Chapter 10: Epilogue
After all the drama, things finally settle down to normal. Achashverosh levies taxes on everyone he possibly can. As for Mordechai, he was a great vizier. In his post, he looked out for all Jews, and was liked by most of them. The rest can be found in the chronicles of the kings of Persia.
And as the curtain is about to go down on our little show, Charvona hobbles out on his one crutch and says, in his Cockney accent:
"A Happy Purim to all! And God bless us, everyone!"
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Megillat Esther, Yoni Style (pt. 9)
Chapter 9: ...Smells Like Victory.
The date arrives: Adar 13. Civil war erupts within the Persian empire, Jew vs. non-Jew. And although the Jews were greatly outnumbered, we win!! In Shushan alone the Jews kill 500 of our enemies, as well as the ten sons of Haman.
The casualty report was brought before Achashverosh. After reviewing the results, he approached Esther:
"In Shushan, your people have killed five hundred men, and the sons of Haman. In the rest of the kingdom, they've done much, much more. So now, my queen - what else do you want? What more can I do for you?"
Why the show of kindness? Achashverosh doesn't owe anything anymore, and she hadn't asked for anything. So why does he ask?
Achashverosh is a very shrewd politician. He knows the way the political winds blow. As soon as he sees the Jews on the upswing, he jumps at the chance to become more popular. He isn't really interested in helping Esther or her people; he's interested in consolidating his power.
Esther has one small thing to ask:
"If it please his majesty, let the Jews continue to fight their enemies tomorrow. As for the ten sons of Haman, let their corpses hang on the gallows for all to see."
The king grants her request, and the Jews proceed to kill another 300 of their foes on the 14th of Adar. In total, the civil war cost the lives of 75,000 enemies of the Jews. And the spoils? They were left untouched by the victors. You see, for the Jews, it wasn't about riches. It was about self-preservation. And we got that.
After the war is over, Mordechai sends out letters to all the 127 provinces, filling them in on all the details of the palace drama/politics that was only known to a handful of people until now. He urges everyone to establish a yearly celebration on two days, the 14th and 15th of Adar (since those were the days the Jews celebrated their underdog victory).
Jews all over the empire take it upon themselves to establish an annual holiday on the 14th and 15th days of Adar to be known as Purim, in commemoration of the pur (lots) that Haman used to choose the date of his evil plan. They declared these days to be days of feasting, joyousness, giving to the needy, and sharing gifts between neighbors.
So it was written, so let it be done.
The date arrives: Adar 13. Civil war erupts within the Persian empire, Jew vs. non-Jew. And although the Jews were greatly outnumbered, we win!! In Shushan alone the Jews kill 500 of our enemies, as well as the ten sons of Haman.
The casualty report was brought before Achashverosh. After reviewing the results, he approached Esther:
"In Shushan, your people have killed five hundred men, and the sons of Haman. In the rest of the kingdom, they've done much, much more. So now, my queen - what else do you want? What more can I do for you?"
Why the show of kindness? Achashverosh doesn't owe anything anymore, and she hadn't asked for anything. So why does he ask?
Achashverosh is a very shrewd politician. He knows the way the political winds blow. As soon as he sees the Jews on the upswing, he jumps at the chance to become more popular. He isn't really interested in helping Esther or her people; he's interested in consolidating his power.
Esther has one small thing to ask:
"If it please his majesty, let the Jews continue to fight their enemies tomorrow. As for the ten sons of Haman, let their corpses hang on the gallows for all to see."
The king grants her request, and the Jews proceed to kill another 300 of their foes on the 14th of Adar. In total, the civil war cost the lives of 75,000 enemies of the Jews. And the spoils? They were left untouched by the victors. You see, for the Jews, it wasn't about riches. It was about self-preservation. And we got that.
After the war is over, Mordechai sends out letters to all the 127 provinces, filling them in on all the details of the palace drama/politics that was only known to a handful of people until now. He urges everyone to establish a yearly celebration on two days, the 14th and 15th of Adar (since those were the days the Jews celebrated their underdog victory).
Jews all over the empire take it upon themselves to establish an annual holiday on the 14th and 15th days of Adar to be known as Purim, in commemoration of the pur (lots) that Haman used to choose the date of his evil plan. They declared these days to be days of feasting, joyousness, giving to the needy, and sharing gifts between neighbors.
So it was written, so let it be done.
Megillat Esther, Yoni Style (pt. 8)
Chapter 8: Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss
From the outset, it seems like a 'happily ever after' situation is taking place: Mordechai was brought before Achashverosh, revealed as uncle to the queen. Almost immediately afterward, he was appointed to the post that Haman had occupied. As a sign of his gratitude and trust, Achashverosh gave his signet ring to Mordechai, allowing him to issue any orders he sees fit, with the power of the throne behind him.
But all is NOT well. Sure Haman is gone, but the royal edict to eradicate the kingdom of all Jews still stands!
Esther finds herself in a very awkward position. She has no more tricks up her sleeve. She can no longer manipulate Achashverosh like she did before. So what now? How can she convince him to rescind the order?
Abject begging.
She throws herself at the king's feet, crying. He extends his scepter to her once again, and asks what she wants (noticeably absent is the offer of half the kingdom). Esther pleads with all her heart:
"If it pleases the king, and if his majesty does love me; if the king sees that it is the right thing to do, and if I'm still his majesty's chosen queen, his majesty will please send out an order to retract the edict sent out by that traitor, Haman. For how can I go on, knowing that my people are doomed? How can I see them destroyed?"
And now, when all is laid bare, free of pretense, we see Achashverosh's true colors - He could not care less about the Jews:
"Look, I've given you and your uncle Haman's post, and I've executed Haman on the gallows meant for your uncle. You want to write an order? Write any order you want. Sign it with my ring. I will back up whatever you write, with one proviso: no edict of the king shall ever be rescinded."
So Esther and Mordechai realize they're on their own. The king is obviously more interested in his public opinion as a strong and confident ruler than in making sure his queen is happy. Not to mention the impending slaughter of every Jew in the realm. All Achashverosh cares about is being (or at least appearing to be)a strong ruler.
It's at this point that Mordechai, in the name of Achashverosh, writes a new edict:
"As stated in an earlier decree, the enemies of the Jews will be allowed to kill the Jews on the 13th of Adar, and whoever kills them may take their property. However, the king wishes to add one detail. On that day, the Jews will be allowed to defend themselves. Furthermore, the property of anyone killed by the Jews will be forfeit to them."
What does this actually do for the Jews?
Originally, what Haman proposed was a state-sponsored pogrom. The enemies of the Jews would be allowed to kill their Jewish neighbors, and the unwritten implication was that the king would not mind if local governors lent a hand. What Mordechai did, by allowing the Jews to defend themselves, was turn the pogrom into a civil war. Now the governors would have to consider: do they help the Jews or their enemies? How can they decide? How can they know who the king favors?
Mordechai plays his next move brilliantly.
He dresses in his princely garments and has a huge, ticker-tape parade in Shushan. A bit premature, isn't it? I mean, after all, the Jews have yet to be saved. But this is not a victory parade, it's a PR move: when the news that the king's new vizier is a Jew, and he's beloved by the everyone in the capital, they will assume that the king is showing favor to the Jews. And maybe it would behoove them to help the Jews instead of their enemies.
Sounds a little far-fetched, huh? Well, it works.
News of Mordechai's appointment spreads throughout the kingdom. Wherever the news reaches, there are incredible celebrations among the Jews. Singing, dancing, public displays of glee and joy are the order of the day.
And how does the news effect the non-Jewish population? They are so impressed by/scared of the Jews that there is a mass movement towards conversion to Judaism. And for those who don't convert, their sympathies strongly shift over from anti- to pro-Semitic (if that's even a word).
Politically, we've won!
But there's still an actual war to be fought.
From the outset, it seems like a 'happily ever after' situation is taking place: Mordechai was brought before Achashverosh, revealed as uncle to the queen. Almost immediately afterward, he was appointed to the post that Haman had occupied. As a sign of his gratitude and trust, Achashverosh gave his signet ring to Mordechai, allowing him to issue any orders he sees fit, with the power of the throne behind him.
But all is NOT well. Sure Haman is gone, but the royal edict to eradicate the kingdom of all Jews still stands!
Esther finds herself in a very awkward position. She has no more tricks up her sleeve. She can no longer manipulate Achashverosh like she did before. So what now? How can she convince him to rescind the order?
Abject begging.
She throws herself at the king's feet, crying. He extends his scepter to her once again, and asks what she wants (noticeably absent is the offer of half the kingdom). Esther pleads with all her heart:
"If it pleases the king, and if his majesty does love me; if the king sees that it is the right thing to do, and if I'm still his majesty's chosen queen, his majesty will please send out an order to retract the edict sent out by that traitor, Haman. For how can I go on, knowing that my people are doomed? How can I see them destroyed?"
And now, when all is laid bare, free of pretense, we see Achashverosh's true colors - He could not care less about the Jews:
"Look, I've given you and your uncle Haman's post, and I've executed Haman on the gallows meant for your uncle. You want to write an order? Write any order you want. Sign it with my ring. I will back up whatever you write, with one proviso: no edict of the king shall ever be rescinded."
So Esther and Mordechai realize they're on their own. The king is obviously more interested in his public opinion as a strong and confident ruler than in making sure his queen is happy. Not to mention the impending slaughter of every Jew in the realm. All Achashverosh cares about is being (or at least appearing to be)a strong ruler.
