Megillah 13b

מגילה י״ג ע״ב

Learn Megillah 13b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Megillah 13b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Modesty rewarded through generations (רחל, שאול, אסתר), and the גמרא's reading of the מגילה from אסתר in the palace through המן's plot and his slander of the Jews.

Overview

This amud moves from a lesson about modesty to the story of the מגילה. The גמרא first teaches that רחל's צניעות earned her שאול as a descendant, and that שאול's צניעות earned him אסתר. רחל showed her modesty by quietly giving לאה the secret signs יעקב had given her, so that לאה would not be shamed. שאול showed his by keeping his kingship a secret. רבי אלעזר adds that greatness from הקב"ה lasts for generations, but arrogance brings a person down. The גמרא then explains פסוקים in אסתר: אסתר's loyalty to מרדכי, and how מרדכי overheard בגתן ותרש plotting in a foreign language because he knew seventy languages. רבא and ריש לקיש teach that הקב"ה prepares the cure for ישראל before the blow, which is why המן rose only after the rescue was in place. רבא then reads המן's speech to אחשורוש word by word, showing how he answered every doubt the king might have and slandered the Jews. The amud ends with the Jews' שקלים coming before המן's silver, and with רבי אבא starting to explain the king's reply, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (44)

1. StatementModesty is rewarded: from רחל came שאול, and from שאול came אסתר
2. QuestionWhat was רחל's modesty?
3. ResponseThe answer begins with a פסוק: יעקב told רחל he was her father's brother
4. ChallengeBut יעקב was not really her father's brother
5. Resolution'Brother' means brother in trickery
6. Questionרחל asks whether a צדיק may use trickery
7. Responseיעקב answers: with a crooked person, you may act cleverly
8. Questionיעקב asks what the trick will be
9. Responseרחל explains the trick, and יעקב gives her secret signs
10. Statementרחל hands the signs to לאה
11. ProofThe verse that fits the story
12. ChallengeWas she not לאה until morning?
13. ResolutionThe signs kept יעקב from knowing
14. Conclusionרחל's reward: שאול
15. QuestionWhat was שאול's modesty?
16. Responseשאול kept the kingship secret
17. StatementGreatness lasts for generations unless one becomes arrogant
18. Statementאסתר kept asking the חכמים about her purity
19. Statementאסתר stayed loyal to מרדכי
20. StatementGod made a master angry for a righteous person
21. QuestionWho was that righteous person?
22. ResponseIt was יוסף
23. ResponseThe second case is מרדכי, where servants were angry at their master
24. Statementבגתן ותרש plot in a foreign language, not knowing מרדכי understands
25. StatementThe plotters solve the problem of their guard posts
26. ProofThe פסוק confirms they were not found at their posts
27. QuestionAfter which events was המן promoted?
28. Responseרבא: the cure was created before the blow
29. ProofThe cure comes before the blow for Israel
30. Statementהמן's plan grows in three stages
31. Statementהמן rejoices that the lot fell in אדר
32. Statementהמן the master slanderer, and the king's fear
33. Responseהמן answers: the Jews are asleep from the מצוות
34. ChallengeThe king objects: some Jews are Torah scholars
35. Resolutionהמן answers: they are all one people
36. ResolutionNo empty hole in the kingdom: they are scattered
37. ResolutionNo benefit from them: like a barren mule
38. ResolutionNo province full of them: they are in every province
39. StatementTheir laws are different: they keep apart from us
40. StatementThey skip the king's laws: always on holiday
41. StatementThey disrespect the king: a fly is better than his touch
42. Statementה׳ set the Jews' shekels before המן's
43. ProofA משנה shows that the שקלים came first
44. Statementאחשורוש answers המן, and רבי אבא gets ready to explain