Post date: Feb 12, 2012 2:50:2 AM
ימים רבים שמונים ומאת יום
“Yamim rabim shmonim u’me’as yom”
(1:4)
If the Pasuk is going to tell us that the party lasted precisely 180 days, why does it preface such specificity with a vague description, namely “Yamim rabim,” many days?
By saying that the party was 180 days, we might have understood that the party was held at different points over the course of a period of 180 days. The Maharal clarifies for us that the phrase “Yamim rabim” is telling us that the party ran uninterrupted for all 180 days!
[Zvi Fleisher @ shemayisrael.com]
והשתיה כדת
“V’hashesiya chadus”
(1:8)
The Gemara (Megilah 12a) tells us that the drinking at the king’s party followed the dictates of the Torah in that that volume of food exceeded the volume of drink as we find regarding the laws of Korbanos and libations.
The Imrei Emes points out that at our Purim Seudahs, we fulfill the idea of “V’nahafoch hu” by imbibing more than we eat!
[Zvi Fleisher @ shemayisrael.com]
כרצון איש ואיש
“Kirtzon ish vu’ish”
(1:8)
In describing Achashveirosh’s party, the Megilah says that the wine was “according to every man’s wish.” The only two people referred to as “Ish” in the Megilah are Mordechai (“Ish Yehudi” 2:5) and Haman (“Ish tzar v’oyieiv” 7:6). By utilizing the title “Ish,” the Megilah is telling us that both of them were royal ministers at the party, and Achashveirosh satisfied both of their requests by allowing the drinking to be on a voluntary basis. Mordechai didn’t want forced drinking because it was certain to lead the Jews to sin. And if they did end up sinning, Haman didn’t want the coercion of their drinking to be an excuse used to avoid punishment. So, despite having different motivations, they both had the same request, and the king fulfilled it.
Another understanding of the “Kirtzon ish vu’ish” (wishes) that Achashveirosh satisfied relates the food that was served. Achashveirosh allowed each of them to select the menu for their respective nations. Mordechai requested kosher food and kosher wine for the Jews, while Haman’s request included every imaginable delicacy.
A third interpretation is that Achashveirosh fulfilled Haman’s request that the Jews be forced to eat non-kosher food, while satisfying Mordechai’s request that the Jews not be forced to drink wine.
[Many mefarshim on Megliah 12a brought in Inside Purim]
Yalkut Shimoni brings two very different interpretations of this phrase. He explains that there was a Persian party custom that each guest was given a huge cup of wine (called a Piska). He was required to drink the entire contents of the cup even if it made him ill to the point of death. Achashveirosh wanted everyone to be comfortable at his party. So the obligatory Piska was not enforced, and everyone was allowed to drink as much or as little as he wanted.
An alternative interpretation is that in order to make everyone happy, they were all served wine from their own country. In the same vein, the Jews were served kosher wine.
The Manos HaLevi tells us that there was a practical reason for not forcing people to drink at the party. Achashveirosh didn’t want anyone to overdrink for fear that people could become enflamed. Since there were people from 127 nationalities, fights could have more easily broken out due to intoxication, and that would have put a damper on his celebration.
[Inside Purim]