Were Persian-Median kings illiterate?












9















In the Megillah, we read (6:1):




בַּלַּיְלָה הַהוּא נָדְדָה שְׁנַת הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֹּאמֶר לְהָבִיא אֶת־סֵפֶר הַזִּכְרֹנוֹת דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים וַיִּהְיוּ נִקְרָאִים לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ



On that night, the king's sleep was disturbed. He said to bring the book of chronicles, and they read it before the king.




Likewise, in Ezra 4:18, Artachshasta (who was either Koreish/Daryavesh, according to Rashi, or Achashveirosh, according to Ralbag) says that he had a letter read to him:




נִשְׁתְּוָנָא דִּי שְׁלַחְתּוּן עֲלֶינָא מְפָרַשׁ קֱרִי קָדָמָי



The letter which you have sent to me has been explained and read before me.




Why didn't these kings read the text themselves? At first, I thought maybe it was just the way of kings to have others read things to them, but we find that Jewish kings did read (Yehoram in Melachim 2:5:7, Yoshiah in ibid. 22:16 and 23:2), as well as Babylonian ones (Sanhedrin 22a explains that the handwriting on the wall was written in code, implying Belshatzar could read it otherwise).



According to the Ralbag, perhaps since Achashveirosh's father was a stable boy (Megillah 12b), he simply didn't have the education to know how to read. But Rashi learns that Artachshasta was a different king; what was his excuse?



I see three possibilities here:




  1. Specifically Persian-Median kings had the custom to be read to, rather than reading themselves.

  2. Persian-Median kings were incapable of reading.

  3. Persian-Median kings could read, but Achashveirosh was ill-educated, and Koreish...?


Which of these is correct?










share|improve this question























  • Maybe it is easier to fall asleep when someone reads to you than when you read yourself? Might have to do with being able to stay in the dark when someone else reads

    – mbloch
    yesterday













  • Why generalize - "were they all..."? Even if some of them were what's the Nafka Mina? How vital is this for running a country? While the question is legit, I'd like you to specify your intention - what could be learned from it.

    – Al Berko
    yesterday











  • @AlBerko Why does it matter? Maybe it’s just a curiosity in the Pesukim.

    – DonielF
    yesterday
















9















In the Megillah, we read (6:1):




בַּלַּיְלָה הַהוּא נָדְדָה שְׁנַת הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֹּאמֶר לְהָבִיא אֶת־סֵפֶר הַזִּכְרֹנוֹת דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים וַיִּהְיוּ נִקְרָאִים לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ



On that night, the king's sleep was disturbed. He said to bring the book of chronicles, and they read it before the king.




Likewise, in Ezra 4:18, Artachshasta (who was either Koreish/Daryavesh, according to Rashi, or Achashveirosh, according to Ralbag) says that he had a letter read to him:




נִשְׁתְּוָנָא דִּי שְׁלַחְתּוּן עֲלֶינָא מְפָרַשׁ קֱרִי קָדָמָי



The letter which you have sent to me has been explained and read before me.




Why didn't these kings read the text themselves? At first, I thought maybe it was just the way of kings to have others read things to them, but we find that Jewish kings did read (Yehoram in Melachim 2:5:7, Yoshiah in ibid. 22:16 and 23:2), as well as Babylonian ones (Sanhedrin 22a explains that the handwriting on the wall was written in code, implying Belshatzar could read it otherwise).



According to the Ralbag, perhaps since Achashveirosh's father was a stable boy (Megillah 12b), he simply didn't have the education to know how to read. But Rashi learns that Artachshasta was a different king; what was his excuse?



I see three possibilities here:




  1. Specifically Persian-Median kings had the custom to be read to, rather than reading themselves.

  2. Persian-Median kings were incapable of reading.

  3. Persian-Median kings could read, but Achashveirosh was ill-educated, and Koreish...?


Which of these is correct?










share|improve this question























  • Maybe it is easier to fall asleep when someone reads to you than when you read yourself? Might have to do with being able to stay in the dark when someone else reads

    – mbloch
    yesterday













  • Why generalize - "were they all..."? Even if some of them were what's the Nafka Mina? How vital is this for running a country? While the question is legit, I'd like you to specify your intention - what could be learned from it.

