tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556022894010597695.post1693223639042116278..comments2023-05-16T07:25:05.645-04:00Comments on Sefer Ha-Bloggadah: 1:8:27 - Things That Are Used For Good; Things That Are Used For BadBZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18242965196421853025noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556022894010597695.post-62894505924144135602009-01-06T12:37:00.000-05:002009-01-06T12:37:00.000-05:00Thanks Richard. I figured something had gotten lo...Thanks Richard. I figured something had gotten lost in the translation somewhere along the line.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2556022894010597695.post-1667346292391976862009-01-06T05:58:00.000-05:002009-01-06T05:58:00.000-05:00The text in Sefer HaAggada explains the choice of ...The text in Sefer HaAggada explains the choice of the cedar as "al ha'etz asher hitkin l'atzmo," which can indeed suggest that Haman prepared this tree "for himself." However, the original midrash, which, as you note, is from Targum Sheni, says, "al zkifa di atkin l'nafsheih," and the commentary Patshegen Hak'tav renders this as "al ha'etz asher hechin lo." I think the Hebrew of this commentary understands the midrash not as Haman having prepared this tree for himself -- i.e., unconsciously preparing it for his own hanging --, but rather as Haman having prepared this tree for his own purposes -- i.e., consciously preparing it for Mordechai's hanging. That is, of course, precisely what the text of Megillat Ester says -- "al ha'etz asher hechin l'Mordechai" (Esth. 7:10). (BTW, Targum Sheni is printed immediately after Megillat Ester itself in the back of the Exodus volume of some editions of Mikra'ot G'dolot.)Richard Friedmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02870620899916616752noreply@blogger.com