It's at this point that Mordechai, in the name of Achashverosh, writes a new edict:
"As stated in an earlier decree, the enemies of the Jews will be allowed to kill the Jews on the 13th of Adar, and whoever kills them may take their property. However, the king wishes to add one detail. On that day, the Jews will be allowed to defend themselves. Furthermore, the property of anyone killed by the Jews will be forfeit to them."
What does this actually do for the Jews?
Originally, what Haman proposed was a state-sponsored pogrom. The enemies of the Jews would be allowed to kill their Jewish neighbors, and the unwritten implication was that the king would not mind if local governors lent a hand. What Mordechai did, by allowing the Jews to defend themselves, was turn the pogrom into a civil war. Now the governors would have to consider: do they help the Jews or their enemies? How can they decide? How can they know who the king favors?
Mordechai plays his next move brilliantly.
He dresses in his princely garments and has a huge, ticker-tape parade in Shushan. A bit premature, isn't it? I mean, after all, the Jews have yet to be saved. But this is not a victory parade, it's a PR move: when the news that the king's new vizier is a Jew, and he's beloved by the everyone in the capital, they will assume that the king is showing favor to the Jews. And maybe it would behoove them to help the Jews instead of their enemies.
Sounds a little far-fetched, huh? Well, it works.
News of Mordechai's appointment spreads throughout the kingdom. Wherever the news reaches, there are incredible celebrations among the Jews. Singing, dancing, public displays of glee and joy are the order of the day.
And how does the news effect the non-Jewish population? They are so impressed by/scared of the Jews that there is a mass movement towards conversion to Judaism. And for those who don't convert, their sympathies strongly shift over from anti- to pro-Semitic (if that's even a word).
Politically, we've won!
But there's still an actual war to be fought.
Megillat Esther, Yoni Style (pt. 7)
Chapter 7: The Trap is Sprung
The second party is underway. The same people are in attendance, but the mood is drastically different.
Yesterday, Achashverosh was intrigued at the banquet; he had no idea why it was being thrown, and no clue as to why Haman was invited. His attitude was one of curiosity. Today, he is already upset with Haman, but he's still unsure about how Esther fits in with Haman's schemes. So he's still curious, but with a more menacing overtone.
Haman was on cloud nine yesterday. A party with the royal couple, another in the works, more money than he could ever spend, and a solid plan to do away with the Jews. He was as happy as a pig in slop. Today, this party is the last place he wants to be. He knows the king is furious with him (although he doesn't really know why), he was unable to carry out the simple task of framing and executing a lower-level courtier, and he had to humiliate himself as a grandmarshall at a Jew's parade that should have been for him. Nothing is going his way, and the horizon doesn't look any clearer.
Esther sees all of this, and is confident that her plan is working.
Once again, Achashverosh offers his grand gesture to Esther. If it takes half his kingdom, he will get to the bottom of all this.
"Whatever your request may be, my queen, it shall be granted. Even if you ask for half of the kingdom, it shall be given to you."
Esther knows that she can't delay the king any longer. She proceeds with her master stroke:
"If the king really loves me, and if his majesty sees fit, my request is for my life and my wish is to save my people. My people have been sold out for complete and total annihilation. Had we merely been sold as slaves, I would have kept quiet for we are all servants to his majesty in any case. But this wholesale massacre is not in the king's best interests because it threatens his queen."
A threat on the queen's life?! Another royal assassination attempt?! This is bittersweet news to Achashverosh. On the one hand, he's happy that Esther's machinations have nothing to do with marital infidelity; she's not cheating on him. On the other hand, his paranoia is raging, trying to figure out who would hatch a plan that would harm the queen.
"Who? Who is so brazen that he would think to carry out such a plan?"
Esther lays her last card down on the table:
"A villainous man who is a traitor to the crown: the wicked Haman, sitting right here."
Haman goes stark white. What the heck just happened?! Now they're BOTH upset with him?
The king is enraged. He gets up and leaves the banquet to process what he's just heard. (I always pictured him getting up from the banquet table with a roar of anger, flipping over his table like an angry cowboy in an old-west saloon calling another dude a yellow-bellied cheat. But that's just me.)
Haman uses this opportunity to try and weasel his way out of this mess. He goes over to Esther's couch and pleads with her to explain what just happened, and beg for her to have mercy on him. He knows now that the king is upset with him because of her. So he has got to smooth things over with her, so that the king won't kill him.
As the king came back in to the banquet room form his moment of fresh air outside, Haman trips and falls on Esther. This guy can't catch a break. The king sees this and gets even angrier:
"It's not enough that you plot and scheme against the queen's life, you want to take her while I'm right here?!"
Just then, one of the guards in attendance named Charvona pipes in:
"Your majesty, I happen to know that Haman has erected a gallows in his estate for the purpose of hanging Mordechai. His highness remembers Mordechai - they guy who saved your life? Yeah, Haman wants to hang him on his special gallows."
Where did this come from? Who's this Charvona guy? And how does he know all this?
Charvona was mentioned as an advisor to the king earlier in the story, but now he's been reduced to guard duty. As for the gallows, they were just built last night. The only people aware of its existence was Haman, his family, and his friends. So it can be safely assumed that Charvona was a friend of Haman's. So why rat him out like this? Because as is mentioned in the courtroom scene of Goodfellas, a rat will do anything to save itself. And as soon as he sees Haman's ship not just damaged, but sinking - like a good rat, he jumps ship.
As for Achashverosh, he's heard enough. This vizier of his has been plotting and scheming for years now, all behind the king's back. He alone influences the king; he hatched a plan that would get rid of the queen; he dreams of parading around in royal garments; and now it seems he wants to repay saving the king's life with execution! That's the final straw:
"He has a gallows? Good. Hang him on it."
And so Haman was hanged on the very gallows he'd built. And the anger of the king subsided.
The End.....isn't it?
I mean, the bad guy lost, so it's over. Right?
In the words of Judd Nelson in The Breakfast Club: Not. Even. Close. Bud!
The second party is underway. The same people are in attendance, but the mood is drastically different.
Yesterday, Achashverosh was intrigued at the banquet; he had no idea why it was being thrown, and no clue as to why Haman was invited. His attitude was one of curiosity. Today, he is already upset with Haman, but he's still unsure about how Esther fits in with Haman's schemes. So he's still curious, but with a more menacing overtone.
Haman was on cloud nine yesterday. A party with the royal couple, another in the works, more money than he could ever spend, and a solid plan to do away with the Jews. He was as happy as a pig in slop. Today, this party is the last place he wants to be. He knows the king is furious with him (although he doesn't really know why), he was unable to carry out the simple task of framing and executing a lower-level courtier, and he had to humiliate himself as a grandmarshall at a Jew's parade that should have been for him. Nothing is going his way, and the horizon doesn't look any clearer.
Esther sees all of this, and is confident that her plan is working.
Once again, Achashverosh offers his grand gesture to Esther. If it takes half his kingdom, he will get to the bottom of all this.
"Whatever your request may be, my queen, it shall be granted. Even if you ask for half of the kingdom, it shall be given to you."
Esther knows that she can't delay the king any longer. She proceeds with her master stroke:
"If the king really loves me, and if his majesty sees fit, my request is for my life and my wish is to save my people. My people have been sold out for complete and total annihilation. Had we merely been sold as slaves, I would have kept quiet for we are all servants to his majesty in any case. But this wholesale massacre is not in the king's best interests because it threatens his queen."
A threat on the queen's life?! Another royal assassination attempt?! This is bittersweet news to Achashverosh. On the one hand, he's happy that Esther's machinations have nothing to do with marital infidelity; she's not cheating on him. On the other hand, his paranoia is raging, trying to figure out who would hatch a plan that would harm the queen.
"Who? Who is so brazen that he would think to carry out such a plan?"
Esther lays her last card down on the table:
"A villainous man who is a traitor to the crown: the wicked Haman, sitting right here."
Haman goes stark white. What the heck just happened?! Now they're BOTH upset with him?
The king is enraged. He gets up and leaves the banquet to process what he's just heard. (I always pictured him getting up from the banquet table with a roar of anger, flipping over his table like an angry cowboy in an old-west saloon calling another dude a yellow-bellied cheat. But that's just me.)
Haman uses this opportunity to try and weasel his way out of this mess. He goes over to Esther's couch and pleads with her to explain what just happened, and beg for her to have mercy on him. He knows now that the king is upset with him because of her. So he has got to smooth things over with her, so that the king won't kill him.
As the king came back in to the banquet room form his moment of fresh air outside, Haman trips and falls on Esther. This guy can't catch a break. The king sees this and gets even angrier:
"It's not enough that you plot and scheme against the queen's life, you want to take her while I'm right here?!"
Just then, one of the guards in attendance named Charvona pipes in:
"Your majesty, I happen to know that Haman has erected a gallows in his estate for the purpose of hanging Mordechai. His highness remembers Mordechai - they guy who saved your life? Yeah, Haman wants to hang him on his special gallows."
Where did this come from? Who's this Charvona guy? And how does he know all this?
Charvona was mentioned as an advisor to the king earlier in the story, but now he's been reduced to guard duty. As for the gallows, they were just built last night. The only people aware of its existence was Haman, his family, and his friends. So it can be safely assumed that Charvona was a friend of Haman's. So why rat him out like this? Because as is mentioned in the courtroom scene of Goodfellas, a rat will do anything to save itself. And as soon as he sees Haman's ship not just damaged, but sinking - like a good rat, he jumps ship.
