Post date: Feb 15, 2013 3:5:13 AM
V’hamelech v’Haman yashvu lishtos
And the king and Haman sat down to drink
(3:15)
The decree from Haman was appropriate, middah k’neged middah, for the Jews. Right after Achashveirosh and Haman finalized the terms of the decree and sent the messengers on their way, the two of them sat down to a celebratory feast. We find a similar occurrence with the brothers right after they cast Yosef into the pit—they too sat down to a meal. (Bereishis 37:25) Yalkut Shimoni tells us in the name of Chazal that part of the reason for Haman’s decree was to atone for what had been done to Yosef. So just as the plan to get rid of Yosef happened amidst a feast, so too Haman’s decree against the Jews took place amidst a feast. (As an aside, one should take note of the fact that the Jews salvation came about through Mordechai and Esther who were from Shevet Binyamin, the only son that did not participate in the sale of Yosef.)
How did Mordechai know that donning sackcloth was an appropriate reaction to what had just transpired? Mordechai recognized the parallel between the Jews’ current situation, and Yosef’s situation with his brothers. Yaakov’s reaction to hearing the news about Yosef was to rend his garments and don sackcloth. Mordechai attempted to merit divine mercy by also donning sackcloth (and ashes) in the hopes that Hashem would recall the salvation He ultimately brought upon Yaakov, and similarly bring a salvation to the Jews’ current plight.
[Inside Purim]