Post date: Mar 17, 2019 6:2:39 AM
V’cha’asher avod’ti avad’ti
And if I am lost (to you), I am lost
(4:16)
The Gemara (Megilah 15a) tells us that Esther had always been an intimately non-consenting (and passive) partner with Achashveirosh. As such, she remained in an untainted state, and retained the prospect of someday returning to her husband, Mordechai. However, if she were to present herself to Achashveirosh on her own accord, she would lose that status, and would be unable to return to him as his wife. At the end of Mordechai’s conversation with Esther, he has convinced her that this is a mission that she cannot pass on, and she responds to him that she may end up being unable to return to him ever again.
As Esther is preparing to approach Achashveirosh, the Pasuk says “Vatalbeish Esther malchus” (And Esther donned royalty, 5:1). The Zohar explains that this phrase means that Esther enveloped herself with Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit). (Please don’t ask me how one does this. I have no idea.) The Zohar says that since she was covered with the Ruach Hakodesh at that time, it was impossible for her to have been intimate with Achashveirosh. That being the case, Hashem sent a Sheid (commonly translated as a demon) to take the place of Esther. The Sheid had the guise of Eshter, and Achashveirosh was none the wiser. Since Esther had not actually submitted to Achashveirosh willingly, she retained her untainted marital status regarding Mordechai.
The Midrash Talpiyot adds that this switcheroo is actually alluded to in the Gemara (Chulin 139a). The Gemara tells us that Esther is hinted to in the Torah when the Pasuk says in Devarim (31:18) “V’anochi haster astir panai” (I will surely hide my face). The double usage of the words “haster astir” which are related to Esther’s name is a nod to the explanation that there was seemingly more than one Esther in the room that night.
[Zvi Fleisher @ shemayisrael.com]