Transcript
Megilat Esther
Achashveirosh was the Persian Emperor, who
controlled the known world.
In celebration of the third anniversary of his ascension to the throne, Achashveirosh made a feast for all his officials and servants.
During the feast he displayed his riches. The Talmud states that he even wore robes which had been looted from the Jews when they were conquered by the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnetzar.
Afterwards he made a feast for everybody who lived in Shushan the capital (which included many Jews).
The Talmud tells us that the Jews received a decree of extermination
from Hashem because they enjoyed the feast.
Commentaries tell us that they could have partaken because of fear for their lives. But they were punished because they enjoyed the partaking.
Queen Vashti, who was a granddaughter of Nebuchadnetzar, followed her husband’s example and made a feast for the women in the royal house.
After seven days of feasting and wine, Achashveirosh ordered several of his chamberlains to bring Vashti to his feast wearing the royal crown (only!), so he could show off her beauty.
She refused.The Talmud tells us she didn’t refuse because of modesty, but because she had a breakout of leprosy.
The infuriated king consulted with his aids to determine Vashti’s punishment for defying the king’s orders.
Memuchan (i.e. Haman) suggested that she has wronged everyone, and if she goes unpunished it will affect the way all wives treat their husbands. (Rashi: When word gets out, all women will consider this a license to treat their husbands in the same way.)
He concluded:There should be a royal edict that Vashti should never again appear
before the king. And her royal estate should be given to someone better.
VASHTI
The Me’am Loez commentary tells us that Memuchan was telling Achashveirosh that after Vashti is killed, his next wife will hear and most certainly be more obedient.
This pleased the king.The Midrash tells us he gave the order, and they brought Vashti’s head to him on a platter!
Letters were sent throughout the provinces stating that the man should rule over the household.
Later, after the king’s anger died down, all the beautiful women of the kingdom were brought to Shushan the capitol, so Achashveirosh could choose a new queen.
There was a Jewish man in Shushan the capitol named Mordechai.He raised his uncle’s daughter, Esther, since she had no parents.
(There is an opinion that she was Mordechai’s wife.)
Esther was taken to the capitol as well, despite efforts by Mordechai to hide her.
Esther greatly pleased the king, who gave her cosmetics and maidens.For the next NINE years, at Mordechai’s insistence, she is going to keep the fact that she’s Jewish a secret.
The reasons for Mordechai’s instructions are unclear.Some suggestions:
If he knew she was Jewish, Achashveirosh would never choose Esther. (Rabbi Eleazar of Worms)So that she could secretly observe her religion. (Me’am Loez)
Me?No, I’m not
Jewish.
Every day Mordechai would stroll about in front of the court, with the goal of finding out about Esther’s well-fare.
When the time came to choose a queen, Esther pleased the king more than any of the others.He made a giant feast in her honor.
It happened that one time Mordechai was sitting by the king’s gate.He overheard two of the kings servants, Bigtan and Teresh, plotting to assassinate the king.
He informed Esther, who informed the king. The two were hanged, and the incidence was recorded in the king’s book of chronicles.
Book
of
Chroni
cles
Afterwards King Achashveirosh promoted Haman to the highest seat in his kingdom.
Everyone bowed down before Haman, with the exception of Mordechai
who refused.
Mordechai’s refusal was justified.Some reasons offered:
Haman claimed divine powers. (Rashi)Haman affixed an image of an idol to his clothes. All who bowed to him were also bowing to the idol. (Midrash)
When Haman found out about Mordechai’s refusal, he became enraged. He didn’t want to just take revenge on Mordechai, but instead sought to destroy all of Mordechai’s people.
In the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of the reign of Achashveirosh, Haman drew lots (pur) to determine when would be the opportune time to kill all the Jews.Adar, eleven months away,
was chosen.
Haman made his proposal to Achashveirosh, telling him that there is a people scattered throughout his kingdom who do not obey his laws.
So what do you propose we do?
I think genocide would be
appropriate.
Haman requested they be exterminated, and offered to personally pay the people who carry out the decree.
HAMAN
The king gave Haman his signet ring, and full permission to do as he saw fit.
Letters were sent to every province throughout the kingdom that in eleven months, on the 13th of Adar, there was to be an execution of each and every Jew.
