Post date: Feb 14, 2012 4:16:39 AM
ביום השביעי כטוב לב המלך ביין
“Bayom hashvi’ih k’tov leiv hamlech bayayin”
(1:10)
At this point in the Megilah, it’s the final day of Achashveirosh’s incredible party. But he’s not able to fully enjoy the day. But the spectacle with Vashti hasn’t happened yet. So why is Achashveirosh not able to fully enjoy himself?
If we look at the word “Tov” in our Pasuk, we’ll notice the peculiar usage of the preliminary letter Chaf. In the spirit of the plain meaning of the Pasuk, it would have been more proper to have utilized the letter Beis and written “B’tov leiv Hamelech bayayin,” when the king’s heart was good with wine. In this case, the letter Chaf is modifying the word “Tov” to tell us that the king’s heart was “k’tov,” somewhat good. Why was Achashveirosh feeling any less than stupendous, fabulous, great, or at least good on this day? Why was he only feeling somewhat good?
The Haghos Hachida explains that the last day of the party was on Shabbos. We say in the Shabbos Shachris Amidah “V’gam b’menuchaso lo yishkinu areilim, ki l’yisrael amcha nisato b’ahava.” The Menucha of Shabbos is one that they do not enjoy—it’s only meant for us—so there was a palpable void on that day, the day that should have been the pinnacle of his party.
[Inside Purim]