Post date: Feb 22, 2021 4:47:4 AM
“U’va’biza lo shalchu es yadam”
But they did not lay their hand on the spoils
(9:10, 9:15, 9:16)
When the Jews defeated Amalek in the time of King Shaul, they made the mistake of taking the spoils in direct violation of instruction to leave it behind. When Mordechai sent letters telling the Jews that they could fight back against their attackers, he included permission for them to take the spoils from their adversaries (8:11). In fact, in order for Mordechai’s letter to completely nullify Haman’s letter, he needed to mirror the same points, including the taking of spoils.
Despite this, the Jews did not take the spoils when they defeated their enemies.
The Yosef Lekach and Yalkut Mei’am Loez point out that the Megillah hints to us that the Jews leaving behind the spoils was a Tikun (rectification) for the plundering they did in the time of Shaul. If you take the Roshei Teivos (leading letters) of the words from our Pasuk “U’va’biza Lo SHalchu Es (yadam)” (Vav, Lamed, Shin, Alef), they can be rearranged to spell “Shaul.”
[Inside Purim, p.264]
Posted 2/22/21