Post date: Feb 18, 2011 9:36:32 PM
בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם כְּשֶׁבֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ עַל כִּסֵּא מַלְכוּתוֹ אֲשֶׁר בְּשׁוּשַׁן הַבִּירָה
Bayamim haheim k’sheves hamelech Achashveirosh al kisei malchuso asher b’Shushan habirah
(1:2)
Rashi tells us that Achashveirosh had just finished successful battles in which he solidified control over his empire, and now he was in a period of relative calm.
A Mishnah in Sanhedrin tells us “Sheket l’reshaim, rah lahen v’rah l’olam.”
As soon as the kingdom of Achashveirosh became peaceful (“Sheket l’reshaim”), he began to plot evil. By killing Vashti, he fulfilled “rah lahen.” Then he decreed that all of the beautiful maidens be apprehended and brought to him (forcibly, if necessary), thereby fulfilling “v’rah l’olam.”
(The King’s Treasures)