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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 5

Translation and Transliteration of 

1On the third day, Esther put on royal apparel and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, facing the king's palace, while the king was sitting on his royal throne in the throne room facing the entrance of the palace.

vai-HI ba-YOM ha-sh'-li-SHI va-TIL-bash es-TAYR mal-KHUT va-ta-a-MOD ba-cha-TZAR bayt-ha-ME-lekh ha-pe-NI-mit no-KHAKH bayt ha-ME-lekh v'-ha-ME-lekh yo-SHEV al-ki-SAY mal-KHU-to b'-bayt ha-MAL-khut no-KHAKH pe-TAKH ha-ba-YIT

אוַיְהִ֣י ׀ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֗י וַתִּלְבַּ֤שׁ אֶסְתֵּר֙ מַלְכ֔וּת וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֞ד בַּחֲצַ֤ר בֵּית־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ הַפְּנִימִ֔ית נֹ֖כַח בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וְ֠הַמֶּ֠לֶךְ יוֹשֵׁ֞ב עַל־כִּסֵּ֤א מַלְכוּתוֹ֙ בְּבֵ֣ית הַמַּלְכ֔וּת נֹ֖כַח פֶּ֥תַח הַבָּֽיִת׃

2As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won his favor. The king extended to Esther the golden scepter which he had in his hand, and Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

vai-HI khi-ROT ha-ME-lekh et es-TER ha-mal-KAH o-ME-det be-KHA-tser na-se-AH KHEIN b'-ei-NAV, va-YO-shet ha-ME-lekh l'-es-TER et shar-VEET ha-za-HAV a-SHER b'-ya-DO, va-TIK-rav es-TER va-TI-ga b'-ROSH ha-shar-VEET. (SELAH)

בוַיְהִי֩ כִרְא֨וֹת הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶת־אֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַמַּלְכָּ֗ה עֹמֶ֙דֶת֙ בֶּֽחָצֵ֔ר נָשְׂאָ֥ה חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינָ֑יו וַיּ֨וֹשֶׁט הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לְאֶסְתֵּ֗ר אֶת־שַׁרְבִ֤יט הַזָּהָב֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיָד֔וֹ וַתִּקְרַ֣ב אֶסְתֵּ֔ר וַתִּגַּ֖ע בְּרֹ֥אשׁ הַשַּׁרְבִֽיט׃

3“What troubles you, Queen Esther?” the king asked her. “And what is your request? Even to half the kingdom, it shall be granted you.”

va-YO-mer LAH ha-ME-lekh mah LAKH es-TAYR ha-mal-KAH u-mah ba-ka-sha-TAYKH ad kha-TZEE ha-mal-KHUT v'-yi-na-TAYN LAKH

גוַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהּ֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ מַה־לָּ֖ךְ אֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַמַּלְכָּ֑ה וּמַה־בַּקָּשָׁתֵ֛ךְ עַד־חֲצִ֥י הַמַּלְכ֖וּת וְיִנָּ֥תֵֽן לָֽךְ׃

 5:3   Even to half the kingdom

When Ahasuerus offered Esther up to half of the kingdom, this was not merely an exaggerated show of generosity, but it referred to a specific geographic location. Rashi notes that the halfway mark of Ahasuerus’ empire was the site of the Beit Hamikdash. Ahasuerus tells Esther that he is willing to do anything to make her happy, short of allowing the rebuilding of the Temple. Although Cyrus, his predecessor, had allowed the Children of Israel to return to Israel and begin reconstruction of the Beit Hamikdash, Ahasuerus was adamantly against it. Ironically, according to Jewish tradition it was his son Darius, born to him by Esther, who allowed the construction of the Beit Hamikdash to be completed.

Rashi (1040-1105)

The golden Dome of the Rock stands in the place where the first and second temples proudly stood in Yerushalayim.

