The Medrash Tehilim (22:17) writes that at first Ahashverosh ruled over the entire world and that is meant by the words "MeHodu ve'ad Kush." However when he killed Vashti, all the nations rebelled against him. Nonetheless, when he married Esther, 127 countries were returned to him in her merit, corresponding to the 127 years that Sarah Imenu lived. When Haman fell and the authority was given to Mordechai, Ahashverosh returned to ruling the entire world, as it says later in 10:1 that "he imposed taxes on all the land and the islands."
At first Ahashverosh wished to sit on the actual throne of Shelomo HaMelech but they warned him of imminent danger if he did, so he refrained. Ahashverosh ordered to have a chair built just like Shelomo's and when it was complete he made a grand feast.
In addition to the reason mentioned above, some say that the reason why he waited until the 3rd year to make the feast was either because it was only then when he finished conquering all the nations that rebelled against him. Others believe that it this was his wedding celebration with Vashti. It's for that reason that Vashti also made a feast for the women.
The Alshich writes that the reason why he displayed all of his wealth at the feast was because he was worried that generals from far away countries would threaten his kingdom. By displaying his wealth, he wished to instil fear in them. This also supports the claim that Ahashverosh was an ignorant king who should have invited the laymen first (rather than the elite) to have them join his forces and defend him in case a threat came from afar.
According to the calculation, the 180 day feast ended on the 3rd of Tishri (Tzom Gedaliah). He purposely made another feast during the 10 days of Teshuva so that the Jews can partake in bread of the idolaters; something that normally they would refrain from during these days (see Shulhan Aruch).
The letter "het" in the word חור is enlarged. The Medrash writes that when Hashem saw that the Jews were eating at the meal of Ahashverosh, he dug for them a hole (hor) in Gehinam and wished to extinguish them immediately. Because of his infinite mercy, he didn't do so. Instead, he brought the distress and suffering of Haman so it would cause them to do Teshuva.
Ahashverosh inappropriately used the vessels of the Bet Hamikdash during the feast. Unlike Belshazar (Vashti's father), he wasn't killed for doing so. One of the reasons given is because needed him to marry Esther and through her and the miracles that were to take place, the Jews would accept the Torah with love as it's written "קיימו וקיבלו היהודים". Some say that Mordechai convinced Ahashverosh not to use them for his own personal benefit but he insisted that he display them on his table. By not drinking from them, he wasn't killed. However, by displaying them, he lost all of his wealth. This is one of the reasons he needed to collect taxes in the end of the Megila.
And the rule for the drinking was, “No restrictions!” For the king had given orders to every palace steward to comply with each man’s wishes.
The "rule" mentioned in this verse is referring to the "rule of the Torah" which states that one shouldn't drink more than he eats. Seemingly, this was followed by other nations as well since the rules of the Torah and Derech Eretz are rational. Therefore, Ahashverosh was strict in following this. Nevertheless, Hashem performed a miracle that on the 7th day, his heart would be gladdened with wine enough that he would call out Vashti, she would refuse his request, he would kill her so he can marry Esther.
As the Jewish people are busy sinning on the table of Ahashverosh, Hashem is already planning the salvation by having Vashti conduct a feast on her own. In fact, Hashem made it that Vashti make the feast in the palace of the King rather than her own palace. This shows us the tremendous love He has for His people by creating the remedy prior to the illness.
The fact that this took place on Shabbat has huge ramifications. One, it acted as a merit for the Jews who began singing and reciting Divre Torah on the table of Ahashverosh. Two, it prevented the Jews from desecrating the Shabbat which was a far worse sin than what took place beforehand. Ahashverosh was too busy dealing with Vashti that he couldn't lead them to sin. Third, Vashti died on Shabbat as a punishment for working the Jewish girls against their will on Shabbat. According to the Me'am Loez, she reincarnated into the cow of Rabbi Hanina ben Torta who refused to work on Shabbat.
The mention of Vashti entering with a royal crown is to imply that she entered naked, wearing only the royal crown. Ahashverosh felt this was the best way to show off her beauty. Nevertheless, while the pasuk addresses her as טובת מראה, she didn't reach half the beauty of Sarah and Rivka who were described as טובת מראה מאוד.
According to the Medrash, the reason she refused to come naked was because she developed a skin disease, or she grew a tail like extension. The Ibn Ezra writes that Vashti was a woman who grew up in a proper royal household and wasn't used to exposing herself to the public in such a manner, especially in public. Ahashverosh, who didn't grow up with royalty, and was probably drunk, felt there was nothing wrong with his request.
