Post date: Feb 20, 2011 2:51:10 AM
לְכָל הָעָם הַנִּמְצְאִים בְּשׁוּשַׁן הַבִּירָה לְמִגָּדוֹל וְעַד קָטָן
L’chol ha’am hanimtzeim…l’migadol v’ad katan
(1:5)
Achashveirosh intended to demonstrate that everyone else was equal in his eyes.
The phrase “from smallest to greatest” is used when equating everyone to the most important. However, Achashveirosh intended to show everyone that in his eyes, they were all equal—they were all like lowly slaves to him. Therefore, the comparison is phrased “from greatest to smallest" to show how he equated everyone else as being of such a lowly, worthless status.
(The Malbim Esther)