As for Achashverosh, he's heard enough. This vizier of his has been plotting and scheming for years now, all behind the king's back. He alone influences the king; he hatched a plan that would get rid of the queen; he dreams of parading around in royal garments; and now it seems he wants to repay saving the king's life with execution! That's the final straw:
"He has a gallows? Good. Hang him on it."
And so Haman was hanged on the very gallows he'd built. And the anger of the king subsided.
The End.....isn't it?
I mean, the bad guy lost, so it's over. Right?
In the words of Judd Nelson in The Breakfast Club: Not. Even. Close. Bud!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Megillat Esther, Yoni Style (pt. 6)
Chapter 6: Sleepless in Shushan
That night, Achashverosh could not sleep. There were too many things racing around his mind. What did Esther mean when she said she wanted to invite the king and Haman to a banquet she prepared "for him?" Who is him? Ahchashverosh? Then why does Haman need to be there? Maybe "him" is Haman. But why would Esther make a party for Haman? What's going on between them? Are they having an affair? How do they even know each other? When did they meet?
Achashverosh wants to get to the bottom of all these questions. In order to figure this out, he orders his servants to bring him his daily chronicles. Their mission is to find a connection between Esther and Haman. If the two of them are having an affair, they would have first met in the palace at some point. To find mention of Haman is too easy; he's been the king's sole advisor for years now. The problem is, there's too much Haman-related material to sift through. But Esther is usually confined to the women's court, so any activity she's had in the palace or throne room will be easily found in the chronicles.
As the servants look for the earliest mention of her courtly activities, they come across the plot to kill the king by Bigtan and Teresh. They remark that although Esther relayed the information to the king, she didn't uncover the plot herself. It seems a low-level courtier named Mordechai is the one who discovered it. Achashverosh asks:
"What honor was bestowed upon him as his reward? What title was he given?"
They respond: "Nothing was done for him."
Nothing? A man goes out of his way to save the life of the king, and he gets nothing? How could Achashverosh overlook something like this? If no reward is given for saving the king's life, then why would anyone bother? Achashverosh suddenly realizes that he is much more vulnerable than he thought. There could be a plot against his life right now, for all he knows. And it won't be lowly guards this time, either. With each attempt the assassins will become bolder. They could conspire with with someone who has access to more sensitive areas of the palace, like the kitchen, the throne room, or even his bedroom!
Just as these paranoid thoughts are spinning through Achashverosh's head, he realizes someone is in the court, just outside his room!
"Who is in my courtyard, in the middle of the night?"
The mystery man in the courtyard is Haman. His wife wisely advised him to wait until morning to ask the king for permission to hang Mordechai. But like Calvin and Hobbes at Christmas, Haman can't wait until morning. He is so excited about getting rid of Mordechai (the very man the king was just thinking of rewarding, mind you), that he paid no attention to the impetuousness of his actions; he was coming to the bed-chamber of the most paranoid ruler of all time, in the middle of the night. Not smart.
"It's Haman," report the servants.
This is not normal behavior for his vizier. Or is it? Haman is pretty comfortable walking wherever he pleases in the palace. He even has everyone kneeling to him. How well does Achashverosh know Haman, anyway? He was promoted with lightning speed up the ranks. He has more money and honor than anyone in the kingdom, except Achashverosh himself. It's possible that he's been sleeping with the queen, and now he feels bold enough to walk in the most security-sensitive parts of the palace whenever he wants? He is becoming far too powerful. And powerful men are rarely satisfied with what they have. How ambitious is this Haman? Could he be so bold as to want the crown? Achashverosh intends to find out.
He asks Haman the most loaded question ever.
"Haman," asks Achashverosh, "What should be done with a man upon whom the king wishes to bestow an honor?"
The question is seemingly about anyone. But Achashverosh knows Haman. He knows that Haman is so egocentric that he will assume the question is referring to him. And it's in Haman's reply that he reveals what he really wants:
"The man upon whom the king wishes to bestow an honor should be dressed in the king's clothes. He should ride on the very horse the king rode when he was crowned. In fact, he should wear the crown itself! There should be a grand parade through the streets, with the entire royal court leading this man. An honored and important minister should lead the way, shouting: 'Thus shall be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor!'"
Who would want that? If an average citizen were offered a choice between Haman's reward or money, they would take the money. Or a title, or land, or anything that will improve his station in life. But Haman is not an average citizen, and Achashverosh knows it. Who wants a parade in the king's clothes? What will that do for him? Only a man who wants to BE the king would suggest such a ludicrous reward. And now Achashverosh knows Haman's true intentions.
So he has to take him down a peg or two.
"Fantastic idea. Now go - do all that you just suggested to Mordechai. Do you know Mordechai? He's the Jew that lately has been sitting by the palace gates. You must personally dress him in my clothes, put him on my horse, and lead him around the city exactly as you said. Do it. Do it exactly as you just told me."
And so, instead of hanging Mordechai as he'd wanted, Haman dresses Mordechai in Achasverosh's royal robes, saddles Achashverosh's horse and helps Mordechai get on it. He then heralds Mordechai through the streets of Shushan yelling: "Thus shall be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor!"
When the mini-parade is over, Mordechai returns to his mourning by the palace gates. Haman sulks home.
Yesterday, he was on top of the world! He was rich, powerful, and prestigious. The king would listen to him and him alone! And on top of all that, the queen had him at one party and invited him to another, both with only royalty in attendance! How wonderful! But now the king, for whatever reason is angry. He ordered Haman around like a common servant. And to lead a parade, how humiliating! And a parade for Mordechai, no less!
He tells all of this to Zeresh, his wife. When he's done, Zeresh drops a bombshell on her husband:
"Wait, Mordechai is a Jew? If that's the case, then you have no chance of coming out on top of all this."
Before Haman has a chance to ask what she means by that, palace guards arrive at the house to physically escort Haman to the second banquet Esther's prepared.
That night, Achashverosh could not sleep. There were too many things racing around his mind. What did Esther mean when she said she wanted to invite the king and Haman to a banquet she prepared "for him?" Who is him? Ahchashverosh? Then why does Haman need to be there? Maybe "him" is Haman. But why would Esther make a party for Haman? What's going on between them? Are they having an affair? How do they even know each other? When did they meet?
Achashverosh wants to get to the bottom of all these questions. In order to figure this out, he orders his servants to bring him his daily chronicles. Their mission is to find a connection between Esther and Haman. If the two of them are having an affair, they would have first met in the palace at some point. To find mention of Haman is too easy; he's been the king's sole advisor for years now. The problem is, there's too much Haman-related material to sift through. But Esther is usually confined to the women's court, so any activity she's had in the palace or throne room will be easily found in the chronicles.
As the servants look for the earliest mention of her courtly activities, they come across the plot to kill the king by Bigtan and Teresh. They remark that although Esther relayed the information to the king, she didn't uncover the plot herself. It seems a low-level courtier named Mordechai is the one who discovered it. Achashverosh asks:
"What honor was bestowed upon him as his reward? What title was he given?"
They respond: "Nothing was done for him."
Nothing? A man goes out of his way to save the life of the king, and he gets nothing? How could Achashverosh overlook something like this? If no reward is given for saving the king's life, then why would anyone bother? Achashverosh suddenly realizes that he is much more vulnerable than he thought. There could be a plot against his life right now, for all he knows. And it won't be lowly guards this time, either. With each attempt the assassins will become bolder. They could conspire with with someone who has access to more sensitive areas of the palace, like the kitchen, the throne room, or even his bedroom!
Just as these paranoid thoughts are spinning through Achashverosh's head, he realizes someone is in the court, just outside his room!
"Who is in my courtyard, in the middle of the night?"
The mystery man in the courtyard is Haman. His wife wisely advised him to wait until morning to ask the king for permission to hang Mordechai. But like Calvin and Hobbes at Christmas, Haman can't wait until morning. He is so excited about getting rid of Mordechai (the very man the king was just thinking of rewarding, mind you), that he paid no attention to the impetuousness of his actions; he was coming to the bed-chamber of the most paranoid ruler of all time, in the middle of the night. Not smart.
"It's Haman," report the servants.
This is not normal behavior for his vizier. Or is it? Haman is pretty comfortable walking wherever he pleases in the palace. He even has everyone kneeling to him. How well does Achashverosh know Haman, anyway? He was promoted with lightning speed up the ranks. He has more money and honor than anyone in the kingdom, except Achashverosh himself. It's possible that he's been sleeping with the queen, and now he feels bold enough to walk in the most security-sensitive parts of the palace whenever he wants? He is becoming far too powerful. And powerful men are rarely satisfied with what they have. How ambitious is this Haman? Could he be so bold as to want the crown? Achashverosh intends to find out.
He asks Haman the most loaded question ever.
"Haman," asks Achashverosh, "What should be done with a man upon whom the king wishes to bestow an honor?"
The question is seemingly about anyone. But Achashverosh knows Haman. He knows that Haman is so egocentric that he will assume the question is referring to him. And it's in Haman's reply that he reveals what he really wants:
"The man upon whom the king wishes to bestow an honor should be dressed in the king's clothes. He should ride on the very horse the king rode when he was crowned. In fact, he should wear the crown itself! There should be a grand parade through the streets, with the entire royal court leading this man. An honored and important minister should lead the way, shouting: 'Thus shall be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor!'"
