Post date: Mar 22, 2016 3:8:54 AM
“Vatomer Esther l’hashiv el Mordechai”
And Esther sent this return answer to Mordechai
(4:15)
When Esther and Mordechai are sending messages back-and-forth, the Megilah uses terms denoting verbal commands, like “Vatitzaveihu” (and she ordered him), and “Vayaged” (and he told). But now the Megilah uses the term “L’hashiv” (to return), denoting that something physical was being shuttled between the two of them. What happened that caused a change in their method of communication?
We discussed last year (regarding 4:12) that Hasach sent a group to relay the bad news from Esther to Mordechai on his behalf. (He didn’t want to be the bearer of bad news, so he pawned it off on others.) Once it was a group relaying the information back-and-forth (instead of just a singular person), Mordechai was sensitive to the increased risk of there being a leak. Therefore he sent his next message to Esther in written form and sealed in an envelope. So the term “L’hashiv” (to return) implies a transfer of a physical message, not the transmission of an oral message. Following Mordechai’s lead, Esther’s reply was in the same manner.
[Zvi Fleisher @ shemayisrael.com]
“Va’talbeish Esther malchus”
And Esther donned royalty
(5:1)
After fasting for three days, Esther came before Achashveirosh uninvited. The Pasuk says that Esther donned royalty, which in simple terms means that she put on her royal garments. The Gemara tells us that Esther also donned Ruach Hakodesh. We derive this from the fact that the Pasuk doesn’t say “Va’talbeish Esther bigdei malchus” (that Esther donned royal garments). Rather it says “Va’talbeish Esther malchus” (and Esther donned royalty).
Since the Pasuk uses the active verb “donned” (as opposed to the passive verb “wore”), we can infer that she took active steps in order to bring the Ruach Hakodesh upon herself. Chazal in Targum Sheini describe Esther’s prayer that said at this time in great detail. It seems that this must hhave been the action that she took at this very critical moment.
[Al Hanissim, p. 225]