines

תַּנְיָא נָמֵי הָכִי:

It is also taught this way:

וְעוֹד שָׁנָה אַחֶרֶת לְבָבֶל

and there was still another year for Babylonia

וְעָמַד דָּרְיָוֶשׁ וְהִשְׁלִימָהּ.

and Darius arose and completed it.

אָמַר רָבָא:

Rava said:

The steps (45)

  1. ProofA ברייתא supports that one year was still missing
  2. StatementEven דניאל miscalculated the seventy years
  3. ChallengeTwo פסוקים seem to count the seventy years differently
  4. ResolutionThe seventy years for בבל only end with being 'remembered'
  5. Proofכורש's announcement proves the meaning of פקידה
  6. ChallengeWas כורש really called God's anointed one?
  7. ResolutionGod complains to משיח about כורש
  8. ChallengeWhy does the order of פרס and מדי switch?
  9. Resolutionרבא: the kings and ministers take turns
  10. Statementאחשורוש wore the בגדי כהונה
  11. ProofProof from matching words: כבוד and תפארת
  12. Statementרב and שמואל: was אחשורוש smart or foolish?
  13. StatementWhy it was clever to invite the faraway people first
  14. StatementWhy it was foolish to invite the faraway people first
  15. QuestionThe students ask why that generation deserved destruction
  16. ResponseThe students suggest: because they ate at the wicked king's feast
  17. RejectionThe feast answer doesn't fit, because the decree was against everyone
  18. Responseרבי שמעון בן יוחאי's answer: because they bowed to the idol
  19. ChallengeThen why were they saved? Is ה׳ playing favorites?
  20. ResolutionIt was only for show on both sides
  21. ProofA פסוק shows ה׳ does not punish from His heart
  22. StatementCourtyard, garden, palace: each guest seated by importance
  23. StatementThe other view: the crowd kept moving until there was room
  24. StatementA ברייתא: seated in the courtyard with doors to garden and palace
  25. QuestionWhat does the word חור mean?
  26. Responseרב: full of holes; שמואל: white wool
  27. Statementכרפס means cushions of velvet
  28. Statementרבי יהודה: Gold couches for important guests, silver for the rest
  29. Challengeרבי נחמיה: That would make guests jealous
  30. Resolutionרבי נחמיה's reading: Silver couches with gold legs
  31. Statementרבי אסי: בהט means stones people long to own
  32. ProofSupport from Zechariah: Crown stones glittering
  33. Statementרב: דר means many rows
  34. Statementשמואל: A glowing gem called דרה
  35. StatementSchool of רבי ישמעאל: Freedom for all merchants
  36. ChallengeWhy does the פסוק say שונים and not משונים?
  37. Resolutionרבא: A heavenly voice said 'you are repeating the sin'
  38. Statementרב: Each guest got wine older than himself
  39. QuestionWhat does 'according to the law' mean?
  40. ResponseThe feast followed the תורה's pattern: more food than drink
  41. StatementNo one was forced: each guest drank his own country's wine
  42. Statement'Every man's pleasure' means the wishes of מרדכי and המן
  43. ProofBoth מרדכי and המן are called 'איש' in the מגילה
  44. ChallengeWhy was the women's feast held in the royal house?
  45. ResolutionBoth אחשורוש and ושתי had sinful intentions