[Avodah] Vashti

[Zev Sero]

Eli Turkel wrote:
> But the second opinion rejects that approach, and insists that her
> disfigurement wasn't some mere skin outbreak, but a supernatural
> event, one that requires the instrumentality of Malach Gavriel;
> perhaps the reason why this was necessary was to drive home to her
> that she hadn't merely suffered from bad luck, but was being
> punished for her misdeeds.  >>
> 
> I repeat my previous question - what forced Chazal to assume Vashti
> has sins and was evil. This is not pshat in the pesukim. Again, in
> accordance with the Malbim (and R.Boubil) it could have been just
> political intrigue.

It's certainly not inherent in the pesukim.  From the pesukim one
might conclude that Vashti was a real tzadekes, the innocent victim
of a tyrannical king.  And yet Chazal do take it that way, without
question.  I don't think there's even one opinion recorded that she
wasn't evil, that she didn't deserve her fate.  The Malbim doesn't
say this wasn't her punishment milmaalah; he merely comments on what
motivated *Achashverosh* to make this demand of her in the first
place, and to react to her refusal as he did.
 


-- 
Zev Sero               Something has gone seriously awry with this Court's
zev at sero.name          interpretation of the Constitution.
                       	                          - Clarence Thomas