Post date: Feb 11, 2013 4:40:56 AM
Ish Yemini
A man from Binyamin
(2:5)
The fact that Mordechai was a descendant of Shevet Binyamin gave him a special power that was critical in his effort to save Klal Yisrael. When Eisav caught up with Yaakov upon his return to Canaan after having lived in Lavan’s home for many years (Bereishis 33:1-7), Yaakov and his eleven sons bowed to Eisav in order to appease him. At that point, Binyamin had not yet been born. Yalkut Shimoni tells us that since Mordechai was from Binyamin, he, unlike his brethren from other Shevatim, did not possess the blemish of having bowed to Eisav (as small as such a blemish might have been).
The Yalkut Mei’am Loez brings a similar idea when relating that Haman’s decree was (a long awaited divine) retribution for the brothers’ sale of Yosef. He explains that since Binyamin was the only brother not involved in the sale of Yosef, Mordechai did not possess the blemish of the sale. As such, it was most appropriate for the salvation from Haman’s evil decrees to come about through someone from Shevet Binyamin.
Megillas Sesarim looks at this from the perspective of Haman. He relates a Mesorah that the descendants of Eisav will only fall at the hands of the children of Rachel. Haman’s downfall was therefore able to come about because Mordechai was from Binyamin, one of Rachel’s sons.
[Inside Purim]