    – Al Berko
    yesterday











  • @AlBerko Why does it matter? Maybe it’s just a curiosity in the Pesukim.

    – DonielF
    yesterday














9












9








9








In the Megillah, we read (6:1):




בַּלַּיְלָה הַהוּא נָדְדָה שְׁנַת הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֹּאמֶר לְהָבִיא אֶת־סֵפֶר הַזִּכְרֹנוֹת דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים וַיִּהְיוּ נִקְרָאִים לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ



On that night, the king's sleep was disturbed. He said to bring the book of chronicles, and they read it before the king.




Likewise, in Ezra 4:18, Artachshasta (who was either Koreish/Daryavesh, according to Rashi, or Achashveirosh, according to Ralbag) says that he had a letter read to him:




נִשְׁתְּוָנָא דִּי שְׁלַחְתּוּן עֲלֶינָא מְפָרַשׁ קֱרִי קָדָמָי



The letter which you have sent to me has been explained and read before me.




Why didn't these kings read the text themselves? At first, I thought maybe it was just the way of kings to have others read things to them, but we find that Jewish kings did read (Yehoram in Melachim 2:5:7, Yoshiah in ibid. 22:16 and 23:2), as well as Babylonian ones (Sanhedrin 22a explains that the handwriting on the wall was written in code, implying Belshatzar could read it otherwise).



According to the Ralbag, perhaps since Achashveirosh's father was a stable boy (Megillah 12b), he simply didn't have the education to know how to read. But Rashi learns that Artachshasta was a different king; what was his excuse?



I see three possibilities here:




  1. Specifically Persian-Median kings had the custom to be read to, rather than reading themselves.

  2. Persian-Median kings were incapable of reading.

  3. Persian-Median kings could read, but Achashveirosh was ill-educated, and Koreish...?


Which of these is correct?










share|improve this question














In the Megillah, we read (6:1):




בַּלַּיְלָה הַהוּא נָדְדָה שְׁנַת הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֹּאמֶר לְהָבִיא אֶת־סֵפֶר הַזִּכְרֹנוֹת דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים וַיִּהְיוּ נִקְרָאִים לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ



On that night, the king's sleep was disturbed. He said to bring the book of chronicles, and they read it before the king.




Likewise, in Ezra 4:18, Artachshasta (who was either Koreish/Daryavesh, according to Rashi, or Achashveirosh, according to Ralbag) says that he had a letter read to him:




נִשְׁתְּוָנָא דִּי שְׁלַחְתּוּן עֲלֶינָא מְפָרַשׁ קֱרִי קָדָמָי



The letter which you have sent to me has been explained and read before me.




Why didn't these kings read the text themselves? At first, I thought maybe it was just the way of kings to have others read things to them, but we find that Jewish kings did read (Yehoram in Melachim 2:5:7, Yoshiah in ibid. 22:16 and 23:2), as well as Babylonian ones (Sanhedrin 22a explains that the handwriting on the wall was written in code, implying Belshatzar could read it otherwise).



According to the Ralbag, perhaps since Achashveirosh's father was a stable boy (Megillah 12b), he simply didn't have the education to know how to read. But Rashi learns that Artachshasta was a different king; what was his excuse?



I see three possibilities here:




  1. Specifically Persian-Median kings had the custom to be read to, rather than reading themselves.

  2. Persian-Median kings were incapable of reading.

  3. Persian-Median kings could read, but Achashveirosh was ill-educated, and Koreish...?


Which of these is correct?







megillat-esther ezra-nechemya






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asked yesterday









DonielFDonielF

16.1k12584




16.1k12584













  • Maybe it is easier to fall asleep when someone reads to you than when you read yourself? Might have to do with being able to stay in the dark when someone else reads

    – mbloch
    yesterday













  • Why generalize - "were they all..."? Even if some of them were what's the Nafka Mina? How vital is this for running a country? While the question is legit, I'd like you to specify your intention - what could be learned from it.