Rav Galico says that Haman sent the letters so quickly in order to prolong the suffering of the Jews, who now have eleven months to panic over the decree.
The Me’am Loez tells us these eleven months were Hashem’s desire, giving the Jews a prolonged period to repent.
When Mordechai heard about the decree he tore his clothes. He wore sackcloth and went into the public
area to cry out loud.
Mordechai came to the gate, and Esther was told he was there. She sent him clothing, which he would not accept.
Excuse me.Are you
Mordechai?
Esther summoned Hasach, a servant who she trusted, to speak with Mordechai. Mordechai told Hashach everything, and gave him a copy of the decree to show to Esther, and instructed her to approach
the king and appeal to him on behalf of her people.
KILL THE JE
WS
She sent back the message that she has not been summoned to the king for thirty days, and everyone is well aware that there is death penalty to anyone who approaches the king without being summoned.
Hold on!Can we just wait a bit?
She assumed she would be summoned in the next few days, and then she would plea the cause. (Malbim)
Jews
will
live._______
__
Sign here, sir.
Mordechai sent back the harsh message:
Esther, do not think that you will be free from the king’s decree
if you’re silent at a time like this.If salvation doesn’t come from you,
it will come from another place!
He continued:The Jews will be saved
while you and your father’s house will be destroyed.
Perhaps it was for this moment that you
became queen in the first place.
Some interpretations of what Mordechai meant:
Perhaps the only reason she ever attained a royal position was to be instrumental in saving the Jews. (Ibn Ezra)Perhaps you will not be free from the decree, i.e. perhaps you will not still have your royal position by next year. (Rashi)Perhaps being queen will not be enough to exempt you from Haman’s decree. (Rav Galico)
Esther sent this message:The Jews of Shushan will fast for the next three days and nights, and then I will
approach the king.If I die, I die.
And Mordechai left to announce the fast, as per Esther’s command.
On day three, which was the first day of Pesach,
she entered the king’s inner chamber.
The Midrash tells us that despite Esther’s fears, Hashem gave Esther favor in Achashveirosh’s eyes, and he told her not to fear, since the law certainly does not apply to her.
The king asked Esther what she wanted. Esther requested that the king and Haman attend a banquet she prepared for him.
The sages offered many reasons why she wanted Haman to be there, including:
It was a trap, and this way Haman will not have an opportunity to form a rebellion.She was trying to make the king jealous of Haman.To make the Jews afraid that Esther was working with Haman, so they would repent and pray.
The feast was arranged immediately, and the king again repeated his desire to hear Esther’s request.Esther said she will tell him
her request the next day at yet another banquet.
When Haman left, he was super-happy. According to the Midrash he felt truly superior, noting that the king
promoted him and the queen honored him.
Man, I’m awesome!
But then he noticed Mordechai, who didn’t even acknowledge him, and he became infuriated.
When Haman returned home he sent for his wife, Zeresh, and his friends, and told them of all of his wealth and glory. But he said it all meant nothing to him, so long as he sees that Jew Mordechai sitting at the king’s gate.
Can you believe this!?
He ignored ME!!
They suggested a 50-cubit gallows be made, and tomorrow he should
ask the king for permission to hang Mordechai from it.
Haman did not go to sleep.He immediately called artisans
to build the gallows.Haman and his family rejoiced the whole time. (Targum)
Buildin’ them
gallows, yeah yeah!!
That night King Achashveirosh could not sleep.
So he ordered that his book of chronicles be read to him,
and he was reminded of how Mordechai informed the kingdom of the plot to assassinate the king.
Wow! Remember what Mordechai, that Jewish guy, did
for you!?
Achashveirosh inquired as to what honor Mordechai had been given.
He was told that there had been none.
Haman had been in the court waiting to request to hang Mordechai, and when the king let him enter Achashveirosh asked Haman what should be done for someone the king wishes to honor.
How to honor a hero?
Hmmm….
Thinking that the king was referring to him, Haman said that the honoree should wear a royal crown and robe, and should be paraded through the city on a royal horse
led by one of the king’s officers.
The king told Haman to hurry and do those things for Mordechai immediately!
(Me’am Loez: The king was rushing so
Haman could be finished in time for Esther’s banquet.)
Right away boss!
