Talmud Megillah Doing Midrash on Esther

“Who had been exiled from Jerusalem” (Esther 2:6). Rava said: that he went into exile on his own,

“And he had brought up Hadassah, She is referred to as “Hadassah” and she is referred to as “Esther.” It is taught Rabbi Meir says: Esther was her name. Why was she called Hadassah? On account of the righteous, who are called myrtles [hadassim], and so it states: “And he stood among the myrtles [hahadassim]” (Zechariah 1:8). Rabbi Yehuda says: Hadassah was her real name. Why then was she called Esther? Because she concealed [masteret] the truth as it is stated: “Esther had not yet made known her people” (Esther 2:20). Rabbi Neḥemya says: Hadassah was her name. Why was she called Esther? for the nations of the world called her after Istahar. Ben Azzai says: Esther was neither tall nor short, but of average size like a myrtle Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa said: Esther was greenish, a cord of grace was strung around her,

“For she had neither father nor mother” (Esther 2:7). Why do I need “And when her father and mother were dead, Rav Aḥa said: when her mother became pregnant, her father died, when she gave birth, her mother died,

“And when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter” (Esther 2:7). A tanna taught in the name of Rabbi Meir: Do not read for a daughter [bat], rather for a home [bayit]. And so it states: “But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and reared: And it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his bread, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was like a daughter [kevat] to him” (II Samuel 12:3). Because it lay in his bosom, it “was like a daughter to him”? Rather, Like a home [bayit] So too, here, for a home,

And the seven maids (Esther 2:9). Rava said: She would count the days of the week by them,

“And he advanced her and her maids Rav said: that he fed her food of Jews, And Shmuel said that he fed her pig hinds,

And Rabbi Yoḥanan said vegetables, And so it states “So the steward took away their food and gave them vegetables”

“And Esther obtained favor . Rabbi Elazar said: This teaches that she appeared to each and every one as if their nation,

“So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus into his royal house in the tenth month, which is the month Tevet” (Esther 2:16). a month, in which the body takes pleasure in another body,

“And the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins” (Esther 2:17). Rav said: wanted to taste the taste of a virgin he tasted it, the taste of a non-virgin, he tasted

“Then the king made a great feast He made feast, but she did not reveal to him. He lowered the taxes [karga] but she did not reveal to him. He sent gifts [pardishenei], but she did not reveal to him.

“And when the virgins were gathered together the second time He went took advice from Mordecai. He said a woman is jealous only of the thigh of another But even so she did not reveal to him, as it is written: “Esther had not yet made known her kindred

Since it is written ki ain lah av veim - we learn that she didn't have a father or a mother for even a day.