    – Al Berko
    yesterday











  • @AlBerko Why does it matter? Maybe it’s just a curiosity in the Pesukim.

    – DonielF
    yesterday



















  • Maybe it is easier to fall asleep when someone reads to you than when you read yourself? Might have to do with being able to stay in the dark when someone else reads

    – mbloch
    yesterday













  • Why generalize - "were they all..."? Even if some of them were what's the Nafka Mina? How vital is this for running a country? While the question is legit, I'd like you to specify your intention - what could be learned from it.

    – Al Berko
    yesterday











  • @AlBerko Why does it matter? Maybe it’s just a curiosity in the Pesukim.

    – DonielF
    yesterday

















Maybe it is easier to fall asleep when someone reads to you than when you read yourself? Might have to do with being able to stay in the dark when someone else reads

– mbloch
yesterday







Maybe it is easier to fall asleep when someone reads to you than when you read yourself? Might have to do with being able to stay in the dark when someone else reads

– mbloch
yesterday















Why generalize - "were they all..."? Even if some of them were what's the Nafka Mina? How vital is this for running a country? While the question is legit, I'd like you to specify your intention - what could be learned from it.

– Al Berko
yesterday





Why generalize - "were they all..."? Even if some of them were what's the Nafka Mina? How vital is this for running a country? While the question is legit, I'd like you to specify your intention - what could be learned from it.

– Al Berko
yesterday













@AlBerko Why does it matter? Maybe it’s just a curiosity in the Pesukim.

– DonielF
yesterday





@AlBerko Why does it matter? Maybe it’s just a curiosity in the Pesukim.

– DonielF
yesterday










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















11














In the case of Achashveirosh, Rashi writes:




(from sefaria)



לְהָבִיא אֶת סֵפֶר הַזִּכְרֹנוֹת. דֶּרֶךְ הַמְּלָכִים, כְּשֶׁשְּׁנָתָן נוֹדֶדֶת, אוֹמְרִים לִפְנֵיהֶם מְשָׁלִים וְשִׂיחוֹת עַד שֶׁשְּׁנָתָם חוֹזֶרֶת עֲלֵיהֶם.‏



To bring the book of archives. It is the custom of kings that when their sleep is disturbed, parables and tales are recounted before them until their sleep is restored.




Thus, regardless of whether he was literate or not, it would have been read to him.



In the case of Artachshasta, R. Mordechai Zer-Kavod quotes someone (I'm not sure who it is)1 who suggests that it was translated for him from Aramaic to Persian - again, not an indication that he was illiterate.





1 R. Mordechai Zer-Kavod agrues with this explanation, but JPS also explains it like this.






share|improve this answer

































    1














    Books were cumbersome and heavy at the time, not the Capitalist small paperbacks the companies make today for profit!



    Do you expect a king to take a 5kg book to bed at night to read or a 5m long scroll papyrus?






    share|improve this answer








    New contributor




    dimachaerus is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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    • 2





      It's not about "capitalist paperbacks". My soviet-printed books are just as small. It's about paper, and the printing press. Parchment is thicker and heavier than paper, and a human using ink and the pens of that time wouldn't be able to write as small as modern print without the ink smearing and the letters becoming unreadable.

      – Galastel
      yesterday











    • I also asked about a letter sent to Artachshasta. Certainly that was smaller.

