Post date: Mar 14, 2019 3:18:53 AM
Sak va’eifer yutza la’rabim
Most of them lying in sackcloth and ashes
(4:3)
Why was wearing sackcloth and ashes part of the repentance process along with fasting for three days and nights?
This was done in order to recall the merit of Avraham. One of Avraham’s ten tests involved the possibility of being thrown into a fiery furnace to be burnt to ashes. Avraham refused to bow to Nimrod’s idol, but Hashem caused a great miracle, and Avraham survived the heat and flames of the furnace, escaping unharmed. At a later date, Avraham refers to himself as “afar va’eifer” (dust and ashes, Bereishis 18:27), an acknowledgement that without Hashem’s intervention, the test with Nimrod would have resulted in his having been reduced to ashes.
The Manos Halevi and the Rokeach explain that the wearing of sackcloth and ashes by the Jews was an attempt at recalling Avraham’s great expression of faith, and in turn his tremendous merit earned. The Jews were demonstrating that just like by Avraham’s test, they were also relying completely on Hashem to save them from their nearly impossible situation. And if not for the help of Hashem, they too would be reduced to no more than the ashes on their heads.
The Rokeach also points out that there’s an additional hint to the overall disheveled look of sackcloth in our Pasuk. The Sofei Teivos (ending letters) of the words “SaK va’eifeR yutzA” (sackcloth and ashes were worn) are Kuf, Reish, Ayin, spells the word “Kara” which means “tear,” a nod to the state of their clothing during the three day fast.
[Inside Purim, p. 126]