Post date: Feb 28, 2017 5:27:45 AM
“Vayehi bayom hashilishi… va’ta’amod ba’chatzar beis Hamelech ha’pinimis”
Now it came to pass on the third day… and she stood in the inner courtyard of the kind’s palace
(5:1)
Why did Esther approach Achashveirosh specifically on the third day of the fast?
Tosfos (Megilah 15a) say that she wanted to tap into the merits of other “threes” in support of her mission:
The three components of Tanach: Torah, Nevi’im, Kesuvim.
The three categories of Klal Yisroel: Kohanim, Levi’im, Yisraelim.
The three leaders who guided B’nai Yisroel through the desert: Moshe, Aharon, Miriam.
The third day of preparing for Kabalas HaTorah, which was the day it was actually given.
[Megillas Esther: The Answer Is..., p. 144]
“Yavo Hamelech v’Haman hayom el ha’mishte asher ahseesee lo”
Let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.
(5:4)
Why did Esther invite Haman to the first party?
The Gemara (Megilah 15b) provides twelve answers to this question! I'll share two of the answers with you now:
According to Rabban Gamliel, she knew that Achashveirosh was fickle. If she, in fact, succeeded in convincing Achashveirosh to kill Haman, she wanted Haman to be present so that Achashveirosh could have him taken care of immediately before he had an opportunity to change his mind.
R’ Yosi is of the opinion that Esther hoped to create an opportunity for Haman to mess up royally (pun intended) in front of Achashveirosh.
There are a couple of additional answers I’d like to share.
The Manos Halevi says that Eshter planned to flatter Haman so that he would say nice things about her to Achashveirosh. She hoped that once she accused Haman of being the enemy of her people and someone who was threatening her very life, Haman would become confused and flustered, and would be unable to retract his previous compliments (let alone stammer out a convincing explanation for his actions against the queen and her nation).
R. Shmuel di Uzida explains that at first, Esther appeared to be modeling the trait of Hakaras Hatov (recognizing and showing gratitude for the good done for her) by inviting Haman to participate in her royal party along with only the king. After all, at Haman’s suggestion, Vashti was deposed, and a national competition was held which caused Esther to become the new queen of Achashveirosh’s empire. In reality, Esther was trying to hint to Achashveirosh about the importance repaying favors. Mordechai had yet to be rewarded for saving Achashveirosh’s life, and she hoped that she could prod him into action.
[Megillas Esther: The Answer Is..., p. 149]