Post date: Mar 14, 2014 5:52:28 AM
“Linpol lifanav lo suchal”
To fall before him, you will not prevail
(6:13)
At this point in the Megilah, Haman returns home and convenes a meeting of all of his friends, advisors and his wife, Zeresh. After hearing Haman detail how he couldn’t reduce any of the honor that Achashveirosh decided to repay to Mordechai, and to make matters worse, that he (of all people) was forced to be the one to lead him through the streets and call out before him to draw attention to the situation, Zeresh broke the silence and gave Haman her insight into the situation. She told him that if Mordechai is a Jew, then his descent before Mordechai is only beginning, and he will undoubtedly not prevail in his fight against Mordechai.
The Siach Yitzchak tells us that Klal Yisrael was saved in the merit of the repentance that they did. We see a hint to their repentence when we rearrange the Sofei Teivos (ending letters) of these four words that Zeresh said (linpoL lifanaV lO suchaL) to produce the word “Elul” (Alef, Lamed, Vav, Lamed), a month when our focus is on repentance.
[Zvi Fleisher @ shemayisrael.com]
“Ki nimkarnu ani v’ami l’hashmid”
For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed
(7:4)
Rabbi Chaim Abulefia tells us that based on the Gemara (Pesachim 88b) that teaches us that whatever a slave (Haman) acquires automatically becomes the possession of the master (Mordechai), at Esther’s second party with Achashveirosh and Haman, she told Achashveirosh that had the Jews only been sold into slavery (thus sparing their lives), she would have kept quiet.
However, since Klal Yisrael were sold to be destroyed, she could not sit by idly without making a plea for their salvation.
[Zvi Fleisher @ shemayisrael.com]