Post date: Mar 04, 2014 4:21:28 AM
“L'havi es Vashti hamalka”
To bring Vashti, the Queen
(1:11)
“K'das ma la’asos bamalka Vashti”
As to what should be done to Queen Vashti
(1:15)
We sometimes find that Vashti’s title “Hamalka” (the Queen) is before and sometimes after her name. The Malbim explains that whenever Vashti lorded over or attempted to lord over Achashveirosh, her title is mentioned before her name (Hamalka Vashti). But whenever Achashveirosh treated Vashti as secondary to him, her title is mentioned after her name (Vashti hamalka).
The Gra tells us that Achashveirosh had a change of heart and he didn’t want Vashti to be killed. This is apparent by his referring to her by her royal title before her name. This indicates that he stressed to his advisors that she should be dealt with clemency because she was the queen.
[Zvi Fleisher @ shemayisrael.com]