Post date: Feb 19, 2012 2:27:29 AM
ויאמר ממוכן לפני המלך והשרים
“Vayomer Memuchan lifnei hamelech v’ha’sarim”
(1:16)
The Gra points out that the phrase “Lifnei hamelech v’ha’sarim” seems to be superfluous. We were already told two Pesukim prior that Achashveirosh was addressing the seven ministers in his cabinet. If Memuchan is responding to the king, we know clearly before whom he is speaking. What additional insight can we glean from the seemingly wordy introduction to his response?
Two Pesukim earlier, Memuchan (aka, Haman, according to the Gemara [Megilah 12b]) is mentioned last when all of Achashveirosh’s advisors were listed, indicating that he had the least prominence of the group. Being the lowest man on the totem pole (soon to be the highest man on the Haman pole), he could have easily mentioned his suggestion quietly, after other ministers gave their own ideas—maybe even waiting until some of the more superior advisors had left the meeting. But due to his arrogance, thirst for power and intense hatred for the Jews, he jumped ahead of everyone else and blurted out his suggestion in front of everyone. It’s likely that Achashveirosh would have followed Haman’s evil plan regardless of what others presented to him. After all, the king’s outlook towards the Jews wasn’t any more positive than that of Haman’s. When Haman’s downfall eventually played out, it became clear to everyone that his own suggestions and actions had actually set the stage for his downfall. Had he talked to the king in a more private or humble manner, his legacy may have been different. But because he chose to push himself to the front, everyone knew the whole story.
[Inside Purim and Zvi Fleisher @ shemayisrael.com]
ויעש המלך כדבר ממוכן
“Vaya’as hamelech kidvar Memuchan”
(1:21)
There are other times in the Megilah (“Vaya’as kein” 2:4, and “Va’asei chein” 6:10) that a shorter phrase is used to tell us about putting a plan into play. Why does the Megilah find the need to be wordy in this case?
The Megilas Sesarim explains that we might have misconstrued a more concise phrase to mean that Achashveirosh more-or-less followed Memuchan’s advice. “Kidvar Memuchan” tells us that Achashveirosh acted upon all four of Memuchan’s suggestions:
1) Eliminating Vashti.
2) Replacing Vashti with a new queen.
3) Establishing an edict that all wives must honor their husbands.
4) Publicizing this new edict by sending letters throughout the entire kingdom.
[Zvi Fleisher @ shemayisrael.com]