Post date: Feb 18, 2013 5:12:52 AM
V’eis Parshandasa…v’eis Vaysasa
Including Parshandasa…and Vayzasa
(9:7-9)
The Rokeach tells us that we can see the ultimate downfall of Haman’s sons simply by analyzing their names.
When the Torah records the curses-turned-blessings that Bilam graced Bnei Yisrael with, one of the Brachos was ‘Reishis goyim Amalek, v’achariso adei oveid,’ that Amalek is the most assertive among the gentile nations, but its end will be destruction (Bamidbar 24:20).
When the Megillah lists Haman’s ten sons (9:7-9), we see that seven of their names end with an Alef, each of which having a Gematria of one. The total Gematria of these letters (seven) is the same as the Gematria of the name of Haman’s ancestor, Agag (alef, gimmel, gimmel), the king of Amalek, and is also the same Gematria as the word ‘oveid’ (alef, beis, daled), meaning destruction.
The final letters of the remaining three sons of Haman are Yud, Yud and Nun, which form the word ‘yayin’ (wine).
The Rokeach explains that from these Sofei Teivos (ending letters), we can see that the curse/blessing from Bilam ended up being embedded within the names of Haman’s sons. These letters alluded to how these descendants of Agag would be destroyed (oveid) as a result of multiple wine parties (yayin)—the party when Vashti wouldn’t appear before Achashveirosh, and the wine parties that Esther hosted.
[Inside Purim]
Vinahafoch hu
And it was turned about
(9:1)
In order for Achashveirosh to kill Vashti without the delay (or risk) of an actual trial, he had to amend his empire’s constitution to allow himself such a level of authority for situations in which he was personally involved. Haman presented this change to Achashveirosh before the royal cabinet as they mulled over the options available to deal with Vashti appropriately.
Such autocracy had clearly been outlawed because of the obvious risk of abuse. Haman knew that his proposal was outrageous, so he presented it in a cunning way. After proposing that the king be given such power, he turned to the rest of the cabinet and asked (in front of Achashveirosh) if anyone present was concerned that there would be an abuse of this new power. You would be hard pressed (really, really hard pressed) to find anyone who, in that position, would have spoken up before the king to voice such a concern. Hearing no disapproval, Achashveirosh ratified the amendment and immediately eliminated Vashti.
The irony is that Haman essentially dug his own grave. (Nay, he built his own gallows.) As Haman’s world was crashing down, Esther identified Haman as the source of her nation’s distress, and Charvonah pointed out that there just happened to be a gallows available. Thanks to the amendment, Achashveirosh needed approval from no one to mete out punishment upon Haman immediately. Achashveirosh’s absolute power was directly because of Haman, and now Haman got a firsthand taste of how that power could be used.
[Al Hanissim]