      – DonielF
      yesterday



















    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    11














    In the case of Achashveirosh, Rashi writes:




    (from sefaria)



    לְהָבִיא אֶת סֵפֶר הַזִּכְרֹנוֹת. דֶּרֶךְ הַמְּלָכִים, כְּשֶׁשְּׁנָתָן נוֹדֶדֶת, אוֹמְרִים לִפְנֵיהֶם מְשָׁלִים וְשִׂיחוֹת עַד שֶׁשְּׁנָתָם חוֹזֶרֶת עֲלֵיהֶם.‏



    To bring the book of archives. It is the custom of kings that when their sleep is disturbed, parables and tales are recounted before them until their sleep is restored.




    Thus, regardless of whether he was literate or not, it would have been read to him.



    In the case of Artachshasta, R. Mordechai Zer-Kavod quotes someone (I'm not sure who it is)1 who suggests that it was translated for him from Aramaic to Persian - again, not an indication that he was illiterate.





    1 R. Mordechai Zer-Kavod agrues with this explanation, but JPS also explains it like this.






    share|improve this answer






























      11














      In the case of Achashveirosh, Rashi writes:




      (from sefaria)



      לְהָבִיא אֶת סֵפֶר הַזִּכְרֹנוֹת. דֶּרֶךְ הַמְּלָכִים, כְּשֶׁשְּׁנָתָן נוֹדֶדֶת, אוֹמְרִים לִפְנֵיהֶם מְשָׁלִים וְשִׂיחוֹת עַד שֶׁשְּׁנָתָם חוֹזֶרֶת עֲלֵיהֶם.‏



      To bring the book of archives. It is the custom of kings that when their sleep is disturbed, parables and tales are recounted before them until their sleep is restored.




      Thus, regardless of whether he was literate or not, it would have been read to him.



      In the case of Artachshasta, R. Mordechai Zer-Kavod quotes someone (I'm not sure who it is)1 who suggests that it was translated for him from Aramaic to Persian - again, not an indication that he was illiterate.





      1 R. Mordechai Zer-Kavod agrues with this explanation, but JPS also explains it like this.






      share|improve this answer




























        11












        11








        11







        In the case of Achashveirosh, Rashi writes:




        (from sefaria)



        לְהָבִיא אֶת סֵפֶר הַזִּכְרֹנוֹת. דֶּרֶךְ הַמְּלָכִים, כְּשֶׁשְּׁנָתָן נוֹדֶדֶת, אוֹמְרִים לִפְנֵיהֶם מְשָׁלִים וְשִׂיחוֹת עַד שֶׁשְּׁנָתָם חוֹזֶרֶת עֲלֵיהֶם.‏



        To bring the book of archives. It is the custom of kings that when their sleep is disturbed, parables and tales are recounted before them until their sleep is restored.




        Thus, regardless of whether he was literate or not, it would have been read to him.



        In the case of Artachshasta, R. Mordechai Zer-Kavod quotes someone (I'm not sure who it is)1 who suggests that it was translated for him from Aramaic to Persian - again, not an indication that he was illiterate.





        1 R. Mordechai Zer-Kavod agrues with this explanation, but JPS also explains it like this.






        share|improve this answer















        In the case of Achashveirosh, Rashi writes:




        (from sefaria)



        לְהָבִיא אֶת סֵפֶר הַזִּכְרֹנוֹת. דֶּרֶךְ הַמְּלָכִים, כְּשֶׁשְּׁנָתָן נוֹדֶדֶת, אוֹמְרִים לִפְנֵיהֶם מְשָׁלִים וְשִׂיחוֹת עַד שֶׁשְּׁנָתָם חוֹזֶרֶת עֲלֵיהֶם.‏



        To bring the book of archives. It is the custom of kings that when their sleep is disturbed, parables and tales are recounted before them until their sleep is restored.




        Thus, regardless of whether he was literate or not, it would have been read to him.



        In the case of Artachshasta, R. Mordechai Zer-Kavod quotes someone (I'm not sure who it is)1 who suggests that it was translated for him from Aramaic to Persian - again, not an indication that he was illiterate.





