“In the court of the garden of the king’s palace.” Rabbi Judah and Rabbi Nehemiah joined issue here. Rabbi Judah said that the garden was without and the court within, closer to the palace. Rabbi Nehemiah said that the garden was closer to the palace, and the court a little bit away.
Rabbi Pinchus said: I [...]

“And when these days were completed the king made a feast for all the people who were present in Shushan for seven days.” Rav and Shmuel joined issue here. One said: it means seven days besides the hundred and eighty, whereas Shmuel said: it means seven included in the hundred and eighty.
Rabbi Shimon said: Shushan [...]

“Many days.” They were days of tribulation; and similarly we find, “And it came to pass in the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died (Exodus 2:23).” Now were they really many days? No, only because they were days of tribulation, Scripture reckoned them as many days.
Similarly we find: “And it [...]

The Midrash continues: From where did this wicked man obtain his wealth?
Rabbi Tanchumah said: Nebuchadnezar, may he be crushed and exterminated, amassed all the money in the world, and he was very stingy with it. So when he felt his end approaching, he said to himself: why should I leave all this money to Evil-Merodach? [...]

“A fool spends all his spirit (Proverbs 29:11).” This applies to Achashveirosh. “But a wise man stills it with in him,” this applies to God, Who calmed Achashveirosh In the same way as it says, “who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the tumult of the peoples (Psalms 65:8).”
The [...]

“He made a feast for all his princes and his servants.” Antoninus gave a feast for Rabbi Judah the Prince. Said Rabbi Judah to him: Cannot you afford a really bright lamp? Antoninus replied: why should I trouble about these?
Rabbi Judah the Prince answered: perhaps they (your servants) will put thick oil into the lamps [...]

“That in those days.” This was one of the occasions on which the ministering angels lodged complaints before the Holy One, Blessed is He, saying: “Sovereign of the Universe, the Sanctuary is destroyed and this wretch sits and makes parties!” God answered them: “set Davies against days; for so it is written, “in those days [...]

As Rabbi Akiva was once sitting and expounding, his disciples became drowsy. In order to rouse them, he said: How did Esther merit to reign over 127 provinces? Because, thus said God: “Let Esther, the descendent of Sarah, who lived a hundred and 27 years, come and reign over 127 provinces.”
I can’t imagine sitting at [...]

Another comment on “The Army of Persia and Medea.” Sometimes the text of the Book of Esther mentions Persia before Medea, and sometimes, Medea before Persia. When the sovereignty was from Persia, Medea was secondary, and when the sovereignty was from Medea, Persia was secondary (Compare to Megillah 12a).
Why is it called Persia? Because it [...]