Who would want that? If an average citizen were offered a choice between Haman's reward or money, they would take the money. Or a title, or land, or anything that will improve his station in life. But Haman is not an average citizen, and Achashverosh knows it. Who wants a parade in the king's clothes? What will that do for him? Only a man who wants to BE the king would suggest such a ludicrous reward. And now Achashverosh knows Haman's true intentions.
So he has to take him down a peg or two.
"Fantastic idea. Now go - do all that you just suggested to Mordechai. Do you know Mordechai? He's the Jew that lately has been sitting by the palace gates. You must personally dress him in my clothes, put him on my horse, and lead him around the city exactly as you said. Do it. Do it exactly as you just told me."
And so, instead of hanging Mordechai as he'd wanted, Haman dresses Mordechai in Achasverosh's royal robes, saddles Achashverosh's horse and helps Mordechai get on it. He then heralds Mordechai through the streets of Shushan yelling: "Thus shall be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor!"
When the mini-parade is over, Mordechai returns to his mourning by the palace gates. Haman sulks home.
Yesterday, he was on top of the world! He was rich, powerful, and prestigious. The king would listen to him and him alone! And on top of all that, the queen had him at one party and invited him to another, both with only royalty in attendance! How wonderful! But now the king, for whatever reason is angry. He ordered Haman around like a common servant. And to lead a parade, how humiliating! And a parade for Mordechai, no less!
He tells all of this to Zeresh, his wife. When he's done, Zeresh drops a bombshell on her husband:
"Wait, Mordechai is a Jew? If that's the case, then you have no chance of coming out on top of all this."
Before Haman has a chance to ask what she means by that, palace guards arrive at the house to physically escort Haman to the second banquet Esther's prepared.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Megillat Esther, Yoni Style (pt. 5)
Chapter 5: The Trap is Set
After three days of fasting and planning, Esther was ready. She put on her finest clothes and made herself look as beautiful as she could. And then she entered Achashverosh's throne room. Unannounced. This is in clear defiance of the king's law, which states that any unannounced visitor is to be put to death. What would the king do? Will he let her live, or will he execute her?
Achashverosh had to think this over very carefully. On the one hand, his word is law, so he must execute her. Of course, the repercussions on his reputation would be disastrous - he'll be known as the king who can't control his wives; the first one wouldn't appear when summoned, and the second one appears when she's forbidden to do so! But on the other hand, if he doesn't execute her, he'll be seen as weak. And Achashverosh cannot stand to appear to be weak. So he finds a very clever alternative that allows for him to spare Esther's life AND retain his position of power.
Achashverosh extends his scepter to Esther, indicating she is not to be executed. But why? Why does she get to evade the king's law? He makes it clear when he speaks to her:
"Esther, my queen! What can I do for you? You are the one I've chosen to rule beside me, so whatever you ask shall be granted. Even up to half the kingdom shall be yours, if you just ask it."
Why the display of magnitude? Up to now, it seems that Achashverosh would do anything to keep every bit of power to himself. So why offer to share it with Esther?
To save his own reputation. This way, Esther didn't defy his command, he let his queen be an exception to his own law. By overplaying his affection for her (if he really loved her so much, why hadn't he seen her in a month?), Achashverosh gave everyone in the throne room a plausible reason as to why Esther didn't need to be killed, while at the same time retaining his public perception as all-powerful. By offering so much, Achashverosh has turned a potential political embarrassment into another way he can appear benevolent and powerful at the same time.
But despite his clever power play, the question still plagues Achashverosh: What IS she doing here? What could make the queen risk her own life to see the king? What could possibly be so important? Esther tells him:
"If it would please His Majesty, I would like to invite the king and Haman to a private banquet I've prepared for him."
That's it? A Party? She risked her life to invite Achashverosh to a party? There must be more to it. Perhaps she wants to wait until she and the king are at the banquet, and THEN she'll let him know what she wants.
Achashverosh wants to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible. He orders Haman to be quickly summoned ad brought to the banquet Esther's prepared. Why does she want Haman there, anyway? How does Esther even know him? He'll soon find out.
Achashverosh, Esther, and Haman are all attending Esther's private party. They drink wine, eat food and probably engage in some small talk. Unable to wait for his queen to get to the point, Achashverosh gets right to it:
"Now that we're here, why don't you tell me what it is that's troubling you? Whatever you want, up to half the kingdom, I'll grant you."
At this point, Achashverosh is willing to pay a substantial amount to get to the bottom of this. Esther phrases her reply very carefully:
"My request. What I want. If His Majesty really loves me, and if His Majesty truly wants to grant my request and what I want, then let him and Haman come to a banquet I will prepare for them tomorrow. Then I will relate what it is I want from the king."
Esther's vagueness is not accidental. Her first invitation was to a party she'd prepared "for him." Him who? Achashverosh or Haman? The second invitation was to a party for "them." She knows that her king is extremely paranoid. She knows he'll spend the interim time between parties thinking about himself, his queen, and his vizier in a different light.
She hopes.
Meanwhile, Haman leaves the banquet proud as a peacock. Two exclusive parties in as many days! Just him and the Royal couple! Things could not be going better for him. But as he was leaving the palace to go home, he passed by Mordechai. And Mordechai wouldn't kneel.
Haman keeps his cool all the way home, but inside, he was fuming. When he arrives at home, he summons his family and friends for a brainstorming session. He tells them about his problem:
"I am one of the wealthiest people in the empire. The king has promoted me to the position of vizier, and I am the only one with whom he will consult on any and all matters. Today, the queen invited only me and the king to a private banquet. There will be another one tomorrow, again with only me and the king and queen in attendance. Yet, all this is meaningless. As long as Mordechai refuses to kneel before me, my power and prestige is incomplete. How can I be the most powerful man in the empire if I don't even have the respect of everyone in the palace! He's ruining everything!"
Zeresh, Haman's devoted wife, came up with a way to soothe her husband's bruised ego:
"If Mordechai is such a problem, then eliminate him. Build a special gallows, fifty amot tall, and hang him on it. Then you can proceed with your plan of wiping out his people, and advancing your position in the palace without that pesky Jew bothering you."
Leave it to a wife to know exactly what her husband wants to hear. Haman is so enthused about the idea, that he begins to build the gallows before he receives permission from the king to execute a member of court. He'll take care of that later. I mean it shouldn't be too difficult to trump up some charges against the whacko in sackcloth at the palace gates. It's a detail he can mind to later on. Right now, he's too happy just building the gallows that will solve all his problems.
After three days of fasting and planning, Esther was ready. She put on her finest clothes and made herself look as beautiful as she could. And then she entered Achashverosh's throne room. Unannounced. This is in clear defiance of the king's law, which states that any unannounced visitor is to be put to death. What would the king do? Will he let her live, or will he execute her?
Achashverosh had to think this over very carefully. On the one hand, his word is law, so he must execute her. Of course, the repercussions on his reputation would be disastrous - he'll be known as the king who can't control his wives; the first one wouldn't appear when summoned, and the second one appears when she's forbidden to do so! But on the other hand, if he doesn't execute her, he'll be seen as weak. And Achashverosh cannot stand to appear to be weak. So he finds a very clever alternative that allows for him to spare Esther's life AND retain his position of power.
Achashverosh extends his scepter to Esther, indicating she is not to be executed. But why? Why does she get to evade the king's law? He makes it clear when he speaks to her:
"Esther, my queen! What can I do for you? You are the one I've chosen to rule beside me, so whatever you ask shall be granted. Even up to half the kingdom shall be yours, if you just ask it."
Why the display of magnitude? Up to now, it seems that Achashverosh would do anything to keep every bit of power to himself. So why offer to share it with Esther?
To save his own reputation. This way, Esther didn't defy his command, he let his queen be an exception to his own law. By overplaying his affection for her (if he really loved her so much, why hadn't he seen her in a month?), Achashverosh gave everyone in the throne room a plausible reason as to why Esther didn't need to be killed, while at the same time retaining his public perception as all-powerful. By offering so much, Achashverosh has turned a potential political embarrassment into another way he can appear benevolent and powerful at the same time.
But despite his clever power play, the question still plagues Achashverosh: What IS she doing here? What could make the queen risk her own life to see the king? What could possibly be so important? Esther tells him:
"If it would please His Majesty, I would like to invite the king and Haman to a private banquet I've prepared for him."
That's it? A Party? She risked her life to invite Achashverosh to a party? There must be more to it. Perhaps she wants to wait until she and the king are at the banquet, and THEN she'll let him know what she wants.
Achashverosh wants to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible. He orders Haman to be quickly summoned ad brought to the banquet Esther's prepared. Why does she want Haman there, anyway? How does Esther even know him? He'll soon find out.
Achashverosh, Esther, and Haman are all attending Esther's private party. They drink wine, eat food and probably engage in some small talk. Unable to wait for his queen to get to the point, Achashverosh gets right to it:
"Now that we're here, why don't you tell me what it is that's troubling you? Whatever you want, up to half the kingdom, I'll grant you."
At this point, Achashverosh is willing to pay a substantial amount to get to the bottom of this. Esther phrases her reply very carefully:
"My request. What I want. If His Majesty really loves me, and if His Majesty truly wants to grant my request and what I want, then let him and Haman come to a banquet I will prepare for them tomorrow. Then I will relate what it is I want from the king."
Esther's vagueness is not accidental. Her first invitation was to a party she'd prepared "for him." Him who? Achashverosh or Haman? The second invitation was to a party for "them." She knows that her king is extremely paranoid. She knows he'll spend the interim time between parties thinking about himself, his queen, and his vizier in a different light.