Ahashverosh consulted with those who were learned in the procedure of "times" (astronomers) for he wished to know whether or not to punish her according to the constellations. Some say oppositely; that he felt that it was unlike Vashti to refuse his instructions and rebel against him so he thought it was the stars that caused her to do so. Therefore, he asked the astronomers if this was something written in the stars.
His closest advisers were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven ministers of Persia and Media who had access to the royal presence and occupied the first place in the kingdom.
These advisers were able to see the face of the king as they pleased without his express permission. The Talmud states that Ahashverosh first ruled over 7 provinces, then an additional 20, then an additional 100. These advisers were with him from the start when he conquered the first seven.
The pasuk coins Vashti as במלכה ושתי "Queen Vashti" because Ahashverosh wanted to lighten her punishment because she was the daughter of Belshazar and born into royalty.
Others argue and say that the reason why Ahashverosh called the eunuchs was for them to mete out the punishment. The messenger can't go back even one iota from the mission they were sent out to do. Ahashverosh was worried that he wouldn't go through with the punishment because he'll have mercy on her in the end. So instead, he did with the help of the סריסים.
Memuchan is Haman. He saw in the stars that he was to be killed by the wife of the king and that is why he advised Achashverosh to kill Vashti. Little did he know that it was to be through Esther who was to take her place. This is why he is called Memuchan; because he "prepared" his own death.
The women of the land will say: "If Ahashverosh command, who rules over everyone didn't help to retrieve Vashti; if the eunuchs weren't able to forcefully bring her after the king told them to, it must be she doesn't care for his honour. Let us not listen to our own husbands as well."
Although the pasuk doesn't specifically mention what the ladies will cite to their husbands, it is understood that they will relate the occurrences of what took place that day with Vashti embarrassing her husband by refusing to go. Such actions will continue to spread throughout the provinces.
The reason Memuchan suggested to write what will happen into the laws of Persia and Media is because what is written in those books stands and cannot be retracted. He was worried that the king may regret his decision and pull back from it. Now that it would be written in the books of law, it was unretractable.
The language of "giving" respect (יתנו) is strange. It should have written יעשו (perform), since giving connotes transferring something. The reason for this expression is for the ladies who were considered prestigious than their husbands. She would be required to "give" from her honour to her husband and make him think that he merited to rule over a wife of such high calibre. This is the meaning of "high and low alike," that the higher woman should respect and honour even the lower husband.
The Gemara states that Memuchan was considered the least important of the advisors yet he interrupted everyone to speak up first. Ahashverosh accepted Memuchan's recommendation without even hearing what the other advisors had to say.
The fact that Ahashverosh included that every man should wield authority in his home in the official documents and letters caused the people to ridicule him. Why was writing down this information necessary? What happened as a result was that the people didn't take these letters seriously anymore. When the decree was sent out to wipe out the Jews, many paid no attention to it and chose to ignore it. This allowed the Jews to defend themselves.
Once the commotion died down and everyone returned home, Ahashverosh was left alone. He calmed down from his anger and immediately he remembered his wife, Vashti. He inquired about her and his attendants reminded him about "what was decreed against her;" that he himself had her killed. This made him said and immediately asked his servants to bring young girls to him.
Ahashverosh decreed two things with regards to Vashti. 1) That she no longer comes forward to the king (this was fulfilled when she was killed) and 2) that he should bring his worthy state on someone who is more worthy than her. This second decree wasn't fulfilled yet and since it was written in the books of Persia and Media it had to be. This is why they suggested to bring young virgins to fulfill the second decree of Ahashverosh.
If Ahashverosh was to bring all the virgins of all the 127 provinces to his city there wouldn't be enough room for all of them. Therefore, he appointed officers to filter them and bring only the best ones. The strategy to provide cosmetics was brilliant. Otherwise, no father would allow his daughter to go with odds of becoming queen so low. There would be a good chance she returns empty handed and embarrassed. So they announced that each girl would receive cosmetics as an incentive but they would also know that only one would be chosen as queen.
The king was worried that he would have another woman who would take advantage of her position. Therefore, the woman who he would choose would be appointed as queen "under Vashti," meaning would have less power than Vashti had. She would not wear the royal crown or have the authority as Vashti. Once he was comfortable with her, he would promote her to full-fledged queen.
Was there only one Jew in Shushan HaBira? According to the Alshich he was. There were two cities adjacent to each other and one of them was called "Shushan HaBira" the town which housed the kings main officers and servants. No Jew was permitted to enter that city except for Mordechai because of his lineage. The rest of the Jews lived outside the capital which was just called "Shushan." Mordechai was called Yehudi because he was the only Jew in Shushan that remained kosher. He didn't eat from the impure food and was complete in his jewishness.