        1 R. Mordechai Zer-Kavod agrues with this explanation, but JPS also explains it like this.







        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited yesterday

























        answered yesterday









        PloniPloni

        4,6601460




        4,6601460























            1














            Books were cumbersome and heavy at the time, not the Capitalist small paperbacks the companies make today for profit!



            Do you expect a king to take a 5kg book to bed at night to read or a 5m long scroll papyrus?






            share|improve this answer








            New contributor




            dimachaerus is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.
















            • 2





              It's not about "capitalist paperbacks". My soviet-printed books are just as small. It's about paper, and the printing press. Parchment is thicker and heavier than paper, and a human using ink and the pens of that time wouldn't be able to write as small as modern print without the ink smearing and the letters becoming unreadable.

              – Galastel
              yesterday











            • I also asked about a letter sent to Artachshasta. Certainly that was smaller.

              – DonielF
              yesterday
















            1














            Books were cumbersome and heavy at the time, not the Capitalist small paperbacks the companies make today for profit!



            Do you expect a king to take a 5kg book to bed at night to read or a 5m long scroll papyrus?






            share|improve this answer








            New contributor




            dimachaerus is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.
















            • 2





              It's not about "capitalist paperbacks". My soviet-printed books are just as small. It's about paper, and the printing press. Parchment is thicker and heavier than paper, and a human using ink and the pens of that time wouldn't be able to write as small as modern print without the ink smearing and the letters becoming unreadable.

              – Galastel
              yesterday











            • I also asked about a letter sent to Artachshasta. Certainly that was smaller.

              – DonielF
              yesterday














            1












            1








            1







            Books were cumbersome and heavy at the time, not the Capitalist small paperbacks the companies make today for profit!



            Do you expect a king to take a 5kg book to bed at night to read or a 5m long scroll papyrus?






            share|improve this answer








            New contributor




            dimachaerus is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.










            Books were cumbersome and heavy at the time, not the Capitalist small paperbacks the companies make today for profit!



            Do you expect a king to take a 5kg book to bed at night to read or a 5m long scroll papyrus?







            share|improve this answer








            New contributor




            dimachaerus is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.









            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer






            New contributor




            dimachaerus is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.









            answered yesterday









            dimachaerusdimachaerus

            191




            191




            New contributor




            dimachaerus is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.





            New contributor





            dimachaerus is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.






            dimachaerus is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.








            • 2





              It's not about "capitalist paperbacks". My soviet-printed books are just as small. It's about paper, and the printing press. Parchment is thicker and heavier than paper, and a human using ink and the pens of that time wouldn't be able to write as small as modern print without the ink smearing and the letters becoming unreadable.

              – Galastel
              yesterday











            • I also asked about a letter sent to Artachshasta. Certainly that was smaller.

              – DonielF
              yesterday














            • 2





              It's not about "capitalist paperbacks". My soviet-printed books are just as small. It's about paper, and the printing press. Parchment is thicker and heavier than paper, and a human using ink and the pens of that time wouldn't be able to write as small as modern print without the ink smearing and the letters becoming unreadable.

              – Galastel
              yesterday











            • I also asked about a letter sent to Artachshasta. Certainly that was smaller.

              – DonielF
              yesterday








            2




            2





            It's not about "capitalist paperbacks". My soviet-printed books are just as small. It's about paper, and the printing press. Parchment is thicker and heavier than paper, and a human using ink and the pens of that time wouldn't be able to write as small as modern print without the ink smearing and the letters becoming unreadable.

            – Galastel
            yesterday





            It's not about "capitalist paperbacks". My soviet-printed books are just as small. It's about paper, and the printing press. Parchment is thicker and heavier than paper, and a human using ink and the pens of that time wouldn't be able to write as small as modern print without the ink smearing and the letters becoming unreadable.

            – Galastel
            yesterday













            I also asked about a letter sent to Artachshasta. Certainly that was smaller.

            – DonielF
            yesterday





            I also asked about a letter sent to Artachshasta. Certainly that was smaller.

            – DonielF
            yesterday



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