She hopes.
Meanwhile, Haman leaves the banquet proud as a peacock. Two exclusive parties in as many days! Just him and the Royal couple! Things could not be going better for him. But as he was leaving the palace to go home, he passed by Mordechai. And Mordechai wouldn't kneel.
Haman keeps his cool all the way home, but inside, he was fuming. When he arrives at home, he summons his family and friends for a brainstorming session. He tells them about his problem:
"I am one of the wealthiest people in the empire. The king has promoted me to the position of vizier, and I am the only one with whom he will consult on any and all matters. Today, the queen invited only me and the king to a private banquet. There will be another one tomorrow, again with only me and the king and queen in attendance. Yet, all this is meaningless. As long as Mordechai refuses to kneel before me, my power and prestige is incomplete. How can I be the most powerful man in the empire if I don't even have the respect of everyone in the palace! He's ruining everything!"
Zeresh, Haman's devoted wife, came up with a way to soothe her husband's bruised ego:
"If Mordechai is such a problem, then eliminate him. Build a special gallows, fifty amot tall, and hang him on it. Then you can proceed with your plan of wiping out his people, and advancing your position in the palace without that pesky Jew bothering you."
Leave it to a wife to know exactly what her husband wants to hear. Haman is so enthused about the idea, that he begins to build the gallows before he receives permission from the king to execute a member of court. He'll take care of that later. I mean it shouldn't be too difficult to trump up some charges against the whacko in sackcloth at the palace gates. It's a detail he can mind to later on. Right now, he's too happy just building the gallows that will solve all his problems.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Megillat Esther, Yoni Style (pt. 4)
Chapter 4: A Little Less Conversation, a Little More Action Please
Mordechai was one of the first people to find out about Achashverosh's and Haman's plot to exterminate the Jews of Persia. When others heard about it (even other Jews), their immediate reaction was one of disbelief. After all, the president of Iran wouldn't really use the nuclear bomb they're making to destroy Israel. I mean, the king of Persia wouldn't really use the might of his army to destroy the Jews in his kingdom. Who could believe that?
Mordechai believed it.
He tore his clothes and wore sackcloth and ashes, as if he were in mourning. Then he went through the streets of Shushan, wailing and crying over the impending tragedy. He would have gone all the way to his niece in the palace, but royal protocols on palace decorum prohibit anyone, even a member of court, from entering into the palace dressed so inappropriately. So Mordechai remained by the palace gate, crying over the fate of his people. In doing so, he not only caught the attention of the passersby on the street, but word got to the queen herself.
When Esther heard that her uncle was sitting in sackcloth at the palace gates, she immediately sent a fresh outfit to him. This was the same uncle of hers that wanted to keep the fact that they were Jewish on the down-low. Now here he is, announcing to the entire capital city that he's a Jew! Esther wanted him to put on some clean clothes and remember his life-long plan. But he refused to wear it. This did not make sense to Esther. She summoned a servant appointed to her by the king, Hatach, and sent him to Mordechai to find out what exactly he was doing and why he was doing it.
Mordechai relayed to Hatach that the current situation was more important than covering up his identity, or even Esther's for that matter. He told of Haman's edict, signed by the king, to kill every Jew in the empire. He pointed out that Haman was so insistent on eradicating the Jews that he was willing to pay for the expedition himself. (The fact that he knew that detail means that he was either a scribe, and therefore present when Achashverosh and Haman were discussing this point, or he just had REALLY good connections within the palace.) As proof of his claims, Mordechai provided Hatach with a copy of the edict to show Esther that he wasn't making this up, or even exaggerating. She could read it herself, and see her husband's signet at the bottom. Along with the horrible news and the proof to back it up, Mordechai sent one other thing to his niece: a request that she go before the king and intercede on behalf of her people.
Hatach relays all Mordechai had told him to the queen. This is obviously more serious than she thought. But there was a problem. She sends word back to Mordechai:
"Achashverosh is, as you know, very paranoid. No one is allowed into any room with him unless he knows about it well in advance. Even then, if he decides you're a threat to him, he can have you killed. If he extends his scepter, everything's fine; otherwise you're dead. The problem is this: I haven't been summoned by the king for a month! I can't just walk in there! He'll kill me!"
Mordechai heard Esther's message and responded:
"You know what? You're right. You don't have to go to the king. The truth of the matter is, you can stay safe in the palace, and the Jewish people will still be saved. I don't know how many will survive or when, but we will be saved somehow. You and your family name will be forgotten in the annals of history, but the Jewish people will go on. But who knows? Maybe you can do something about this. Maybe you were meant to be queen at this very moment. Maybe you were destined to be in this very position so that it could be YOU who saves us!"
And this is when Esther comes to life. At this point, she ceases to be the passive doormat who does whatever she's told, and becomes the most dynamic and influential person in the narrative. She sends a message to Mordechai:
"Get up. Gather every Jew in Shushan. Tell them that they are all to fast on my behalf for the next three days. Never mind the fact that it's Pesach. This year, everybody fasts. My ladies-in-waiting and I will also fast for three days. At the end of the three days, I should have a good enough plan to put in place. I will go see the king despite the fact that it is against his law. I know he might kill me. I know he might rape me. I know I can be punished in ways I can't begin to imagine. But whatever happens, happens. I'll do it."
When Mordechai heard Esther's message, he sprung into action gathering everyone and following through with the queen's directives. The game, as the saying goes, was afoot.
Mordechai was one of the first people to find out about Achashverosh's and Haman's plot to exterminate the Jews of Persia. When others heard about it (even other Jews), their immediate reaction was one of disbelief. After all, the president of Iran wouldn't really use the nuclear bomb they're making to destroy Israel. I mean, the king of Persia wouldn't really use the might of his army to destroy the Jews in his kingdom. Who could believe that?
Mordechai believed it.
He tore his clothes and wore sackcloth and ashes, as if he were in mourning. Then he went through the streets of Shushan, wailing and crying over the impending tragedy. He would have gone all the way to his niece in the palace, but royal protocols on palace decorum prohibit anyone, even a member of court, from entering into the palace dressed so inappropriately. So Mordechai remained by the palace gate, crying over the fate of his people. In doing so, he not only caught the attention of the passersby on the street, but word got to the queen herself.
When Esther heard that her uncle was sitting in sackcloth at the palace gates, she immediately sent a fresh outfit to him. This was the same uncle of hers that wanted to keep the fact that they were Jewish on the down-low. Now here he is, announcing to the entire capital city that he's a Jew! Esther wanted him to put on some clean clothes and remember his life-long plan. But he refused to wear it. This did not make sense to Esther. She summoned a servant appointed to her by the king, Hatach, and sent him to Mordechai to find out what exactly he was doing and why he was doing it.
Mordechai relayed to Hatach that the current situation was more important than covering up his identity, or even Esther's for that matter. He told of Haman's edict, signed by the king, to kill every Jew in the empire. He pointed out that Haman was so insistent on eradicating the Jews that he was willing to pay for the expedition himself. (The fact that he knew that detail means that he was either a scribe, and therefore present when Achashverosh and Haman were discussing this point, or he just had REALLY good connections within the palace.) As proof of his claims, Mordechai provided Hatach with a copy of the edict to show Esther that he wasn't making this up, or even exaggerating. She could read it herself, and see her husband's signet at the bottom. Along with the horrible news and the proof to back it up, Mordechai sent one other thing to his niece: a request that she go before the king and intercede on behalf of her people.
Hatach relays all Mordechai had told him to the queen. This is obviously more serious than she thought. But there was a problem. She sends word back to Mordechai:
"Achashverosh is, as you know, very paranoid. No one is allowed into any room with him unless he knows about it well in advance. Even then, if he decides you're a threat to him, he can have you killed. If he extends his scepter, everything's fine; otherwise you're dead. The problem is this: I haven't been summoned by the king for a month! I can't just walk in there! He'll kill me!"
Mordechai heard Esther's message and responded:
"You know what? You're right. You don't have to go to the king. The truth of the matter is, you can stay safe in the palace, and the Jewish people will still be saved. I don't know how many will survive or when, but we will be saved somehow. You and your family name will be forgotten in the annals of history, but the Jewish people will go on. But who knows? Maybe you can do something about this. Maybe you were meant to be queen at this very moment. Maybe you were destined to be in this very position so that it could be YOU who saves us!"
And this is when Esther comes to life. At this point, she ceases to be the passive doormat who does whatever she's told, and becomes the most dynamic and influential person in the narrative. She sends a message to Mordechai:
"Get up. Gather every Jew in Shushan. Tell them that they are all to fast on my behalf for the next three days. Never mind the fact that it's Pesach. This year, everybody fasts. My ladies-in-waiting and I will also fast for three days. At the end of the three days, I should have a good enough plan to put in place. I will go see the king despite the fact that it is against his law. I know he might kill me. I know he might rape me. I know I can be punished in ways I can't begin to imagine. But whatever happens, happens. I'll do it."
When Mordechai heard Esther's message, he sprung into action gathering everyone and following through with the queen's directives. The game, as the saying goes, was afoot.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Megillat Esther, Yoni Style (pt. 3)
Chapter 3: The Rise of Haman
Achashverosh is not happy to find out that two of his palace guards were plotting to kill him. For a man whose sole reason for being is amassing and retaining power, this is the worst thing that could ever happen. And because of this, something changes in Achashverosh. A fundamental change that will come to be his defining characteristic throughout the rest of the narrative.
