Welcome back to another episode of NachDaily with the 3rd perek of Megilas Esther discussing Haman’s rise to power and the decree to kill all the Jews. The chapter opens with the words “Achar had’varim ha’eleh, gidal hamelech Achashverosh es Haman ben Hamidasa ha’Agagi, vayinaseihu, vaysem es kiso me’al kol hasarim asher ito – Sometime after this, Achashverosh promoted Haman, son of Hamidasa the Agagi, advancing him and seating him higher than all his fellow ministers.”Rashi explains what is meant by “sometime after.” Hashem had given the refuah kodem hamaka – the antidote prior to the infliction. In the previous chapter, Mordechai had prevented Bigsan and Seresh from assassinating the king. This happened prior to Haman’s rise to power because Hashem was providing the salvation prior to the destruction. The Sefer Mishb’tzos Zahav asks why we should suffer to begin with. He answers so beautifully that the very fact Hashem created the antidote first reveals His awesome love for us. The g’zera, decree, was only meant to scare us, not to actually punish us. This should encourage us. We usually look at world news with superficial eyes, but when we look with the eyes of the Megila, the eyes of emunah, we recognize that all world events are under the direct control of God. Although we don’t see it, He is setting the stage for the final redemption. One day we will see just how exactly the remedy was set up many years before. Haman ha’Agagi dates back to the reign of King Shaul. When told by Shmuel Hanavi to completely wipe out any remnant of Agag,King of Amelek, Shaul rationalized delaying it, thinking it a greater sanctification of God’s name to kill him publicly. Shaul was supposed to have put aside his own mind and ideas, serving Hashem with great joy and utter simplicity. By following his own calculations, he was ultimately stripped of the monarchy.
In truth this goes even further back. The Gemara in Megila asks where we know Haman from the Torah. Hashem asked Adam, “Hamin Ha’aitz – did you eat from the Eitz ha’da’as tov v’ra, Tree of knowledge of good and evil?” Again, we see that Adam, instead of following the word of God with simplicity and faithfulness, had his own calculations about what he should do, ultimately leading to the downfall of humanity. Amalek represents the negative force prompting us to over-think and analyze, to follow our own minds instead of recognizing Hashem’s greater intelligence. We need to serve Hashem with great simplicity and utter joy, being careful not to complicate life with our supposed sophistication. When Haman was raised to power he either made himself into an idol or was wearing one, which caused all the ministers, with the exception of Mordechai, to bow to him. Haman had everything in the world, but one Jew not bowing was enough to drive him mad. As a result, Haman decided to exterminate the entire Jewish nation. To determine the most auspicious day for this, “Hipil pur, hu hagorel.– A pur, which is a lottery,” (verse 7) was cast. The 12th of Adar was chosen. Haman liked this date, the anniversary of Moshe Rabbeinu’s death, not realizing that it was also the day of his birth! The Kedushas Levi explains that this world is called the Olam Hagorel, the world of the lottery. Although events in our lives may seem totally random, we need to look deeper, realizing that the lottery is in Hashems hands. We need to be happy with our “lot” in life, seeing that our lives aren’t random, but were chosen by God out of His great love for us. In verse 8, “Haman said to King Achashverosh, ‘There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom, whose laws are unlike those of every other people and who do not obey the King’s laws. It is not worthwhile for the King to put up with them.”
Much ink has been spilled on these words! The Ramad Walli explains that Haman was telling Achashverosh that Hashem, the God of the Jewish people, is sleeping! Now is a great time to kill them. He “proved” this by showing that there was no unity amongst the nation. This was Haman’s biggest mistake, because as we know, “Hiney lo yanum v’lo yish an Shomer Yisrael – The Protector of the Jewish nation neither sleeps nor slumbers.” God is watching over us. This cannot be overstated. Our lives are not random! There is purpose and meaning to everything that happens to us. From verses 9 until 15, which end the perek, Haman offers a huge sum of money to Achashverosh to have the Jews killed. Achashverosh refuses the bribe, handing over his royal signet ring to Haman to proceed with the planned mass extermination. Letters were written in every language and signed by Haman with the King’s ring, instructing the killing of every Jewish man, woman and child on a single day. Sent out to every province, the edict was publicly posted all over the civilized world. Haman was pleased and sat down to drink with the King while the Jews in the city of Shushan were left in turmoil. Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily as the stage is set for the rest of the Megila to unfold. Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.