Another matter — “The elite of Persia and Media” – sometimes

Midrash Rabbah Esther Rabbah 1:18

Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team · Published January 25, 2025

Another matter: “The elite of Persia and Media” – sometimes Media precedes Persia and sometimes Persia precedes Media. When the throne is in Media, Persia is secondary to it; when the throne is in Persia, Media is secondary to it. [Regarding] Persia, why do they call it Persia [Paras]? Because it received hegemony in pieces [perusot] [non-consecutively], once in the days of Terada, once in the days of Adarkian, and once in the future; that is what is written: “This shall be peace: When Assyria will come into our land and when it will tread in our palaces...”21The midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) understands Assyria in the verse to refer to Persia. (Micah 5:4). [Regarding] Media, why do they call it Media [Madai]? Because they acknowledge [modaya] the Holy One blessed be He. Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: The kings of Media were upright, and the Holy One blessed be He has nothing against them other than the idolatry that was bequeathed to them by their ancestors.

Themes

Wisdom Kings Esther Divine throne Idolatry

Biblical References

Micah 5:4

Continue Reading

Midrash Rabbah “It was on the third day, Esther donned royalty and stood “It was on the third day, Esther donned royalty and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, facing the king’s pal... Ginzberg King Ahasuerus Sets the Stage for Haman's Rise to Power to the Book of Esther, or rather, the Megillah as it's known in Hebrew, and explore a moment that really set the stage f... Ginzberg Wisdom of Ahasuerus Let’s talk about King Ahasuerus, the ruler in the Book of Esther. He wasn't exactly known for his wisdom, was he? We see... Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Elazar Hamodai says — The Holy One Blessed be He swears by Rabbi Elazar Hamodai taught that God did not merely command the destruction of Amalek—He swore it. And the oath was no o... Midrash Aggadah From the kingship of the hypocritical man from the snares "From the kingship of the hypocritical man from the snares of the people" (Job 34:30) Abba Gurion, from Sidon, said five... Midrash Aggadah Midrashim of Rabbi Akiba, The Enlarged Letters The Hebrew Torah scroll contains a hidden layer of meaning that most readers never notice: certain letters are written l... Midrash Rabbah “In the courtyard of the garden of the king's palace” “In the courtyard of the garden of the king's palace” – Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya: Rabbi Yehuda said: The garden wa... Midrash Rabbah “And abundant royal wine “And abundant royal wine.” Later it is written: “[King Belshazzar made a great banquet for his thousand nobles,] and bef... Midrash Rabbah “[Also [gam], Vashti the queen] made a women’s banquet,” “[Also [gam], Vashti the queen] made a women’s banquet,” she fed them kinds of soup [gema’in]. Rabbi Yitzḥak said: She f...