Post date: Feb 21, 2013 4:21:19 AM
Haratzim yatzu dechufim bidvar hamelech
The couriers went forth hurriedly by order of the king
(3:15)
Seeing as how the decree against the Jews was made almost an entire year before its intended implementation, it seems odd that Haman was compelled to rush the messengers out the door immediately to distribute the decree throughout the lands.
Of the many reasons suggested to explain Haman’s expedience, the Chasam Sofer offers the following: There was a law at that time that once someone was condemned to death, he could no longer see or be seen by the king. We see this law in effect later in the Megillah when it says that Haman’s face was covered (7:8). Haman planned to leverage this law in an attempt to silence any potential Jewish lobbyists. Since the Jews were a condemned people from that point on, they were not permitted to approach the king. Any attempt on their part to plead for a pardon would have been turned away before it even reached the king’s ears. So Haman’s haste to publicize the decree (seemingly a critical part of the decree) is now quite clear.
[Inside Purim]
V’tzumu alai v’al tochlu v’al tishtu
And fast for me, don’t eat and don’t drink
(4:16)
Esther's three day fast was on the fourteenth through sixteenth of Nisan—the middle day being the beginning of Pesach. How did Esther reassure the Jews that they wouldn’t be held accountable for skipping the Mitzvos of Pesach?
The Bnei Yisaschar tells us that a Navi or the Sanhedrin can declare a momentary moratorium on a particular law (called a ‘hora’as sha’ah’), and that’s exactly what Esther did. But after having already said ‘fast for me,’ what else is added by saying ‘don’t eat and don’t drink?’
Her point was the severity, and extent to which the Jews were to follow her command. In essence, she was saying “Don’t even break your fast to eat the Matza or the Marror, or to drink the four cups of wine.” Additionally, by saying ‘alai’ (for me) with an Ayin instead of with an Alef, she was making a connection with Rivka who said to Yaakov ‘Alai kilillasicha b’ni,’ ‘don’t worry, if Yitzchak is angry with you, the curse should be upon me’ (Bereishis 27:13).
Esther’s prophetic powers told her that this was the right thing to do. And the next pasuk says ‘Vaya’avor Mordechai, vaya’as kichol asher tzivsa alav Esther,’ that Mordechai transgressed (‘vaya’avor’) (the Mitzvos of Pesach) and he followed her command.
[Inside Purim]