Post date: Feb 22, 2015 5:10:22 AM
Shemonim u’me’as yom
180 days
(1:4)
Chazal tell us that Nevuchadnetzar buried 1,080 treasures in the Euphrates River, and as a reward to Cyrus for rebuilding the Beis Hamikdash, Hashem revealed the locations of these treasures to Cyrus. Achashveirosh inherited these treasures and put a few of them on display at his party every day until all 1,080 of the treasures had been shown.
In describing that which Achashveirosh put on display, the Pasuk uses six superlatives:
Osher (riches)
Kevod (glory)
Malchuso (kingdom)
Yikar (splendor)
Tiferes (excellence)
Gedulaso (majesty)
Based on these six words, Chazal understand that each day of the party, Achashveirosh put six of these special treasures on display for all to see.
[Artscroll Purim, p. 41]