Midrasch zu Esther 8:13
פַּתְשֶׁ֣גֶן הַכְּתָ֗ב לְהִנָּ֤תֵֽן דָּת֙ בְּכָל־מְדִינָ֣ה וּמְדִינָ֔ה גָּל֖וּי לְכָל־הָעַמִּ֑ים וְלִהְי֨וֹת היהודיים [הַיְּהוּדִ֤ים] עתודים [עֲתִידִים֙] לַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה לְהִנָּקֵ֖ם מֵאֹיְבֵיהֶֽם׃
Die Kopie der Schrift, die in jeder Provinz für ein Dekret ausgegeben werden sollte, sollte allen Völkern veröffentlicht werden, und die Juden sollten gegen diesen Tag bereit sein, sich an ihren Feinden zu rächen.
Esther Rabbah
“The text of the document was that an edict be issued in every province, to be publicly displayed to all the peoples: Be ready for that day” (Esther 3:14).
“The text of the document” – an exact copy of the document. That an edict be issued in every province, to be publicly displayed to all the peoples: Be ready for that day.” Rabbi Levi said: The prophecy of the nations of the world is obscure, and they do not know whether it [the edict] is to be killed or to kill. This is analogous to a person who was walking along the way, and from the rigor of the way he sprained his ankle. He said: ‘If only I had a donkey.’ A Roman whose donkey had just given birth to a foal passed by him and said to him: ‘Take this foal and carry it on your shoulders.’ He said: ‘My prayer was answered, but I didn’t ask appropriately, whether it was to ride or to be ridden by.’ So is the prophecy of the nations of the world: “Be ready for that day,” but they do not know whether it is [for them] to kill or to be killed. For Israel, however, their prophecy is explicit: “For the Jews to be ready for that day, to take vengeance against their enemies” (Esther 8:13).
“The text of the document” – an exact copy of the document. That an edict be issued in every province, to be publicly displayed to all the peoples: Be ready for that day.” Rabbi Levi said: The prophecy of the nations of the world is obscure, and they do not know whether it [the edict] is to be killed or to kill. This is analogous to a person who was walking along the way, and from the rigor of the way he sprained his ankle. He said: ‘If only I had a donkey.’ A Roman whose donkey had just given birth to a foal passed by him and said to him: ‘Take this foal and carry it on your shoulders.’ He said: ‘My prayer was answered, but I didn’t ask appropriately, whether it was to ride or to be ridden by.’ So is the prophecy of the nations of the world: “Be ready for that day,” but they do not know whether it is [for them] to kill or to be killed. For Israel, however, their prophecy is explicit: “For the Jews to be ready for that day, to take vengeance against their enemies” (Esther 8:13).
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