Post date: Mar 02, 2011 3:33:15 AM
וּמָרְדֳּכַי יָדַע אֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר נַעֲשָׂה
וַיִּקְרַע מָרְדֳּכַי אֶת בְּגָדָיו וַיִּלְבַּשׁ שַׂק וָאֵפֶר
וַיֵּצֵא בְּתוֹךְ הָעִיר וַיִּזְעַק זְעָקָה גְדוֹלָה וּמָרָה
U’Mordechai yuda es kol asher na’ahsuh
vayikrah Mordechai es biguduv vayilbash sok vu’eifer
vayeitzei bisoch ha’eer vayizak za’aka gedola u’murruh
(4:1)
The previous Pasuk told us about the king’s messengers leaving on their royal missions to deliver the letters to the far reaching provinces. That being the case, how are we to understand the beginning of our Pasuk which tells us that Mordechai (already) knew what was going on?
Rashi tells us that Mordechai was told in a dream about the contents of the letters and the details of what went into crafting the evil decree. But the inclusion of the word “כָּל” would seem to add something to what he knew. What was this extra layer of understanding? The word “כָּל” implies that he knew the entire scenario—including the downfall of Haman!
If that’s the case, then how are we to understand the rest of the Pasuk? If Mordechai was told that everything was going to turn out fine, then why did he tear his clothes, don sackcloth, put ashes on his head, and go out into the city wailing?
The answer lies in the manner in which this information was imparted upon him. Had Mordechai received this information through a Nevuah, he could have given it much more credence. However, since he received this information in a dream, he had doubts about its validity and accuracy. The Gemara in Brachos (45a) tells us that no dream is devoid of some amount of nonsense. Based on that, he had no choice but to put forth his Hishtadlus to save the Jewish people from the royal decree of annihilation.
(Artscroll Purim)