Post date: Feb 16, 2021 4:15:32 AM
“V’hashkos bich’lei zahav v’keilim mi’keilim shonim”
The drinks were served in golden goblets, no two goblets alike
(1:7)
Achashveirosh brought out the utensils pillaged from the Beis Hamikdash to use at his 7 day party. This wasn’t an original idea. He got the idea from Balshetzer having done the same thing. When Balshetzer used the utensils from the Beis Hamikdash, his misappropriation was met with swift justice, and he died that night. The Gemara doesn’t tell us why Balshetzer was punished so quickly while Achashveirosh was not. However, Achashveirosh fancied himself much brighter than Balshetzer, and he took steps to ensure that the same wouldn’t happen to himself.
R. Eliezer Ginzburg shares with us a Rashi (Shemos 18:12) that teaches us that when a person has a meal with a Talmid Chacham, it is akin to benefiting from the Shechinah. With that in mind, Achashveirosh figured that he could guarantee himself a certain level of protection because of the presence of the Anshei Kneses Hagedolah at his 7 day party. This also explains why Achashveirosh didn’t take out the utensils during the initial 180 day party. Without the presence of Talmidei Chachamim at the 180 day party, he didn’t feel that he would be protected from the same demise that befell Balshetzer, so he didn’t want to take the risk.
[The King’s Treasures, p. 22]
Posted 2/16/21