Contrary to other places in Tanach, the word "Yerushalayim" in this verse is spelled with the letter "yud" between the lamed and the mem sofit. Three reasons are given: a) TEN thousand Jews were exiled from Jerusalem to Babylonia. b) The TEN daily miracles that took place in Jerusalem were cancelled. c) In the future, all the Megilot will be obsolete except for Megilat Esther. Now and in the future (when Yerushalayim) is rebuilt, this Megila will be read and explored.
Just like a myrtle (Hadas) has a sweet smell but tastes bitter, so too Esther acted "sweet" with Mordechai but "bitter" towards Haman. The numerical value of הדסה is 74. The Medrash writes that she was 74 (or 75 with the word itself) years old at the time she was taken by Ahashverosh. Some say this was a promise to Avraham Avinu who also left his father house when he was 75 and Hashem promised him that one of his descendants will help redeem and save his children at the same age. (Other opinions say she was 40 years old and there are some that say she was 80 years old.)
Three reasons are given why Esther didn't have to give up her life for this even though "גילוי עריות" - improper sexual behavior - one must give his/her life for. a) She was considered קרקע עולם, like the ground of the Earth - Meaning she just laid there without performing any physical action and as well had no physical enjoyment. b) Ahashverosh did it for his own enjoyment and not to publicly go against Jewish law. c) Esther and Mordechai had no idea this was coming. The moment the decree was issued she was taken because Esther was known to be extremely beautiful and they had her on a private list to take to Ahashverosh immediately.
Hegai immediately noticed that she is proper and ready to be queen and be part of the monarchy. Normally, the more you glance at something beautiful, the more you get accustomed to that beauty and pay less attention to it. Esther was different. The more people looked at her, the more they were astonished at how pretty she was. In addition to her physical beauty, she also possessed the kindness and character traits required to be a role-model queen for all the ladies in the provinces.
Some of the reasons Mordechai commanded Esther not to reveal her people include: a) If the king gets angry at her (like he did with Vashti) he may take it out on her people. b) So people will think and believe that she comes from a lowly family and they will release her from the running. c) So that Esther can keep the mitzvot of the Torah in private: Shabbat, Kashrut etc... d) Mordechai didn't want the honour himself and he knew that if she told Ahashverosh where she came from he would give Mordechai a high ranking position and that is something he wished to run away from. "Anyone who runs away from honour, the honour will eventually chase him." In the end, Mordechai was given the position of Haman.
וּבְכָל־י֣וֹם וָי֔וֹם מָרְדְּכַי֙ מִתְהַלֵּ֔ךְ לִפְנֵ֭י חֲצַ֣ר בֵּֽית־הַנָּשִׁ֑ים לָדַ֨עַת֙ אֶת־שְׁל֣וֹם אֶסְתֵּ֔ר וּמַה־יֵּֽעָשֶׂ֭ה בָּֽהּ:
Every single day Mordecai would walk about in front of the court of the ladies, to learn how Esther was faring and what was happening to her.
This pasuk shows how righteous Mordechai was. Not only did he help raise her as an orphan (and even marry her eventually), but every day for four years that this story took place, he cared for her and checked on her as if she was a small child. Due to his tremendous care for her, he merited to defeat Haman.
They waited twelve months for each woman because sometimes a woman may be beautiful on the outside but have a serious sickness on the inside. Certain illnesses reveal themselves only after time. This is the meaning of ימי מרוקיהן - The days which are "polished away" from all sickness. They also wished to see if the women were regular in their menstrual cycles. A woman who isn't regular can be harmful to her husbands.
The numerical value of זה is 12. After the 12 months (ובזה) they would go to the king. They would give each girl whatever gifts she asked for so that she feel comfortable in front of the king. Also, so that if they don't get chosen as king, they would receive some sort of consolation prize.
If the king was interested in her and wished to see her a second time, he would put a ring on her own private window sill as sign that she was to return a second time. Many read this verse metaphorically and referring to Hashem. When Hashem desires you based on your performance and mitzvot and good actions, he will "call you by name" from above; a display of love and affection.
This pasuk shows the greatness of the test Esther faced and how she was willing to do whatever she could to pass the test and not marry the king; specifically from the fact that she didn't request anything in advance like the rest of the girls. Hegai was scared for his life literally, that Ahashverosh would kill him if one girl would enter his chamber not properly adorned. He asked Esther: "Why don't you want to beautify like the rest of the girls? The king will kill me if I don't do my job." She still answered that she didn't want anything.