He becomes hopelessly and insanely paranoid.
His first order of business is to secure himself. Bigtan and Teresh have already been executed, but who's to say they were alone in the plot? Were they even interrogated in that regard? We don't know. And neither does Achashverosh. So he does what any paranoid ruler would do: he limits the amount of people with whom he is to come into contact to the barest minimum possible.
This is not as easy as it sounds. The throne room in ancient Persia was not like the oval office in the white house, where only tour groups and zaftig interns are allowed entry. The court was open to advisors, members of court, scribes, musicians - it was a busy place. Achashverosh sought to change all of that. He made sure that only one advisor would speak to him directly. Everyone else would have to go through that advisor. Kind of like Paulie Cicero in Goodfellas. He would handle every problem, but not directly. Everything would be handled through this one advisor. This has enormous implications for his style of government. Up to now, Achashverosh has always been surrounded by advisors, legal counsel, etc. Now the entourage of policy-shapers is all gone, and he only consults with one man.
Haman.
Who is this Haman? He wasn't mentioned as an advisor earlier, nor was he named as a legal counsellor when the king summoned them. So where did he come from? No one's sure. It could be he was an advisor under another name (some say he might have been Memuchan, the author of Achashverosh's divorce/exile edict), or he might have been the chief of palace security (who was in charge of handling the Bigtan/Teresh plot - this would actually explain why he was promoted right afterward).
Whoever he was, he has now become the second most powerful man in the empire. Not only is he the go-between for the king to everyone else, essentially making him the king's eyes, ears, and voice, but he is to be treated like the king as well: all must kneel before Haman as they would kneel before Zod. I mean, Achashverosh.
But Mordechai will not kneel.
Why not? The truth is, that according to Jewish law, there's no reason why a Jew can't kneel to a king if that is the custom of the land. So what's Mordechai's problem? Honestly, he'd better have a good reason for not kneeling because this could turn into a huge problem for himself (and the entire Jewish population? Probably.).
To understand why Mordechai wouldn't kneel, we have to understand something about what it means to be a Jew. Being a Jew is not just about being born a Jew or converting. Well, it's about that, but it's also about more than that. It's more than just an adherence to God's commandments as understood through the Rabbis. Well, it's that too, but it goes beyond that. It includes a philosophy of life that teaches very important ethical and moral truths. One of those truths is the concept of social and governmental justice. Every single one of the Jewish prophets has had the same mission: to show the people and their leaders that they've veered from the right path, and show them how they can mend their ways. Many times, this message is not directed at the masses, but to the kings themselves. The point is that everyone is accountable to the Law; tyranny is unacceptable to a Jew.
And that's what bothers Mordechai.
Even though Achashverosh wasn't the best ruler in the world, at least he had advisors surrounding him at all times. This way, even though his natural tendency was to tyranny and megalomania, his advisors would offer other opinions, balancing him out. It wasn't a perfect government, but it wasn't that bad either. But now that's gone. In it's place is a system in which Achashverosh and Haman are the only ones who can decide anything in the government. It's a system of tyranny.
So it's not that that Mordechai WILL not kneel to Haman; as a Jew, he CANNOT kneel to tyranny.
And so when other members of court approach Mordechai, asking him "Why do you refuse to kneel to Haman?" he answers with the short, yet to-the-point answer: "I'm a Jew." That is why when word of this insolence reaches Haman, his reaction is not directed against Mordechai alone. He decides he must act out against the entire Jewish people. Why? How does that make any sense?
Haman, as we will see, is as power-obsessed as Achashverosh. So when he hears that a single person won't kneel to him, he could easily have that person killed. But as soon as he hears that the reason this man won't kneel is because he's a member of a people that doesn't allow for kneeling to him, and that other members of this people are to be found spread throughout the empire, he cannot handle it. A whole segment of the population not kneeling? Sure they're a minority, but this kind of insurrection can easily spread. So Haman decides to take a more proactive approach and wipe them all out before they can become a real problem.
Seeing as how he is nearly all-powerful in the kingdom, he assumes that this genocide will go off without a hitch. I mean, he'll have to get permission from the king, but that's basically a formality as far as Haman is concerned. What he'd like to do, though, is to decide when the massacre will take place, so he can have a more detailed plan to present to Achashverosh. How can he choose an appropriate date?
He draws lots.
Through the lots, he chooses which day and month the annihilation of the Jews will take place. When it is all done, he goes to the king to present his plan. And he doesn't just blurt it out any ol' way. He crafts his words in such a way that he knows Achashverosh will agree. He knows Achashverosh is extremely paranoid, and he uses that to make sure the king will "ok" the plan. He suggests the following:
"There is a nation, spread the length and width of your kingdom, intermingled throughout the entire population. This nation has it's own set of laws, different than those of most of your subjects. Furthermore, they don't respect the king's own laws. Seeing as how they are so subversive, and so potentially persuasive to the rest of the population, it is not in the best interests of the king to allow them to continue their seditious ways. They should be exterminated. With extreme prejudice. As for the money needed to carry out this royal military act, I'll see to it that it is funded privately."
After hearing Haman's suggestion (and so craftily phrased, at that), Ahchashverosh is more than happy to agree to the plan. He removes his royal signet ring and hands it over to Haman. This essentially grants Haman the power to do anything in the king's name. But he has one addendum to Haman's plan:
"If this operation to exterminate the Jewish population in the empire is in the best interests of the crown, then it should be financed by the crown."
Thus, Achashverosh and Haman became partners in an undertaking that would see the entire Persian empire rid of its Jews on the 13th day of Adar, exactly 11 months from the day the partnership was made. Letters were written in every language of the realm, and sent to every part of each of the 127 provinces, informing everyone that on the 13th of Adar, all Jewish men, women, and children were to be wiped out, and their properties and posessions were forfeit.
So now Haman can solve his real problem of Mordechai not kneeling, and Achashverosh can solve his delusional problem of a Jewish-based uprising. And the best part is, Jews get to be killed (and who doesn't love that?)! Everybody wins! To celebrate this partnership, Achashverosh and Haman dine at a private banquet together.
But there was unrest in Shushan...
Achashverosh is not happy to find out that two of his palace guards were plotting to kill him. For a man whose sole reason for being is amassing and retaining power, this is the worst thing that could ever happen. And because of this, something changes in Achashverosh. A fundamental change that will come to be his defining characteristic throughout the rest of the narrative.
He becomes hopelessly and insanely paranoid.
His first order of business is to secure himself. Bigtan and Teresh have already been executed, but who's to say they were alone in the plot? Were they even interrogated in that regard? We don't know. And neither does Achashverosh. So he does what any paranoid ruler would do: he limits the amount of people with whom he is to come into contact to the barest minimum possible.
This is not as easy as it sounds. The throne room in ancient Persia was not like the oval office in the white house, where only tour groups and zaftig interns are allowed entry. The court was open to advisors, members of court, scribes, musicians - it was a busy place. Achashverosh sought to change all of that. He made sure that only one advisor would speak to him directly. Everyone else would have to go through that advisor. Kind of like Paulie Cicero in Goodfellas. He would handle every problem, but not directly. Everything would be handled through this one advisor. This has enormous implications for his style of government. Up to now, Achashverosh has always been surrounded by advisors, legal counsel, etc. Now the entourage of policy-shapers is all gone, and he only consults with one man.
Haman.
Who is this Haman? He wasn't mentioned as an advisor earlier, nor was he named as a legal counsellor when the king summoned them. So where did he come from? No one's sure. It could be he was an advisor under another name (some say he might have been Memuchan, the author of Achashverosh's divorce/exile edict), or he might have been the chief of palace security (who was in charge of handling the Bigtan/Teresh plot - this would actually explain why he was promoted right afterward).
Whoever he was, he has now become the second most powerful man in the empire. Not only is he the go-between for the king to everyone else, essentially making him the king's eyes, ears, and voice, but he is to be treated like the king as well: all must kneel before Haman as they would kneel before Zod. I mean, Achashverosh.
But Mordechai will not kneel.
Why not? The truth is, that according to Jewish law, there's no reason why a Jew can't kneel to a king if that is the custom of the land. So what's Mordechai's problem? Honestly, he'd better have a good reason for not kneeling because this could turn into a huge problem for himself (and the entire Jewish population? Probably.).
To understand why Mordechai wouldn't kneel, we have to understand something about what it means to be a Jew. Being a Jew is not just about being born a Jew or converting. Well, it's about that, but it's also about more than that. It's more than just an adherence to God's commandments as understood through the Rabbis. Well, it's that too, but it goes beyond that. It includes a philosophy of life that teaches very important ethical and moral truths. One of those truths is the concept of social and governmental justice. Every single one of the Jewish prophets has had the same mission: to show the people and their leaders that they've veered from the right path, and show them how they can mend their ways. Many times, this message is not directed at the masses, but to the kings themselves. The point is that everyone is accountable to the Law; tyranny is unacceptable to a Jew.
And that's what bothers Mordechai.
Even though Achashverosh wasn't the best ruler in the world, at least he had advisors surrounding him at all times. This way, even though his natural tendency was to tyranny and megalomania, his advisors would offer other opinions, balancing him out. It wasn't a perfect government, but it wasn't that bad either. But now that's gone. In it's place is a system in which Achashverosh and Haman are the only ones who can decide anything in the government. It's a system of tyranny.
