Post date: Mar 25, 2016 1:38:42 AM
Nusan hamelech Achashveirosh l’Esther hamalkah es beis Haman tzoreir haYehudim
King Achashveirosh gave to Queen Esther the estate of Haman the oppressor of the Jews
(8:1)
After hanging Haman, Achashveirosh gave Haman’s estate to Esther. While this may seem like nothing more than simple restitution to one of the most prominent Jews after having executed their top enemy, in fact this was Divinely ordained and was but another step in the salvation of the Jews.
Control of Haman’s estate wasn’t simply a financial windfall. Haman’s estate was actually his strategic headquarters; the location where he masterminded his scheme against the Jews. As such, he had records of all of the leading anti-Semites in each of the countries and provinces throughout the empire; a list of everyone who he could rely on to help carry out his evil plans against the Jews. That being the case, control of Haman’s estate actually meant that Esther and Mordechai now had accurate records of who was a threat to Klal Yisrael, and they were able to target these people during the time when the Jews were granted permission to fight back against their enemies.
Achashveirosh could have simply told Esther and Mordechai that now that Haman was killed, they were better off. Or he could have given them some sort of financial compensation to help with their defense effort against their attackers. But he didn’t do that. He actually transferred ownership of Haman’s estate to Esther. This action was yet another act of Hashgacha Pratis, Divine orchestration, which enabled them to not only benefit from Haman’s immense wealth, but also provided them with a hit list in order to make Klal Yisrael so much safer from those who hated them.
[Glimpses of Light, p. 321]
I hope you enjoyed this year's installment of Purim Vorts. I know I enjoyed sharing them with you.
With Pesach just four weeks away, I wish everyone a Chag Kasher v'Sameach.
-Josh