אֵ֣ין אֶסְתֵּ֗ר מַגֶּ֤דֶת מֽוֹלַדְתָּהּ֙ וְאֶת־עַמָּ֔הּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה עָלֶ֖יהָ מָרְדֳּכָ֑י וְאֶת־מַאֲמַ֤ר מָרְדֳּכַי֙ אֶסְתֵּ֣ר עֹשָׂ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר הָיְתָ֥ה בְאָמְנָ֖ה אִתּֽוֹ׃ (ס)
אסתּר האָט נאָך ניט געהאַט אױסגעזאָגט איר אָפּשטאַם און איר פֿאָלק, אַזױ װי מרדכי האָט איר באַפֿױלן; װאָרום אסתּר האָט געטאָן װאָס מרדכי האָט איר אָנגעזאָגט, אַזױ װי בעת זי איז געװען אין דערציונג בײַ אים –
Midrash Tanchuma
R. Simeon the son of Gamliel declared: I was reared among the sages, and I discovered that there was nothing more beneficial for a person than silence.7Pirkei Avot 1:17. Rachel forced herself to remain silent, and her offspring continued the tradition of silence. She saw her gifts in her sister’s hand and remained silent. Her son Benjamin, whose stone in the high priest’s breastplate was a jasper, knew of the sale of Joseph and remained silent. The word jasper (yashfeh) may be read as “he has a mouth” (yesh peh) but nevertheless remains silent. Saul was descended from her: But concerning the matter of the kingdom, he told him not (I Sam. 10:16). Regarding Esther (another descendant) it is said: Esther had not made known her people nor her kindred (Est. 2:10).
Esther Rabbah
“Esther did not disclose her family or her people, as Mordekhai had commanded her; Esther followed Mordekhai’s instructions, as it was when she was fostered by him” (Esther 2:20).
“Esther did not disclose her family” – teaching that she practiced silence for herself, like her ancestor Rachel, who practiced the craft of silence; all her great descendants maintained silence. Rachel adopted the craft of silence – she saw her betrothal gifts in the possession of her sister and she was silent. Benjamin her son practiced silence – know, as his stone in the breast piece was a chalcedony [yashefe], [i.e.,] he had a mouth [yesh peh],16He knew that his brothers had sold Joseph. but was silent. Saul, her grandson17Not literally her grandson, but descendant. – “but the matter of the kingdom…he did not tell him” (I Samuel 10:16). Esther – “Esther did not disclose her family or her people.”
“Esther did not disclose her family” – teaching that she practiced silence for herself, like her ancestor Rachel, who practiced the craft of silence; all her great descendants maintained silence. Rachel adopted the craft of silence – she saw her betrothal gifts in the possession of her sister and she was silent. Benjamin her son practiced silence – know, as his stone in the breast piece was a chalcedony [yashefe], [i.e.,] he had a mouth [yesh peh],16He knew that his brothers had sold Joseph. but was silent. Saul, her grandson17Not literally her grandson, but descendant. – “but the matter of the kingdom…he did not tell him” (I Samuel 10:16). Esther – “Esther did not disclose her family or her people.”
Bereshit Rabbah
That is what is written: “Take from them one staff for each [mateh mateh] patrilineal house” (Numbers 17:17) – Rabbi Yitzḥak said: My children have stumbled [matu matu]; they stumbled with the calf, they stumbled with the spies. Rabbi Levi said: Two tribes ascended to greatness – the tribe of priesthood and the tribe of kingship. You find that everything that is written regarding this one is written regarding that one: Anointment for this one, anointment for that one; mateh for this one13Numbers 17:23. and mateh for that one;14Psalms 110:2. covenant of salt for this one,15Numbers 18:19. covenant of salt for that one;16II Chronicles 13:5. “this time”17Genesis 29:34. for this one and “this time”18Genesis 29:35. for that one; crown [nezer] for this one,19Leviticus 8:9. crown [nezer] for that one;20II Kings 11:12. approach for this one21Exodus 28:1. and approach for that one;22Jeremiah 30:21. pedigree for this one23Numbers 3:1–-4. and pedigree for that one;24Ruth 4:18–22. frontplate for this one25Leviticus 8:9. and frontplate for that one.26Psalms 132:18.
Rabbi Levi said: “He will not withdraw His eyes [einav] from the righteous” (Job 36:7) – “His eyes” – his likeness [eino]27He has descendants who are in his likeness. See Maharsha Megillah 13b., like the person who says: ‘The sample of [einohi] fruit.’28Somebody who wants to sell fruit shows a sample. The sample shows the quality of the entire stock. “And kings upon the throne” (Job 36:7)29This is the end of the verse quoted above, but it is not part of the flow of this passage. – Leah adopted the wisdom of thanks [hodaya], and masters of thanks [hodaya] were produced from her. Judah – “Judah recognized them, and said: She is more righteous than I”30Hodaya can also mean to acknowledge. (Genesis 38:26); David said: “Give thanks [hodu] to the Lord, for He is good,” (Psalms 136:1); Daniel said: “I thank and praise [mehoda] You, God of my fathers” (Daniel 2:23).
Rachel adopted the wisdom of silence, and masters of silence were produced from her. Benjamin: “chalcedony [yashefe]” (Exodus 28:20),31This stone on the breastpiece of the High Priest had the name of Benjamin inscribed on it. there is a mouth [yesh peh]; he knew of the sale of Joseph, but did not tell. Saul: “But the matter of the kingship…he did not tell him” (I Samuel 10:16). Esther: “Esther did not disclose her birthplace or her people” (Esther 2:20).
“Therefore [al ken], she called his name” – everywhere that al ken is stated, it is a large population.
“And she ceased [vataamod] bearing” – who establishes [maamid] the woman’s standing in her house? It is her children.
Rabbi Levi said: “He will not withdraw His eyes [einav] from the righteous” (Job 36:7) – “His eyes” – his likeness [eino]27He has descendants who are in his likeness. See Maharsha Megillah 13b., like the person who says: ‘The sample of [einohi] fruit.’28Somebody who wants to sell fruit shows a sample. The sample shows the quality of the entire stock. “And kings upon the throne” (Job 36:7)29This is the end of the verse quoted above, but it is not part of the flow of this passage. – Leah adopted the wisdom of thanks [hodaya], and masters of thanks [hodaya] were produced from her. Judah – “Judah recognized them, and said: She is more righteous than I”30Hodaya can also mean to acknowledge. (Genesis 38:26); David said: “Give thanks [hodu] to the Lord, for He is good,” (Psalms 136:1); Daniel said: “I thank and praise [mehoda] You, God of my fathers” (Daniel 2:23).
Rachel adopted the wisdom of silence, and masters of silence were produced from her. Benjamin: “chalcedony [yashefe]” (Exodus 28:20),31This stone on the breastpiece of the High Priest had the name of Benjamin inscribed on it. there is a mouth [yesh peh]; he knew of the sale of Joseph, but did not tell. Saul: “But the matter of the kingship…he did not tell him” (I Samuel 10:16). Esther: “Esther did not disclose her birthplace or her people” (Esther 2:20).
“Therefore [al ken], she called his name” – everywhere that al ken is stated, it is a large population.
“And she ceased [vataamod] bearing” – who establishes [maamid] the woman’s standing in her house? It is her children.