Post date: Mar 01, 2011 1:56:50 AM
וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ לְהָמָן הַכֶּסֶף נָתוּן לָךְ
Vayomer hamelech l’Haman hakesef nasun luch
(3:11)
Tosfos (Megillah 14b) points out that the Gematriah of the word “הַכֶּסֶף” (5+20+60+80=165) is equal to that of the word “הָעֵץ” (5+70+90=165).
This foreshadows that Haman would be hanged from הָעֵץ as a direct consequence for trying to bribe Achashveirosh with הַכֶּסֶף in an attempt to let him carry out his evil plot against the Jews.
As such, one could understand the Pasuk as if it said “וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ לְהָמָן הָעֵץ נָתוּן לָךְ,” the king (Hashem?) said to Haman, ‘Behold, the gallows will be given to you.’
(The King’s Treasures)