Post date: Feb 21, 2012 4:6:3 AM
ויפקד המלך פקידים
“Viyafkeid hamelech pikidim”
(2:3)
Many parents hid their daughters from the king’s messengers. They didn’t want to give their daughters up for a lengthy pageant only to suffer rejection, and then have to endure a life of limbo not being married to the king and not being able to marry anyone else. In order to counteract this, the king had to send more than just regular emissaries. He needed Pikidim, or Mefakdim (commanding officers) –people of authority who could force the parents to hand over their daughters.
[Al Hanissim]
אשר הגלה מירושלים
עם הגולה אשר הגלתה עם יכניה מלך יהודה
אשר הגלה נבוכדנצר מלך בבל
“Asher haglah miRushalayim
im hagolah asher heglasa im Yichonya melech Yehuda
hasher heglah Nevuchadnetzar melech Bavel.”
(2:6)
The Gra tells us that Mordechai had tremendous love for Eretz Yisrael. Despite going into exile multiple times, he kept going back.
- He was originally exiled during Galus Yachonya several years before the destruction of the first Beis Hamikdash, yet he returned.
- He was next exiled by Nevuchadnetzar after the destruction of the first Beis Hamikdash. Many years later, King Koreish (the immediate predecessor of Achashveirosh) authorized the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdash, so Mordechai returned.
- But when Haman had Achashveirosh put a stop to the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdash, Mordechai exiled himself again to join the effort to convince Achashveirosh to allow them to resume construction.
[Inside Purim]