4“If it please Your Majesty,” Esther replied, “let Your Majesty and Haman come today to the feast that I have prepared for him.”

va-TOM-er es-TER, im al ha-ME-lekh TOV, ya-VO ha-ME-lekh v'-ha-MAN ha-YOM el ha-mish-TEH a-SHER a-SEE-tee LO

דוַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֶסְתֵּ֔ר אִם־עַל־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ ט֑וֹב יָב֨וֹא הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ וְהָמָן֙ הַיּ֔וֹם אֶל־הַמִּשְׁתֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֥יתִי לֽוֹ׃

5The king commanded, “Tell Haman to hurry and do Esther's bidding.” So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared.

vai-YO-mer ha-ME-lekh, ma-HA-ru et ha-MAN la-a-SOT et d'-VAR es-TER, vai-ya-VO ha-ME-lekh v'-ha-MAN el ha-mish-TEH a-SHER a-SO-ta es-TER

הוַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ מַהֲרוּ֙ אֶת־הָמָ֔ן לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת אֶת־דְּבַ֣ר אֶסְתֵּ֑ר וַיָּבֹ֤א הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְהָמָ֔ן אֶל־הַמִּשְׁתֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁר־עָשְׂתָ֥ה אֶסְתֵּֽר׃

6At the wine feast, the king asked Esther, “What is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to half the kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.”

vai-YO-mer ha-ME-lekh l'-es-TER b'-mish-TAY ha-YA-yin, mah sh'-ay-la-TEKH v'-yi-NA-ten LAKH, u-mah ba-ka-SHA-tekh ad-kha-TZI ha-mal-KHUT v'-te-AHS

ווַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ לְאֶסְתֵּר֙ בְּמִשְׁתֵּ֣ה הַיַּ֔יִן מַה־שְּׁאֵלָתֵ֖ךְ וְיִנָּ֣תֵֽן לָ֑ךְ וּמַה־בַּקָּשָׁתֵ֛ךְ עַד־חֲצִ֥י הַמַּלְכ֖וּת וְתֵעָֽשׂ׃

7“My wish,” replied Esther, “my request—

va-TA-an es-TEIR va-to-MAR, she-E-la-TEE u-va-ka-SHA-tee.

זוַתַּ֥עַן אֶסְתֵּ֖ר וַתֹּאמַ֑ר שְׁאֵלָתִ֖י וּבַקָּשָׁתִֽי׃

8if Your Majesty will do me the favor, if it please Your Majesty to grant my wish and accede to my request—let Your Majesty and Haman come to the feast which I will prepare for them; and tomorrow I will do Your Majesty's bidding.”

im-ma-TZA-tee KHEYN b'-ay-NAY ha-ME-lekh v'-im al ha-ME-lekh TOV la-TAYT et sh'-AY-la-TEE v'-la-a-SOT et ba-ka-SHA-tee ya-VO ha-ME-lekh v'-ha-MAN el ha-mish-TEH a-SHER e-a-SEH la-HEM u-MA-khar e-a-SEH kid-VAR ha-ME-lekh

חאִם־מָצָ֨אתִי חֵ֜ן בְּעֵינֵ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וְאִם־עַל־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ ט֔וֹב לָתֵת֙ אֶת־שְׁאֵ֣לָתִ֔י וְלַעֲשׂ֖וֹת אֶת־בַּקָּשָׁתִ֑י יָב֧וֹא הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ וְהָמָ֗ן אֶל־הַמִּשְׁתֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֣ה לָהֶ֔ם וּמָחָ֥ר אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֖ה כִּדְבַ֥ר הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

9That day Haman went out happy and lighthearted. But when Haman saw Mordechai in the palace gate, and Mordechai did not rise or even stir on his account, Haman was filled with rage at him.

vai-YAY-tzay ha-MAN ba-YOM ha-HU sa-MAY-akh v'-TOV layV v'-khir-OT ha-MAN et mor-DOKHAI b'-sha-AR ha-ME-lekh v'-LO-kam v'-LO-za m'-ME-nu vai-yi-MA-lay ha-MAN al mor-DOKHAI KHE-ma

טוַיֵּצֵ֤א הָמָן֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא שָׂמֵ֖חַ וְט֣וֹב לֵ֑ב וְכִרְאוֹת֩ הָמָ֨ן אֶֽת־מׇרְדֳּכַ֜י בְּשַׁ֣עַר הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וְלֹא־קָם֙ וְלֹא־זָ֣ע מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וַיִּמָּלֵ֥א הָמָ֛ן עַֽל־מׇרְדֳּכַ֖י חֵמָֽה׃

10Nevertheless, Haman controlled himself and went home. He sent for his friends and his wife Zeresh,

vai-yi-ta-PAK ha-MAN va-ya-VO el b'-TO, va-yish-LAKH va-ya-VE et o-ha-VAHV v'-et ZE-resh ish-TO

