Post date: Mar 04, 2020 4:45:11 AM
“Vayavhilu l’havi es Haman”
And they hurried to bring Haman
6:14
Esther took a tremendous risk by approaching Achashverosh without being summoned. So she probably felt great relief when he extended his sceptor toward her indicating that she was allowed to approach him. Having found favor in the eyes of the king, why didn't Esther seize the moment and plead for the safety of the Jews right then and there? Why did Esther feel that it was better to push off her request for another time and place? Not only that, but why did she
delay twice in making her request?
The gemara (Megillah 15b) reveals to us that when Esther entered Avashverosh's throne room, she felt the Shechina (Divine Presence) leave her. Esther was involved in a critical mission, which was going to require no less than a miracle to right the situation. Esther felt that she needed the Shechinah with her while she appealed to Avashverosh. But when she entered the throne room that was filled with idols of Avoda Zara (and for that reason the Shechinah departed), she knew that she would need a change of venue if she wanted the benefit of the Shechinah's presence. The only location she could guarantee would be free of idols was her quarters. So she invited Avashverosh to join her along with Haman the following day for a party, at which time she planned to present her request. However, the midrash explains that when she saw that Haman arrived at her party with his idol, she was in a similar quandary as the previous day! So she invited them back for another dinner party the following day hoping that things would be different, and they were!
Avashverosh's messengers arrived at Haman's home immediately after Haman finished parading Mordechai through the streets of Shushan. In Haman’s role as grand marshal of the Mordechai parade, he was required to wear the regular uniform of a king's servant, not his usual executive vice presidential attire which included his idol. Since the king's messengers rushed him to Esther's palace, he had no time to change his clothes. (Raw sewage! Pee-yoo!! But that’s a discussion for a different day.) Having arrived at Esther’s second party without his idol, the Yaaros Devash explains to us that Esther now felt confident in the Shechinah's presence, and in her ability to lobby on behalf of Klal Yisroel in an environment free of Avodah Zarah.
[Inside Purim, p. 129]