So it's not that that Mordechai WILL not kneel to Haman; as a Jew, he CANNOT kneel to tyranny.
And so when other members of court approach Mordechai, asking him "Why do you refuse to kneel to Haman?" he answers with the short, yet to-the-point answer: "I'm a Jew." That is why when word of this insolence reaches Haman, his reaction is not directed against Mordechai alone. He decides he must act out against the entire Jewish people. Why? How does that make any sense?
Haman, as we will see, is as power-obsessed as Achashverosh. So when he hears that a single person won't kneel to him, he could easily have that person killed. But as soon as he hears that the reason this man won't kneel is because he's a member of a people that doesn't allow for kneeling to him, and that other members of this people are to be found spread throughout the empire, he cannot handle it. A whole segment of the population not kneeling? Sure they're a minority, but this kind of insurrection can easily spread. So Haman decides to take a more proactive approach and wipe them all out before they can become a real problem.
Seeing as how he is nearly all-powerful in the kingdom, he assumes that this genocide will go off without a hitch. I mean, he'll have to get permission from the king, but that's basically a formality as far as Haman is concerned. What he'd like to do, though, is to decide when the massacre will take place, so he can have a more detailed plan to present to Achashverosh. How can he choose an appropriate date?
He draws lots.
Through the lots, he chooses which day and month the annihilation of the Jews will take place. When it is all done, he goes to the king to present his plan. And he doesn't just blurt it out any ol' way. He crafts his words in such a way that he knows Achashverosh will agree. He knows Achashverosh is extremely paranoid, and he uses that to make sure the king will "ok" the plan. He suggests the following:
"There is a nation, spread the length and width of your kingdom, intermingled throughout the entire population. This nation has it's own set of laws, different than those of most of your subjects. Furthermore, they don't respect the king's own laws. Seeing as how they are so subversive, and so potentially persuasive to the rest of the population, it is not in the best interests of the king to allow them to continue their seditious ways. They should be exterminated. With extreme prejudice. As for the money needed to carry out this royal military act, I'll see to it that it is funded privately."
After hearing Haman's suggestion (and so craftily phrased, at that), Ahchashverosh is more than happy to agree to the plan. He removes his royal signet ring and hands it over to Haman. This essentially grants Haman the power to do anything in the king's name. But he has one addendum to Haman's plan:
"If this operation to exterminate the Jewish population in the empire is in the best interests of the crown, then it should be financed by the crown."
Thus, Achashverosh and Haman became partners in an undertaking that would see the entire Persian empire rid of its Jews on the 13th day of Adar, exactly 11 months from the day the partnership was made. Letters were written in every language of the realm, and sent to every part of each of the 127 provinces, informing everyone that on the 13th of Adar, all Jewish men, women, and children were to be wiped out, and their properties and posessions were forfeit.
So now Haman can solve his real problem of Mordechai not kneeling, and Achashverosh can solve his delusional problem of a Jewish-based uprising. And the best part is, Jews get to be killed (and who doesn't love that?)! Everybody wins! To celebrate this partnership, Achashverosh and Haman dine at a private banquet together.
But there was unrest in Shushan...
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Megillat Esther, Yoni Style (Pt. 2)
Chapter 2: Meet the Jews
It's years later, and Achashverosh wants a new queen. But he doesn't want another Vashti, that's for sure. He wants a woman with whom he can share his throne, but one who understands that HE has all the power. How can this be done?
His advisors come up with a plan that is as brilliant and effective as it is perverse and horrible. Women will be chosen for their physical attributes first and foremost. Only the most beautiful women will be considered for the king. After the royal eunuchs deem the girl beautiful enough, she will be allowed to go through a rigorous year-long spa treatment to make her suitable for the king's bed. It's a given that every one of these women be a virgin, so the king will have no competition in the girls' mind. After the king has had his way with each woman, he will decide if she is worthy. If so, she will be the next queen; if not, she is to remain in the women's court (read: harem) for the rest of her life. If and when Achashverosh ever wants to sleep with her again, he will send for her; otherwise Sheshgaz the eunuch will be her only male companion for the rest of her life. If the definition of rape is to dominate the victim through sex, then this plan will ensure that Achashverosh will be the greatest serial rapist of all time. This government-sponsored rape contest guarantees that the only man these women will ever know is the king, and he decides when, where, and how any sexual encounter is to take place. An ideal situation for a man like Achashverosh, who needs to be in control of everything.
Meanwhile, there is a Judean man living in Shushan named Mordechai (a descendant of Kish, a Benjaminite) who was exiled along with Nevuchadnetzar's exile of King Yechonia from Yerushalayim. While living in the capital, he keeps his eyes and ears open by staying in or near the royal court (whether he does this as an advisor, or courtier, or scribe is unclear). But as Jews in exile have done before and after him, he tries to maintain a relatively low profile so as not to incite any anti-Semitism. He's been raising his orphan niece, Hadassah, to do the same. In fact, in her case he goes a bit further: he changes her Hebrew name to a Persian one, Esther.
When word of Achashverosh's "pageant" came to Mordechai, he probably did what he could to make sure Esther would not be taken. But try as he might, she was taken with all the other maidens to Hegai, the eunuch in charge of preparing virgins for the king's consumption. As a precautionary measure, Mordechai instructs Esther to keep a low profile. "Don't tell anyone where you're from," he tells her, "under any circumstances. Not even the king may know your origins." His fear may have been that something might go wrong and the entire Jewish population might suffer as a result. Whatever his reasons, Esther obeys her uncle.
Hegai sees women all day long. Each one beautiful enough to be a queen in her own way. But usually, there are two types of girls he prepares for the king: The first are the girls who want to be queen at any cost. These girls will do anything to reach their goal, and Hegai is there as a tool for them to use, nothing more. The other type of girl is the kind that does not want to be there at all. These girls were taken against their will, and see their beauty as a curse. To them, Hegai is a warden, and go through his spa treatments and make-overs like women carrying out their sentence in prison.
And then Esther shows up.
Like a breath of fresh air, Esther brings a different kind of feeling to Hegai's preparation chambers. She doesn't bemoan her fate like some of the girls, but she doesn't seem all that interested in becoming the queen either. She seems content to be right where she is. What a delight for Hegai! Someone who actually likes being in his care with no hidden agenda of advancement! When Hegai sees this, he immediately warms up to Esther, giving her the best accommodations, oils, perfumes, and cosmetics. He also provides her with ladies-in-waiting, as if she were already queen.
And this is where Esther really sets herself apart from the rest.
When Hegai would offer any of the gifts mentioned to the first category of girl, they would either ignore him and take what they wanted, or they would take it the way a mistress takes a servant's advice. When he would offer it to the second type, they would either meekly take it out of fear of reprisal, or they would refuse because they didn't want to appeal to the king at all. Little did any of these women know that Hegai was an Achashverosh expert. He knew precisely what the king liked, and advised each girl accordingly. If only they'd take his advise as the expert he was, they'd each have a better chance of being queen.
And that is exactly what Esther does.
Esther accepts whatever Hegai gives her, no more and no less. And she doesn't take it as she would lashes of the whip, rather she genuinely wants it because he knows what would make her look best. She is a woman who has her own will, but is willing to bend it to authority.
If that's not a girl tailor made for Achashverosh, then Hegai doesn't know who is.
He advances her up the line to her "audition" with the king, and the qualities he sees in her do not go unnoticed by the king. A woman who will be herself, different from all the other millions of subjects under Achashverosh's command, yet willing to be subservient to his authority. She's perfect! How could he not fall in love?
And so, after years of searching, Achashverosh pronounces Esther to be his queen to reign beside him over the entire Persian empire. He marries her, and sends away all the girls left in Hegai's care (kind of like when Mr. Banks dismissed the left-over nanny applicants in Mary Poppins) so Esther wouldn't think she has any fear of losing to anyone better suited to be queen. He even declares a holiday in her honor, The Feast of Esther, and reduces taxes across the kingdom, so the masses will love her as well.
And that's that. Sounds like a storybook ending: The common girl marries the king and lives happily ever after. Kind of like a warped version of The Princess Bride, if Buttercup married Humperdink.
But the story is just getting started.
Oh, by the way - for those of you who like foreshadowing, here's a nice little anecdote:
Mordechai was at court one day, when he overheard two palace guards - Bigtan and Teresh - plotting to kill Achashverosh. Mordechai immediately went to his niece, the queen (which he did daily), and told her what he'd heard. The matter was looked into, and the two guards were quickly (too quickly?) executed for their plot. The matter was recorded in the king's log of daily events, but no awards were issued.
Strange, huh? I wonder if this seemingly unrelated event will play some part in the storyline later on...
It's years later, and Achashverosh wants a new queen. But he doesn't want another Vashti, that's for sure. He wants a woman with whom he can share his throne, but one who understands that HE has all the power. How can this be done?
His advisors come up with a plan that is as brilliant and effective as it is perverse and horrible. Women will be chosen for their physical attributes first and foremost. Only the most beautiful women will be considered for the king. After the royal eunuchs deem the girl beautiful enough, she will be allowed to go through a rigorous year-long spa treatment to make her suitable for the king's bed. It's a given that every one of these women be a virgin, so the king will have no competition in the girls' mind. After the king has had his way with each woman, he will decide if she is worthy. If so, she will be the next queen; if not, she is to remain in the women's court (read: harem) for the rest of her life. If and when Achashverosh ever wants to sleep with her again, he will send for her; otherwise Sheshgaz the eunuch will be her only male companion for the rest of her life. If the definition of rape is to dominate the victim through sex, then this plan will ensure that Achashverosh will be the greatest serial rapist of all time. This government-sponsored rape contest guarantees that the only man these women will ever know is the king, and he decides when, where, and how any sexual encounter is to take place. An ideal situation for a man like Achashverosh, who needs to be in control of everything.
