Megillah 12b

מגילה י״ב ע״ב

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

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Topic

The story of ושתי's downfall, the king's advisors and letters, and the meaning of מרדכי's names and tribe

Overview

This amud opens with the last word of a saying from the previous amud. The גמרא then explains that the seventh day of אחשורוש's feast was שבת, when the nations' crude talk led to the demand that ושתי appear unclothed. That was a punishment measure for measure, because she had forced Jewish girls to work unclothed on שבת. The גמרא explains why ושתי refused (צרעת or a tail) and why the king was so furious (she sent him an insult). The Jewish חכמים wisely avoided judging her and sent him to the advisors of עמון and מואב. רבי לוי reads the advisors' names as hints to the קרבנות, and ממוכן is identified as המן. רבא shows how the king's silly first letters later saved the Jews, and רבי contrasts how דוד and אחשורוש each searched for a wife. Finally, the גמרא asks what the names in מרדכי's family line mean and why he is called both יהודי and ימיני. רבא's explanation continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (31)

1. ConclusionEnd of the earlier proverb about husband and wife
2. ChallengeWhy was the king merry only on the seventh day?
3. Resolutionרבא: The seventh day was שבת
4. StatementThe crude conversation at אחשורוש's feast
5. StatementMeasure for measure: what ושתי had done
6. ProofProof from the verse: 'what she did and what was decreed'
7. ChallengeWhy would an immodest queen refuse to come?
8. ResolutionShe broke out in צרעת
9. Resolutionגבריאל gave her a tail
10. ChallengeWhy was the king so furious?
11. Resolutionושתי's insulting message
12. QuestionWho were the wise men?
13. ResponseThe wise men were the Jewish רבנן
14. StatementThe חכמים' dangerous dilemma
15. StatementThe חכמים politely decline
16. ProofA פסוק backs their advice, and the king follows it
17. StatementThe advisors' names hint at the offerings
18. StatementThe angels plead using each advisor's name
19. Statementממוכן was really המן
20. StatementThe lowly person jumps ahead
21. StatementThe silly first letters saved the Jews
22. StatementWhy people laughed at the king's first letters
23. QuestionAsking about a פסוק in משלי while discussing the king's officers
24. Responseדוד searched wisely and אחשורוש searched foolishly
25. QuestionWhy does the פסוק list only some of מרדכי's ancestors?
26. ResponseThe ancestor names are really praises of מרדכי
27. ChallengeIs מרדכי from יהודה or from בנימין?
28. Resolutionרב נחמן: יהודי is an honorary title
29. ResolutionFather from בנימין, mother from יהודה
30. ResolutionThe two tribes argue over who gets credit for מרדכי
31. Resolutionרבא: the names are a complaint, not a boast