에스더 2:5의 인용 해설

“Naomi had a kinsman on her husband’s side” [2:1]. One can ask about this verse, why does it say, “and his name was Boaz” [2:1]. Normally we find “Goliath was his name” [I Samuel, 17:4] or “Naval was his name” [I Samuel, 25:25]. However, we find concerning evildoers that their name always comes first, when we find “Goliath was his name” or “Naval was his name.” We find concerning the righteous that the name is written last. We find concerning Mordecai “his name was Mordecai” [Esther, 2:5], “his name was Elkanah” [I Samuel, 1:1] and “his name was Boaz.” This because he compares the righteous to the Creator of the world, as it says concerning God, blessed be He, “And my name YHVH, I did not make known” [Exodus, 6:3]. Here also, the name is written last. First the word “and his name” is written and afterwards YHVH.⁴³Ruth Rabbah, 4.3.

From where does a man read the Megillah and thereby fulfill his obligation? Rabbi Meir says: all of it. Rabbi Judah says: from “There was a Jew” (Esther 2:5). Rabbi Yose says: from “After these things” (3:1). Today we read the entire book of Esther, but whether this is necessary is debated by the sages. Rabbi Meir says that one has to read the whole thing. Rabbi Judah says that he only has to read from 2:5, where Mordecai is first mentioned. Rabbi Yose says he only has to read from 3:1, where the actual plot by Haman (make a lot of noise when you say this) begins.

return us from the Babylonian exile, where Mordechai was.