The reason for specifying that the 10th month is the month of Tevet is because the actual names of our months are Persian (and Babylonian) origin. According to the Torah we refer to our months by number; 1st, 2nd 3rd etc... So the author wrote the month according to the Hebrew way of interpretation (10th) as well as the name of the month based on the Persian origin (Tevet) for the sake of the people living in Persia at the time. Kabbalistically, the 10th midah of the Sefirot from top to bottom is the midah of Malchut (Kingship); which is what Esther reached at this point.
Love can be powerful enough to interfere with the proper train of thought. Ahashverosh felt such a deep love for Esther that he placed the crown on her head himself rather than have one of his servants do so. It was at this point that he removed Vashti completely from his mind. The placing of the crown wasn't enough but he also had to declare it out loud - "Esther, you are my queen!"
The purpose of the feast was twofold: a) It was a wedding celebration for the two of them. b) It was to appease his officers and ministers and all the laymen who tried so hard to give their daughters over the king to marry only to come up empty handed. The girls who he was with and didn't choose, he took as פילגשים, concubines. The girls who didn't even get the opportunity to be with him, he sent back home. This feast was for them and their families.
Why were the girls assembled a second time once Esther was chosen? Some say it was for them to reveal their birthplace now that they were to be his concubines (see previous pasuk). In fact, this was Mordechai's idea, so that they will embarrass Esther when she chooses not to reveal her birthplace and maybe he will send her away and choose someone else. This is why the end of the verse says "Mordechai sat at the palace gate" because he advised Ahashverosh this idea. Others say it was to inform the ones who didn't get a chance to be with him that they are no longer needed.
The repetition of Esther's refusal to reveal her birthplace is so that the ministers shouldn't say that she refused to reveal it prior to her appointment as queen because she feared people will speak disparagingly about her and but now that she became queen and has nothing to fear, she will let them know where she came from. In her determination to follow the advice of Mordechai, she said nothing.
The information here about Mordechai sitting at the gate seems irrelevant. It's there to inform us why Bigtan and Teresh wished to kill the king. They were jealous and upset that Ahashverosh appointed Mordechai to sit in an elite position while they were just there to stand and guard.
Mordechai learned of it either because he had Ruah HaKodesh or because he understood seventy languages of the world; a prerequisite to be part of the Sanhedrin. This plot worried him even though they planned on assassinating a wicked king because we are taught to always pray for the welfare of the kingdom since we are utilizing their resources constantly.
Bigtan and Teresh wished to poison Ahashverosh with a drink. They instructed them to pour out the cup and it was there where the deadly poison "was found." Both of them were hung at the same time on a tree and this acted a as a foreshadowing, knowing that Haman, also one of the King's main men will soon be hung on a tree.
Why would Ahashverosh promote Haman if Mordechai just saved his life? One reason given is that Mordechai wished to have the Temple rebuilt but Ahashverosh was adamantly against it. Now that Mordechai saved his life, what can he say to him to deny is request? His idea was to promote Haman so if he is convinced to rebuild the Temple, Haman will be there to destroy it.
Why did Mordechai endanger his life by not bowing down to Haman which was the king's command? There are those that say that this law didn't apply to people who were relatives of the king. Now that Esther was queen and Mordechai was blood-related, he would be exempt from this. Others say that there was no such decree it was invented by Haman himself. Regardless, a voice from heaven shouted that "Mordechai will not kneel or bow low" in future tense because a descendant of our matriarch Rachel, who protects her children constantly, can never stoop so low.
Some believe that the king's servants didn't actually hate Mordechai. In fact, they respected him since he was one of the elite men in the king's palace. They asked Mordechai about his refusal to bow to Haman for their own benefit because they were waiting to see whether he would get away with it. They didn't like the new decrees and laws that were imposed upon them by Haman and they wanted to remove themselves from their new workload. It was inconvenient and belittling to bow down to him all the time and they wanted to annul themselves from such a decree. Thus, their question of "Why do you disobey the king's order?" was for their self interest.
The word "KeOmram" is spelled and prounounced "KeOmram" but written "BeOmram." The letters that interchange are "kaf" and "bet" - This signifies that Haman was a barber for 22 years. Others say that Haman wished to negate the Torah which is written with 22 letters.
Haman was so conceded that he didn't even pay attention before who was bowing down and who wasn't. It was only now, that they told him Mordechai refused did he actually see Mordechai ignore him when he walked by. A person becomes enraged more when his eyes see what he doesn't want to see. That is why now that he "saw" the pasuk informs us that he was filled with rage for until know it was only something that was heard.