יוַיִּתְאַפַּ֣ק הָמָ֔ן וַיָּב֖וֹא אֶל־בֵּית֑וֹ וַיִּשְׁלַ֛ח וַיָּבֵ֥א אֶת־אֹהֲבָ֖יו וְאֶת־זֶ֥רֶשׁ אִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃

11and Haman told them about his great wealth and his many sons, and all about how the king had promoted him and advanced him above the officials and the king's courtiers.

vai-sa-PAYR la-HEM ha-MAN et k'-VOD o-sh'-RO v'-ROV ba-NAV v'-AYT kol a-SHER gi-D'-LO ha-ME-lekh v'-AYT a-SHER nis-s'-O al ha-sa-REEM v'-av-DAY ha-ME-lekh

יאוַיְסַפֵּ֨ר לָהֶ֥ם הָמָ֛ן אֶת־כְּב֥וֹד עׇשְׁר֖וֹ וְרֹ֣ב בָּנָ֑יו וְאֵת֩ כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר גִּדְּל֤וֹ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְאֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִשְּׂא֔וֹ עַל־הַשָּׂרִ֖ים וְעַבְדֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

12“What is more,” said Haman, “Queen Esther gave a feast, and besides the king she did not have anyone but me. And tomorrow too I am invited by her along with the king.

vai-YO-mer ha-MAN, af LO he-vee-AH es-TAYR ha-mal-KAH im ha-ME-lekh el ha-mish-TEH a-SHER a-SA-tah KI im o-TI, v'-GAM l'-ma-KHAR a-NEE ka-ROO lahh im ha-ME-lekh

יבוַיֹּ֘אמֶר֮ הָמָן֒ אַ֣ף לֹא־הֵבִ֩יאָה֩ אֶסְתֵּ֨ר הַמַּלְכָּ֧ה עִם־הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶל־הַמִּשְׁתֶּ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֖תָה כִּ֣י אִם־אוֹתִ֑י וְגַם־לְמָחָ֛ר אֲנִ֥י קָֽרוּא־לָ֖הּ עִם־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

13Yet all this means nothing to me every time I see that Yehudi Mordechai sitting in the palace gate.”

v'-KOL-ZEH e-NE-nu SHO-veh li b'-KOL-ET a-SHER a-NEE ro-EH et mor-D'-KHAI ha-y'-hu-DEE yo-SHEV b'-sha-AR ha-ME-lekh

יגוְכׇל־זֶ֕ה אֵינֶ֥נּוּ שֹׁוֶ֖ה לִ֑י בְּכׇל־עֵ֗ת אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֲנִ֤י רֹאֶה֙ אֶת־מׇרְדֳּכַ֣י הַיְּהוּדִ֔י יוֹשֵׁ֖ב בְּשַׁ֥עַר הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

14Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a stake be put up, fifty amot high, and in the morning ask the king to have Mordechai impaled on it. Then you can go gaily with the king to the feast.” The proposal pleased Haman, and he had the stake put up.

va-TOM-er LO ze-RESH ish-TO v'-KOL o-ha-VA-v Y'-a-SU-ETZ ga-VO-ha cha-MI-shim a-MAH u-va-BO-ker e-MOR la-ME-lekh v'-yit-LU ET mor-DO-khai a-LAV u-BO-im im ha-ME-lekh el ha-mish-TE sa-ME-akh va-YI-tav ha-DA-var lif-NEI ha-MAN va-YA-as ha-ETZ. (S)

ידוַתֹּ֣אמֶר לוֹ֩ זֶ֨רֶשׁ אִשְׁתּ֜וֹ וְכׇל־אֹֽהֲבָ֗יו יַֽעֲשׂוּ־עֵץ֮ גָּבֹ֣הַּ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים אַמָּה֒ וּבַבֹּ֣קֶר ׀ אֱמֹ֣ר לַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וְיִתְל֤וּ אֶֽת־מׇרְדֳּכַי֙ עָלָ֔יו וּבֹֽא־עִם־הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ אֶל־הַמִּשְׁתֶּ֖ה שָׂמֵ֑חַ וַיִּיטַ֧ב הַדָּבָ֛ר לִפְנֵ֥י הָמָ֖ן וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הָעֵֽץ׃