Commentary for Megillah 30:31

Butei: An expression of poverty, like "you shall surely lend him (haavet taavitenu)" (Deuteronomy 15:8). This is in Tractate Gittin (37a).

Betulmei: Bread. For loaves of bread. "Twenty loaves of barley bread" (II Kings 4:22), is translated [in the Targum] as, "twenty tulmin of bread,

For a spirit of justice: It will be a crown for those who judge their spirit.

This is one who judges a true judgment with complete truth (le'amito:): It appears that it is for this that it mentions, "truth": To make us understand that in a falsified case, he must investigate the witnesses well until the truth is clarified. And then they can judge it with complete truth.

One who brings his inclination to trial: He compels it to repent.

And triumphs over his inclination: He does not follow it to commit a transgression.

Who arrive early, etc.: And this is [the meaning of], "to the gate" - that they do [become the gatekeepers,] to open the doors early in the morning, and to tarry [there until] the time of its closure.

These also: [Alongside] those wicked ones that are judged in Geihinnom.

Reel through wine: Meaning to say, they also did like them. Hence He judges them.

They stumble in judgment: They are judged to [go to] Geihinnom.

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me: This is in the psalm, "Ayelet HaShachar (Morning Star)."

Under compulsion (beyond one's control): [Even though] I come to him on my own, it is under compulsion.

Deliver my soul from the sword: This is in the same psalm (Psalms 22).

The arm of Pharaoh’s daughter: "And she sent her arm (or miadservat) and she fetched it" (Exodus 2:5).

[We teach (follow) this version: Do not read (it), "You have broken (shibarta)," but (as), "You have extended (sherabavta)." It is an expression (like the usage in Sukkah 5a), "ishtarbuvei. And we do not teach, "You have increased (sherivavta)."]

With the teeth of the wicked: [Referring to] Og, King of Bashan - in Tractate Berakhot [in] the chapter [entitled] HaRoeh (Berakhot 54b) - who uprooted a mountain three parasangs long, to throw it upon Israel, and brought it on his head. So The Holy One, Blessed be He, brought ants upon it and they pierced it and it fell on his neck. He wanted to remove it, but his teeth were extended this way and that way.

Do not read, "You have broken (shibarta)," but as, "You have extended (sheribavta)": We teach (follow) this version. And this teaching is derived from, "the teeth of the wicked (shinei reshayim)." For let the verse write, "and the tooth of the wicked one (shen rasha:)! Rather [it is to add the extra] yod of shinei and the [extra] yod mem of reshayim - behold [the total numerical count of these three letters is] sixty.

And not something that would divide the kingdom: The building of the Temple. Since it is in the middle of the world, as we say in the Order of Yoma (54b), "The foundation stone (upon which the Temple was built) - the one from which the world was founded."

She learned from her father’s house: She heard the youths (young students) saying this.

And he rebel against the king, as it was a fortuitous time for it.

So that he be on hand for her: Perhaps she could make him stumble in something before the king.

The Holy One, blessed be He, will take notice that even I am bringing the enemies of Israel close. Or also (another explantion): He will take notice that I must ingratiate myself with this wicked one and cheapen my honor.

So that both he and she would be killed: That the king should suspect me [of consorting with Haman] and he kill both of us. [A different version: And if they issued a decree and one of them died, the decree becomes nullified.] He was a fickle king and he would change his word. She said, "Maybe I can seduce [the king] and kill [Haman]. But if he is not on hand, the time will pass and he will reverse himself."

When they are heated, I will make feasts for them: It is stated about Belshazzar and his group. When they returned from war - such that Darius and Cyrus were besieging Babylon, and Belshazzar was victorious over them - and they were tired and heated, they sat to drink and became drunk. And it was on that day that he was killed. And Esther also said, "From the party of the evil ones, their punishment comes to them."

Those that were full, have hired themselves out for bread: Yonatan translated [this verse, in his Targum, to be] about the sons of Haman.

The sleep of the King of the universe: Similar to, "And the Lord awoke as one out of sleep" (Psalms 78:65) - to take His vengeance.

The higher ones were disturbed: As the angels were disturbing him the whole night; and they said, "Ingrate, reward the good of the one who did it!" [These are the words] of my teacher. But some say the higher ones were disturbed so that they would multiply their supplications to plead for the matter.

What is this before us that she has invited: Meaning, what's this new type of thing being brought before me now?

Written: This implies that it was [being] written anew, whereas, "a writing," implies [that it was] already written. [Hence,] "And the book of record was found being written before him, that Mordecai had told."