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Megillat Esther: An Introduction
Insights To The Megilla
Audio Megilla ReadingDo You Believe In Miracles?
Faith & Commitment
The 'Hidden' Message Of Purim Jewish Unity
Women Heroines: Esther & Purim
Jews & Antisemitism Behind The Mask: Insights Into Purim
Mordechai and the rest of the Jews donned sackcloth and ashes, and there was great mourning and weeping amongst the Jews.
The decree sent a shock wave through the community. All segments of the community were included in the decree, and all mourned together. Mordechai spoke out, claiming that the Jews' participation in Achashverosh's sordid banquet where he despoiled the Temple vessels was the cause. Instead of deriding him (after all, almost 9 years had passed - who could see a clear sense of cause and effect?), they accepted his judgement, and sat down to repent.
Mordechai told Esther the time had come for her to reveal her Jewishness and to plead with the king. Esther protested that if she went to the king unbidden, he could execute her. Mordechai insisted that she act immediately, with no thought for her personal safety.
Esther points out that she hasn't seen the king in thirty days, the longest period yet since her marriage. She is sure Achashverosh will call her any day now. Mordechai saw the fever pitch of the Jews' remorse and repentence and felt that, combined with their sincere prayers, this would be the best time to go to the King. As time elapsed, their spirits might lag and the Jews might lose hope. Better to act immediately.
Esther charges him to call the Jews together and fast for three days, after which she will go to the king -- and if she is lost, so be it.
The fast Esther called included the first two days of Pesach. When Mordechai protested, Esther overrode him, stating, "If there is no Israel, who will observe Pesach?" (Midrash)
One interpretation: This is a hint towards their marital status. Since she had never gone willingly to the king, Esther's relationship was still not considered adulterous. By going to him voluntarily, she would forfeit the hope of returning to her husband. Hence, she would be "lost" to him.
Esther donned royalty on the third day and went into the king's court. He extended the scepter to her and offered to fulfill her request "until half his kingdom".
In addition to her royal robes, Esther donned Ruach HaKodesh, a Holy Spirit, after her three days of fasting and prayers (Megilla 15a). Achashverosh realized that she must have a serious need, since she had risked her life to come in unbidden.
Esther invited the king and Haman to a banquet. Achashverosh pressed Haman to hurry, and they went to the banquet.
Esther realized the king would be more relaxed in the intimate atmosphere of her chambers. She invited Haman to arouse jealousy in the king, and keep an eye on him. The king was suspicious. After all, this was the first time Esther had made a move towards entertaining him. Why should Haman be included? So his thoughts turned to conspiracy.
At the banquet, Esther invited them both to a second banquet on the following day.
Esther states that she is preparing a banquet for "them" in order to further arouse Achashverosh's suspicions and jealousy. According to the commentary of Rashi, Esther promised that she would finally reveal her nationality. Haman, who had been slightly suspicious at receiving the first invitation, now felt completely at ease. He felt his star to be rising. Achashverosh grew more suspicious. He wondered if Haman and his queen were conspiring against him.
Haman left the banquet greatly overjoyed, until he saw Mordechai, who didn't acknowledge him at all. Haman went home in a fury. Even the great honors he had just received were no recompense while Mordechai lived. His wife encouraged him to prepare a gallows to hang Mordechai, which he did.
In order to pacify Haman, his wife searched for an immediate course of action. According to the Midrash, she searched for a method of execution that had not yet failed against renowned Jews. Fiery furnaces had failed with Avraham and Hananiah; Daniel had emerged from the lion's den, Samson triumphed over the Philistines, even with his eyes gouged out. But so far, hanging had not been tried, so she suggested the gallows. Haman spent the whole night awake building the gallows with his servants while his wife played musical instruments and his sons rejoiced. (Targum)
Achashverosh was unable to sleep that night, and so he ordered that his book of chronicles (lit. remembrances) brought in and read to him. They read to him that Mordechai had uncovered the plot against the king's life and had not been rewarded.
Here the tables begin to turn. From a simple episode of insomnia, a series of events are set into motion. The literal Hebrew text reads, "the sleep of the king was shaken." Since the name "the king" also means G-d, this allusion implies that now the prayers of the Jews "roused" God to action - so to speak.
Another interpretation is that the King had a bad dream in which Haman was attacking him, and was shaken awake.
Two books are mentioned in the Hebrew -- the Book of Remembrances and the Book of Chronicles. The public Book of Chronicles had been altered by Haman, who inserted his own name in place of Mordechai. When Achashverosh asked them to read his private copy, the Book of Remembrances, Mordechai's name remained. He realized Haman's duplicity, and became angered. (Commentary of the Malbim)
Three men were awake that night: Haman, building the gallows; Achashverosh, turning in his bed; and Mordechai, fasting and praying.
Achashverosh asked who was in the court, and his servants said, "Haman."
Achashverosh finally dozed off again, to return to his dream of Haman with the sword. He woke with a start to ask who was in the court. When he heard Haman, he thought, "What is he doing here in the middle of the night, if not to kill me? My dream is coming true!" (Midrash Abba Gurion)
Haman had been so eager to execute Mordechai, that he decided to wait in the court until morning, so that he could ask permission from the king at the earliest opportunity. His zeal cost him a lot.
The king invited in Haman and asked him what would be the best way to reward a man the king wanted to honor. Haman, assuming he was the man, answered that he should dress him in royal robes and the royal crown, and set him upon the king's horse. The man should be led through the streets by one of the high nobles of the court, who would shout "This is how the king treats someone he wishes to honor."
Haman, concerned that the king might imagine he is threatening his position, emphasized that the crier would state that the honor was only received for doing good deeds for the king, not because of personal authority or governmental status.
Achashverosh wanted to emphasize that someone who revealed a plot against the king would receive the highest of honors - even greater than Haman's. In this way, he hoped that if anyone had information about a plot between Haman and Esther, they would come forward. (Commentary of the Alshich)
The king told Haman to hurry to do this to Mordechai, the Jew sitting at the king's gate, and not omit any detail. So Haman dressed Mordechai and led him through the city square.
When he heard the name Mordechai, Haman feigned ignorance, so the king had to spell out who he meant exactly, making it impossible for Haman to evade the duty.
According to the Midrash, Mordechai was covered in ashes from his mourning. Haman had to bathe him and cut his hair. Weak from fasting, Mordechai could not even mount the horse, and so Haman had to bend over for Mordechai to step upon him to mount.
Haman's humiliation was compounded when his daughter, assuming he was Mordechai leading her father, Haman through the streets, dumped a full chamber pot on his head from an overhanging roof. When she saw she had defiled her father, she jumped off the roof and committed suicide. (Talmud, Megilla 16a).
Haman hurried home downcast. This time his family and friends advised him that his star had seemingly fallen. During the discussion, the King's chamberlains arrived to escort him to the banquet.
Haman's friends advised him to dismantle the gallows and beg for Mordechai's forgiveness and mercy. Before he had a chance to do it, he was hurried away by the king's men.
