If one reads the Megillah in inverted order he does not fulfill his obligation, it being written (Esther 9:28): "And these days are commemorated and celebrated." Just as celebration cannot be inverted (it being impossible for the fifteenth to precede the fourteenth), so commemoration (the reading of the Megillah) cannot be inverted.] If he reads it by heart, or in Targum, or in any language, he does not fulfill his obligation. [("by heart":), it being written here "commemorated," and, elsewhere (in respect to the eradication of Amalek - Exodus 17:14): "Write this as a commemoration in a book." ("or in Targum, etc.":) This is what is meant: If a Hebrew reads it in Targum, and he does not understand it; or if he reads it in any other language that he does not understand, he does not fulfill his obligation.] But it may be read to those speaking a foreign tongue in their tongue, [so long as it be written in that tongue, so that he not read it by heart.] And if one speaking a foreign tongue hears it in Ashurith, he fulfils his obligation. [Greek is like Ashurith relative to this halachah. It is just that the original Greek has been lost and been forgotten as we wrote above (1:8)].
Bartenura on Mishnah Megillah
הקורא את המגלה למפרע לא יצא – As it is written (Esther 9:28): “Consequently, these days are recalled and observed [in every generation...].” Just as [concerning] the observance of these days, it is impossible to [observe them] out of order/in an irregular way, for it is impossible that the fifteenth day would come before the fourteenth day, so too the recalling – which is the reading of the Megillah, out of order, cannot be done.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Megillah
Introduction
The Mishnah now begins to talk about how the Megillah is actually read.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Megillah
קראה על פה – He did not fulfill [his obligation]. It is written here, נזכרים /observed, and it is written there (Exodus 17:14): "כתוב זאת זכרון בספר"/”Inscribe this in a document as a reminder, [and read it aloud to Joshua…].”
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English Explanation of Mishnah Megillah
If one reads the Megillah out of order, he has not fulfilled his obligation. The Megillah must be read in order. One cannot skip around and then go back.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Megillah
קראה תרגום בכל לשון לא יצא – A Hebrew who read it (i.e., the Megillah) in [an] Aramaic [translation] and does not understand the language of [the] Aramaic [translation], or in all other languages which he does not understand, he has not fulfilled [his obligation regarding the reading of the Megillah].
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English Explanation of Mishnah Megillah
If he reads it by heart, if he reads it in a translation [targum], or in any other language, he has not fulfilled his obligation. The Megillah must be read from a scroll. Despite its brevity, it, like other Torah readings, may not be read by memory. It also may not be read using a translation or in any other language, even if it is written in that language. This section refers to a person who understands Hebrew. Such a person who hears in another language has not fulfilled his obligation.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Megillah
אבל קורין אותה ללועזות בלעז – In that language that they understand, but as long as it is written in that language, for he cannot read it by heart.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Megillah
But they may read it to those who do not understand Hebrew in a language other than Hebrew. One who doesn’t understand Hebrew who heard it in Assyrian [Hebrew], has fulfilled his obligation. In contrast, somebody who doesn’t understand Hebrew may fulfill his obligation by hearing the Megillah in a language other than Hebrew. Nevertheless, if a person hears it in Hebrew he has fulfilled his obligation even if he doesn’t understand it. In this aspect Hebrew is greater than the other languages other languages need to be understood while Hebrew does not. Hebrew is referred to as “Assyrian” because it is written using the Assyrian alphabet.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Megillah
והלועז ששמע אשורית יצא – And Greek, behold it is like Assyrian, regarding this law, but as we have written above (Chapter 1:8), this language has become lost and forgotten.
