Post date: Mar 08, 2012 5:4:5 AM
[Purim Vorts] Poll ratings drop
יצא דבר מלכות מלפניו
Yeitzei d’var malchus milfanav
(1:19)
Achashveirosh sent a royal proclamation to the empire that all husbands are to have full authority in their own homes, and that married women must speak the language of their husbands. Granted, these edicts were a result of what had happened earlier in the Megilah, but was there any significant effect from this proclamation?
The Gemara (Megilah 12b) says that the immediate result was that Achashveirosh was viewed as a fool! Given the time and place, to proclaim that husbands were to “rule” in their own homes was superfluous. And it didn’t take much thought to realize that the language requirement was ridiculous. Whatever Achashveirosh’s level of stature had been until that time was greatly compromised by such silly decrees, and his prestige was diminished in the eyes of his people.
The Decree to kill the Jews was sent (on the 13th Nissan) 11 months prior to the designated day (of the 13th of Adar). Normally, the enemies of the Jews would have read the decree, and (Zrizim makdimin l’mitzvos) would have jumped at the opportunity to get the job done as early as possible without waiting for the designated date. But at this point, they weren’t sure if their loopy king might flip-flop on his decree and then not back them up if problems ensued. Therefore, they waited until the designated date, which gave Mordechai and Esther time to put their plan into action, and eventually follow up the evil decree with one of their own.
[Inside Purim]
[Purim Vorts] No wiggle room
להיות כל איש שוריר בביתו ומדבר כלשון עמו
L’yos kol ish soreir biveso um’dabeir kilshon amo
(1:23)
There are so many examples of Divine choreography in the Megilah. Yet another clear instance is seen in the royal proclamation that all husbands have sole authority in their own homes.
The Chassam Sofer tells over in the name of the Panim Yafos that Mordechai could have easily avoided subjecting Esther to the horrors of the royal queen pageant. Who wouldn’t have been able to relate had Mordechai told them, “I didn’t send Esther because she didn’t want to go?” It would have been completely understandable.
However, once this royal edict was issued, such an argument would not have held any water. Now, the decision to hold Esther back or send her rested squarely on Mordechai’s shoulders. Left with no wiggle room, he had to send her. The salvation of the Jewish people would come about through them. There was no option to let someone else take the lead for this effort.
[Zvi Fleisher @ shemayisrael.com]
[Purim Vorts] What’s up?
לדעת מה זה ועל מה זה
Lada’as mah zeh v’al mah zeh
(4:5)
Mordechai suddenly shows up outside the palace in sack cloth, and the choice of words in Esther’s question to Mordechai is peculiar. What is the hidden message within her question?
Simply put, Esther’s question was “What is going on, and why?” However, it’s hard to believe that those outside of the palace had more information than Esther about the goings-on inside the palace.
Chazal opine that in fact, Esther did have knowledge about Haman’s decree. So, her question to Mordechai was really a query to understand what the Jews had or had not done to be deserving of such a decree.
Her usage of the words “Mizeh” in her statement was a hint to the questions she was asking:
- She wanted to know if the Jews violated the Aseres Hadibros which were written “MiZEH u’miZEH,” on both sides of the tablets.
- She wanted to know if the Jews had denied the Master of the World, about Whom it is said “ZEH Keili v’anveihu,” This is my G-d and I shall praise him.
[Al Hanissim]
[Purim Vorts] You’re sunk
אם מזרע היהודים...נפול תפול לפניו
Im mizerah hayehudim…nafoal tipol lifanav
(6:13)
The Sefer Iturei Torah has an interesting understanding of this Pasuk. He tells us that the advisors for Haman and Zeresh understood the inverse relation between the Bnei Yaakov and Bnei Eisav; that when one rises, the other must fall. Since Haman had just led Mordechai through the streets, it was clear that Mordechai was starting his ascent. They explained that since Mordechai is Jewish and he’s on his way up, Haman’s plan is doomed.
But we can also understand that Zeresh (and her advisors) are telling Haman “If Mordechai is Jewish, then “Nafoal tipol lifanav,” that you should fall before him and beg for mercy,” because Jews are “Rachmanim bnei rachmanin,” that mercy is part-and-parcel of who they are.
[Inside Purim]
[Purim Vorts] He was quite steamed
ויתלו את המן...וחמת המלך שככה
Vayislu es Haman…vachamas hamelech suchuchu
(7:10)
Only after Haman was hanged did Achashveirosh finally calm down from his anger over Vashti’s death. (Maybe this was the case because it was Haman who had volunteered the idea that his beloved queen should be killed for her insubordination. He felt it necessary to do something, so not having any other ideas, so he followed this suggestion despite his own reservations about it.)
After Vashti was killed, the Pasuk says “Kishoch chamas hamelech,” (2:1) when it was like the wrath of the king had subsided. Her punishment hadn’t done anything to relieve him of his anger from her infraction. In fact, it might very well have caused his anger to fester as he considered the regretful demise of his lovely Vashti.
But at this point in the Megilah, the villain who had made that very suggestion was himself finally eliminated. At this point, “Vachamas hamelech suchuchu,” the king’s anger subsided.
[Al Hanissim]