The pasuk's description of the Jews being scattered throughout the kingdom and Ahashverosh is to teach us why Haman wasn't afraid of making the decree to wipe them out. He wouldn't be afraid of a coup because they are spread out thin and wouldn't have a chance to come together and fight.
The Gemara explains that Haman was happy that Adar was chosen because that was the month that Moshe Rabenu died. He didn't know, however, that it was also the month that he was born. If he knew he died in that month, how come he didn't know he was born either? The Rambam explains that he wanted to choose a month that its mazal isn't good for the Jews. He couldn't find one but he did notice that on Adar their leader passed away. He figured that it was a month filled with evil tidings. Little did he know that "En Mazal LeYisrael." The Jewish people's success isn't based on mazal.
It's possible to be "one nation" yet "scattered and dispersed." Haman was telling Ahashverosh that although the Jews were considered a unique nation, it was their baseless hatred that caused them to be in this exile and they are scattered from each other in reality. Our eventual salvation is dependent on our love for one another and nothing else. ומביא גואל לבני בניהם למען שמו באהבה.
Haman offered ten thousand talents of silver as oppose to gold. Two reasons for this is as follows: a) The moon is associated with silver given its colour. Since the Jews use the Lunar calendar, Haman wanted to acquire them with the metal that can directly negate any power they might have so that they won't be saved. b) Hashem made him decide to give silver because if he gave gold (which represents strict judgment) the Jews wouldn't have been saved. Silver represents kindness and mercy. Nevertheless, Ahashverosh, who wished to instill strict judgment took off his gold ring to give it to Haman but ultimately made the deal with silver talents.
The Gemara comments that this exchange of the signet ring was greater than all the 48 prophets and 7 prophetesses that the Jews had. Ahashverosh hated the Jews more than Haman and was thrilled at Haman's request. Nevertheless, he was afraid that to do so because it's not the way of a king to simply wage war against one of his own people. Giving his signet ring was a token of total trust into his new advisor and only the throne will stand in between them.
Haman was blind in one eye. That is why his name was ממוכן which stands for מום כן - a blemish in כן which has the numerical value of 70 which is "ayin". Ahashverosh told Haman, the same way that you take care of the only eye you have left, make sure you take care of these Jews. Others explain that Haman had been in power for 70 days (ayin) at this point and he already had full approval to get rid of a nation.
On the thirteenth day of the first month, the king’s scribes were summoned and a decree was issued, as Haman directed, to the king’s satraps, to the governors of every province, and to the officials of every people, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language. The orders were issued in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet.
The king's scribes were summoned and a decree was issued as "Ahashverosh" directed, so why does the verse say "as Haman directed? This was all Hashem ordained so that afterwards Ahashverosh can renege on the decree and say that he never did such a thing.
Even though the decree was set far in advance (13th of Adar), it was sent out immediately. The reason is because Haman knew that Ahashverosh was easily swayed and influenced by people. He was worried that Mordechai would convince him to annul the decree. The decree was sent in addition to the law that nobody may approach the king without being summoned. Which meant, even if Mordechai wanted to annul it, if he were to enter the quarters, he would be sentenced to death.
The Malbim writes that there were two letters. One of them was closed and sealed with the king's ring. On it was written "To be opened only on the 13th of Adar." Inside the letter was written the name of the nation to be annihilated. The second letter which was revealed to everyone informed the people to fight on a future date.
Once again, because Haman was worried that Ahashverosh might go back on his decision, he sent out the couriers before announcing the decree in Shushan. For what's written and signed by the king cannot be taken back. He also made a feast because he didn't want the Jewish leaders to bother the king about this since it's improper to interrupt the king while he's eating.
Mordechai "knew" that the Jews would be saved because it's alluded to in the Torah in the war of Amalek "Write this remembrance in a book" is hinting to Megilat Esther. The only condition required is for the Jews to do Teshuva but if they knew they would be saved they wouldn't perform Teshuva. Therefore, he ripped his clothing so that the people understand that repentance is necessary.
Mordechai couldn't go to the king himself because of the decree against seeing him without being summoned so he can only go to the gate. On a deeper level, whenever it says the word "melech" is written without "Ahashverosh" it's referring to Hashem. In this verse, Mordechai, through his prayer was able to reach the upper gate of Heaven, right near Hashem Himself.
Two reasons why the Jews acted in mourning when nobody died yet. a) Jews in Shushan weren't worried that people would start killing them early because the King is watching them. But cities outside Shushan, the Jews were worried the enemy would start attacking so they acted in mourning for the immediate future. b) Normally, mourning eases as the days go by. In this case, it started strong and got stronger day after day.