The Talmud tells us that as Haman was leading Mordechai, Haman’s daughter saw them from a roof and thought the situation was reversed, and thus erred andemptied a chamber pot on to her father!When he looked up and she realized her mistake, she jumped from the roof, killing herself.
Haman rushed home to tell his wife and friends what happened.His wife, Zeresh, told him that for sure he will not be able to defeat Mordechai.While they spoke servants of the king came to take Haman to Esther’s banquet.
Yeah yeah, I’m coming!
At the banquet Achashveirosh again asked Esther what she wanted, promising her anything.
She requested that the king spare her life on the 13th of Adar!
Please don’t let me die!
The king wished to know who was threatening her life,
and she told him it was an enemy of the king, the wicked Haman!
It’s him!!
The king left the room in rage, and the terrified Haman remained behind, begging Esther for his life.
(Vilna Gaon: Haman was claiming he didn’t know she was a Jew.)
When the king returned he saw Haman in front of Esther, and assumed he meant her harm.
HAMAN!!! What are you doing
NOW!?!?!
Haman’s face was immediately covered, and it was suggested that he be hanged on the gallows meant for Mordechai.He was executed and the king’s anger went away.
(Rashi: Another reason for the king’s anger was his discovery that Haman meant to execute a friend of the king.)
That day Haman’s estate was given to Esther, and the king’s signet ring was given to Mordechai.
Esther asked the king if there were any way to counter the extermination decree, despite the fact that in Persian law a royal decree could not be revoked.
KILL THE JE
WS
Achashveirosh granted Esther full power to make any decree she wished, and seal it with the royal signet ring.Essentially her decree would not revoke, but would counter the first decree.
First Decree
Second Decree
In Sivan, two months later, letters were sent to all the Jewish communities throughout the provinces declaring that on the 13th of Adar (in eight months time) the Jews were permitted to organize and defend themselves, and kill any who threatened them.
The Jews rejoiced when they received these letters.
When the 13th of Adar came around the enemies of the Jews rose up against the Jews, but it was all turned about, and the Jews gained the upper hand, and no one was able to stop them from destroying those who wished to hurt them.
Mordechai had grown very prominent, which caused many to fear the Jews.
In Shushan the capitol the Jews killed 500 men, including the ten sons of Haman,
who were all hanged at the same moment.
When this section of the Megila is read, it is said in one breath, like all
the sons died together in one instant.
The Jews took none of the spoils of those they conquered.The Malbim: The decree was only for one day, so there would be no time for taking spoils.Rashi: Spoils were given to the royal treasury, so no one could claim financial reasons for who the Jews killed.
At Esther’s request the fighting in the city of Shushan continued on throughout the 14th of Adar.
It was decreed that a celebration (Purim) would happen on the
day the fighting stopped, which was on the 14th of Adar.
However, the next day (15 Adar) would be Shushan Purim, celebrating the day the fighting stopped in the city of Shushan.Who celebrates Shushan Purim?
Walled cities from the time of Yehoshua.
Huh?
Shushan rested from war at a differen time, so their celebration is at a different time.
Shushan was a walled city. However, at this stage in history Israel lay in ruin, with no walled cities.
So, in order to create a lasting holiday, with great honor, it was decreed that all cities that were walled in the days of Yehoshua, which includes Yerushalayim, will celebrate Purim on the 15 of Adar. (Shushan Purim)
These days would be celebrated by all Jews forever as days when the Jews gained relief from their enemies.Some ways of celebrating would be:
Joyous feasts (Seudat Purim)Sending gifts to friends (Mishloach Manot)Giving gifts to the poor (Matanot L’evyonim)
And the process
comes to its climax.
The pieces of the puzzle
finally come together.
The Jews sin by enjoying an
inappropriate, non-kosher feast.
Hashem decrees their destruction.
Vashti is no longer queen,
leaving the position void.
Esther takes the position, placing a Jewess close to
the king.
Her proximity to the king, makes Mordechai hang
around the palace.
His proximity:A. Causes him to
catch a plot against the king’s life.
And:B. His refusal to
bow causes Haman to try and
exterminate the Jews.
This decree causes a full fledged
repentance on behalf of the
Jewish people.
A reversal of the
decree.
And an eternal
celebration.
Purim Sameach!!
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