Post date: Mar 01, 2018 4:54:35 AM
[Purim Vorts] It’s gotta work, it’s just gotta work
“Gam ani v’na’arosai atzum kein u’vi’chein avo el hamelech asher lo chadas”
I and my maidservants will fast as well, and with that I will go to the king, which is against the law
(4:16)
The Rokeach tells us that from Esther’s words we can see that she hoped that in the merit of the fasting and praying, the Jews would be saved from extermination from Haman, and that she personally would be saved from execution by Achashveirosh.
First let’s focus on the phrase “Atzum kein,” (I and my maidservants) will fast as well. The letters of the word “Atzum” (Alef, Tzadi, Vav, Mem) can be rearranged to spell “Motzi,” remove. And the Gematria of the word “Kein” is 70. From this we can understand that Esther hoped that the davening and fasting of the Jews would “remove the 70,” a reference to Haman. Haman was in power (as second to Achashveirosh) for 70 days, and his edict against the Jews was in force for 70 days.
Next, let’s focus on the word “U’vi’chein,” and with that (I will go to the king). The Gematria of “U’vi’chein” (Vav, Beis, Chaf, Nun) is 78, which is the same Gematria as the words “Ana Hashem,” (Alef, Nun, Alef, Yud, Heih, Vav, Heih) please, Hashem (hear my prayer).
Each example clearly shows us that Esther hoped that she would merit divine protection, and that the fate of the Jews would be reversed because of the effort towards Teshuva being made by everyone.
[Inside Purim, p. 275]
[Purim Vorts] Must. Hold. Back.
“Vayis’apak Haman vayavo el beiso”
And Haman restrained himself and went home
(5:10)
When Haman left Esther’s first party, he was feeling quite good with himself. However, it wasn’t long after leaving the party before he encountered Mordechai who was still unwilling to bow to him, causing tremendous anger to rage within him. Nonetheless, the pasuk tells us that Haman restrained himself and went home.
Rashi tells us that Haman restrained himself from taking revenge on Mordechai at that very moment.
The Akeidas Yitzchak goes one step further, and explains why he was afraid of taking revenge against Mordechai. Since Mordechai was a prominent minister in Achashveirosh’s cabinet, he felt it best to obtain explicit permission from the king before killing Mordechai.
In a slight variation, Rav Shmuel di Uzida explains that Haman decided to not exact revenge on Mordechai at that very moment because he knew that Mordechai would be dead within the year since Mordechai fell within the realm of his decree to kill all Jews.
The Ibn Ezra tells us that Haman’s restraint was that he held back from telling everyone present what was going on in his heart. Instead of opening up and spewing all of his furious emotions to everyone who was witnessing that encounter between himself and Mordechai, he waited until he had returned home.
According to the Chut Shel Chessed, Haman actually considered returning to the palace to report Mordechai’s misdeed to Achashveirosh. After all, not obeying the king’s edict was a serious offense. However, he reconsidered and restrained himself from speaking ill of Mordechai because he knew of the familial relationship between Mordechai and the king’s wife, Esther. The Chut Shel Chessed enumerates how Haman deduced this.
1. He knew that Esther grew up in Mordechai’s home because that was where the king’s servants had found her when they were rounding up the girls.
2. Mordechai walked through the palace courtyard daily to inquire about the wellbeing of Esther.
3. When Esther relayed the news of Bigsan and Seresh to Achashveirosh, she did so in the name of Mordechai.
While each of these observations could be explained without much of a stretch needed, combined they seemed to present a pretty strong case that Mordechai and Esther were in fact related.
Taking a completely different approach, the Megillas Eliyahu understands the word “Vayis’apak” to mean that Haman “strengthened himself” (not restrained himself). He explains that Haman got very weak and felt faint when he encountered Mordechai on his way out of the palace.
[Megillas Esther: The Answer Is..., p. 162]
[Purim Vorts] Let me tell you something
“U’vaboker emor la’melech”
And tomorrow morning tell the king
(5:14)
After returning home from Esther’s first party, Haman calls his friends and wife to listen to him bemoan his pitiful existence. Their response to him was that he should build a gallows on which to hang Mordechai, and the next morning he should march himself before Achashveirosh and “tell the king” that he will be hanging Mordechai.
The Shem MiShmuel takes note of the fact that they didn’t tell Haman to “request of the king,” but rather told him that he should “tell the king.” What a bold thing to do let along suggest. Well, wouldn’t you know it, the next morning, Haman marched himself before the king for just that very reason.
But was this really so bold? After all, Achashveirosh had essentially given control of the entire empire to Haman by virtue of having handed him his signet ring. True, Achashveirosh still held the title of “king.” But Haman had all the latitude anyone could desire. Seemingly, Haman came to Achashveirosh simply to inform him that he planned to kill Mordechai. I guess you could call that professional courtesy.
[The King’s Treasures, p. 99]
[Purim Vorts] Burning the midnight oil
“Balaila hahu nadida shinas hamelech”
That night, the king’s sleep was disturbed
(6:1)
After Haman spoke with his friends and wife about the “Mordechai problem,” he hurried off to build the gallows. That same fateful night, we can see the Yad Hashem (hand of Hashem) choreographing various things related to Achashveirosh’s inability to sleep.
The Manos Halevi comments that despite having recently eaten a nice heavy meal at Esther’s party, Achashveirosh had trouble falling asleep.
The Melo HaOmer points out that reading usually helps a person fall asleep. However, in this case, despite having a section from the book of records read to him, Achashveirosh is still quite awake.
The Maharal notes that it was quite fortunate that the king’s attendants opted to bring the book of records to read to Achashveirosh instead of bringing him musical instruments to help soothe him to sleep. Because of this, Mordechai ended up getting rewarded.
The Alshich tells us that while the Jews were fasting (three nights and three days) and therefore had difficulty sleeping, Hashem caused Achashveirosh to also have some trouble sleeping despite having returned from a wine party (with Esther).
[Megillas Esther: The Answer Is…, p. 169]
[Purim Vorts] So, let’s say there’s this guy…
“Mah la’asos ba’ish asher hamelech chafetz bikaro”
What should be done for the man whom the king desires to honor
(6:6)
Three Pesukim earlier when Achashveirosh asked his attendants how Mordechai had been rewarded for saving his life, the way he phrased it was, “What honor or majesty has been done for Mordechai for this?” But then Haman walked in, and Achashveirosh decided to set a little trap for Haman to see how arrogant he really was. When Achashveirosh posed this scenario to Haman, he phrased it as, “What should be done for the man whom the king desires to honor?” This time around, there is no mention of “majesty.” Why did Achashveirosh leave this out?
After Achashveirosh heard from his attendants about Mordechai having saved his life, he felt that Mordechai deserved a reward of grand proportions—one that included honor and majesty. However, had Achashveirosh asked Haman about bestowing majesty upon someone, Haman would have immediately known that this person was someone other than himself. After all, Achashveirosh had already granted Haman the upper-most level of majesty, as Haman’s stature was second only to that of Achashveirosh. So Achashveirosh simply asked Haman about a just reward for someone whom the king desired to honor. And true to form, Haman heaped on the rewards unaware of the true recipient.
[Megillas Esther: The Answer Is..., p. 179]