Post date: Feb 10, 2012 5:3:50 AM
עשה משתה
“Asah mishteh”
(1:3)
If Megilas Esther is the story of our salvation from the clutches of destruction, why does the Megilah start at this point? Mordechai and Esther aren’t even mentioned until a few Pesukim into the second Perek. Is it really critical to include Achashveirosh’s party in the narrative of the Megliah?
The purpose of recounting the magnificent party that Achashveirosh hosted is so that we can understand why the evil proclamation was sent against the Jews. Part of the motivation for such a party was to entice the Jews to sin so that they would fall out of favor with Hashem. (This is further shown two Pesukim later when the Pasuk says “Asah Hamelech.” The word “Asah” in that Pasuk illustrates Achashveirosh’s personal involvement in every detail of the party preparations.)
[Al Hanisim]
Another reason to include the party in the Megilah, explains the Alshich, is to help us appreciate the magnitude of the miracle. Vashti was of royal blood, and Achashveirosh’s royalty was only by virtue of him having married her. Yet, the moment she displeased him (keeping in mind that his request was appalling), he cast her aside and had her deposed. Yet, Esther, who was not known to be anything more than a commoner, was treated vastly different when she broke royal protocol by appearing before the king without having been summoned. One can only comprehend such disparity once you understand that everything that happened was orchestrated by Hashem.
[Zvi Fleisher @ shemayisrael.com]