Meanwhile, there is a Judean man living in Shushan named Mordechai (a descendant of Kish, a Benjaminite) who was exiled along with Nevuchadnetzar's exile of King Yechonia from Yerushalayim. While living in the capital, he keeps his eyes and ears open by staying in or near the royal court (whether he does this as an advisor, or courtier, or scribe is unclear). But as Jews in exile have done before and after him, he tries to maintain a relatively low profile so as not to incite any anti-Semitism. He's been raising his orphan niece, Hadassah, to do the same. In fact, in her case he goes a bit further: he changes her Hebrew name to a Persian one, Esther.
When word of Achashverosh's "pageant" came to Mordechai, he probably did what he could to make sure Esther would not be taken. But try as he might, she was taken with all the other maidens to Hegai, the eunuch in charge of preparing virgins for the king's consumption. As a precautionary measure, Mordechai instructs Esther to keep a low profile. "Don't tell anyone where you're from," he tells her, "under any circumstances. Not even the king may know your origins." His fear may have been that something might go wrong and the entire Jewish population might suffer as a result. Whatever his reasons, Esther obeys her uncle.
Hegai sees women all day long. Each one beautiful enough to be a queen in her own way. But usually, there are two types of girls he prepares for the king: The first are the girls who want to be queen at any cost. These girls will do anything to reach their goal, and Hegai is there as a tool for them to use, nothing more. The other type of girl is the kind that does not want to be there at all. These girls were taken against their will, and see their beauty as a curse. To them, Hegai is a warden, and go through his spa treatments and make-overs like women carrying out their sentence in prison.
And then Esther shows up.
Like a breath of fresh air, Esther brings a different kind of feeling to Hegai's preparation chambers. She doesn't bemoan her fate like some of the girls, but she doesn't seem all that interested in becoming the queen either. She seems content to be right where she is. What a delight for Hegai! Someone who actually likes being in his care with no hidden agenda of advancement! When Hegai sees this, he immediately warms up to Esther, giving her the best accommodations, oils, perfumes, and cosmetics. He also provides her with ladies-in-waiting, as if she were already queen.
And this is where Esther really sets herself apart from the rest.
When Hegai would offer any of the gifts mentioned to the first category of girl, they would either ignore him and take what they wanted, or they would take it the way a mistress takes a servant's advice. When he would offer it to the second type, they would either meekly take it out of fear of reprisal, or they would refuse because they didn't want to appeal to the king at all. Little did any of these women know that Hegai was an Achashverosh expert. He knew precisely what the king liked, and advised each girl accordingly. If only they'd take his advise as the expert he was, they'd each have a better chance of being queen.
And that is exactly what Esther does.
Esther accepts whatever Hegai gives her, no more and no less. And she doesn't take it as she would lashes of the whip, rather she genuinely wants it because he knows what would make her look best. She is a woman who has her own will, but is willing to bend it to authority.
If that's not a girl tailor made for Achashverosh, then Hegai doesn't know who is.
He advances her up the line to her "audition" with the king, and the qualities he sees in her do not go unnoticed by the king. A woman who will be herself, different from all the other millions of subjects under Achashverosh's command, yet willing to be subservient to his authority. She's perfect! How could he not fall in love?
And so, after years of searching, Achashverosh pronounces Esther to be his queen to reign beside him over the entire Persian empire. He marries her, and sends away all the girls left in Hegai's care (kind of like when Mr. Banks dismissed the left-over nanny applicants in Mary Poppins) so Esther wouldn't think she has any fear of losing to anyone better suited to be queen. He even declares a holiday in her honor, The Feast of Esther, and reduces taxes across the kingdom, so the masses will love her as well.
And that's that. Sounds like a storybook ending: The common girl marries the king and lives happily ever after. Kind of like a warped version of The Princess Bride, if Buttercup married Humperdink.
But the story is just getting started.
Oh, by the way - for those of you who like foreshadowing, here's a nice little anecdote:
Mordechai was at court one day, when he overheard two palace guards - Bigtan and Teresh - plotting to kill Achashverosh. Mordechai immediately went to his niece, the queen (which he did daily), and told her what he'd heard. The matter was looked into, and the two guards were quickly (too quickly?) executed for their plot. The matter was recorded in the king's log of daily events, but no awards were issued.
Strange, huh? I wonder if this seemingly unrelated event will play some part in the storyline later on...
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Megillat Esther, Yoni style
Chapter 1: It's Good to Be the King
Achashverosh wasn't born into royalty; he didn't become king because his father or some other relative was king before him. He became king on his own. Consider that for a moment. This is no small thing. To become a king on one's own means that you've got to be ambitious, wealthy, charismatic and bold; you must be all these things moreso than everyone else around you. You also have to be able to climb above everyone and everything in your path; it takes a clarity of direction and dedication that few people have. Again, no small thing.
But he did it. He rose from the lowest of stations (some say a stable-boy) to the ruler of an empire. The natural reaction of everyone around him - courtiers, advisors, subjects, etc.- would be to question his legitimacy to the throne. "Who is this guy, and why should I accept him as my king? What's he done? He rose to power quickly, he could just as quickly fall." So what can an Achashverosh do? How can he quiet those who question his position on the throne?
Marry royalty.
This is exactly what he does. He marries Vashti, a direct descendant of the great and terrible king Nevuchadnetzar. By marrying her, he immediately silenced all questions that would get in the way of his meteoric rise to power. But in doing so, he's trapped himself in a paradox.
On the one hand, as someone who did NOT inherit his throne, Achashverosh wanted to set himself apart from all the kings before him. He wanted everyone to appreciate him as king based on HIS accomplishments, not based on the long and storied past he replaced. But by marrying Vashti to legitimize his position, he's lined himself up, as it were, in the very same hereditary line of kings from which he was trying to distance himself. So what can he do now? What can he do to uniquely express himself now that he's another link in the chain?
A lot.
The first thing he does is transfer the seat of power. All the kings before him had ruled from Bavel. It's where the empire started, and it was where the dynasty had flourished. But Achashverosh needed to distance himself from that dynasty. So in a stunning move, he relocates the capital city from the Babylonian city of Bavel to the Persian city of Shushan.
The next thing he does is an even more brilliant move to consolidate his power. He declares a party in his honor. Not a long weekend or even a month-long celebration will do. For his inauguration bash, he has one hundred eighty days of revelry. Six full months for the whole empire to celebrate the majesty that is their king. And who picks up the tab for all this? He does. Sure, it's the taxpayers' own money, but they don't think that way. As far as the average citizen is concerned, the king himself is paying for everything. He will use their own money for half a year of drinking, singing, dancing, and debauchery...and they will love him for it.
As for the invitations to this shindig, he intentionally snubs the nobles and princes of the old regime in favor of the men of rank that he's appointed. The message is crystal clear: Achashverosh decides who is important in the world. He dictates rank, inherited titles are worthless.
Politically, Achashverosh has played this out perfectly. In the eyes of the nobility, he has shown that they live their lives of comfort and luxury thanks only to his whims. If he so desires, he can strip them of their precious rank and title. And as for the common man, he's the king that gave him the best party anyone can ever remember, so they love him. So he's done, right? He can just sit back and rest on his laurels at this point, right?
Wrong. He has one more master stroke left to play.
After six full months of rousing celebration, he issues a decree for another party. This time, it's just for the people of Shushan. His new capital is to be set apart from all other cities in the empire. Bavel is no longer relevant. Shushan stands alone because Achashverosh has deemed it so. And not only is the whole city invited, but each person is granted access to the palace itself for the entire week the party is to last. Nobles, princes, and governors alongside commoners, citizens, and the rabble - all are equal under the mighty rule of Achashverosh.
But then a small problem arises. Vashti wants a party of her own.
This is not good for Achashverosh's plans. If Vashti has her own party, then everyone will think that she and her husband are on equal ground, exactly what Achashverosh was trying to avoid. What can he do? He can play another brilliant political stroke, that's what he can do.
Vashti can have her party, but not in the palace. She is restricted to the queen's residence, and her guest list is restricted to women only. Not a very respectable situation for the granddaughter of an emperor, and certainly not what she had planned. Vashti is not pleased with this.
As the week-long celebration comes to an end, Achashverosh wants to finish it all off with one last show of power. One last way to distinguish himself from his wife's family's dynasty and show himself to be greater than they ever were. He sends for his wife. He doesn't ask her to join him. He sends for her. Like he would send for his chambermaid. And for what? To show off her beauty. The point is very clear: he wants everyone to know that she's a trophy wife, married for her looks and nothing more. Again, Vashti is not pleased. And she shows it with her answer.
She clearly and publicly refuses to obey the king.
All of Achashverosh's plans and schemes and maneuvers to consolidate and demonstrate his uncontested power have been dashed in one curt response from his wife. His entire delicate house of cards he'd been building had come crashing down around him. She has brought him down from his untouchable seat of power to one who is answerable to his wife.
Immediately, he summons his advisors (who were apparently always close at hand) to consult on the issue. He presents it something like this:
"The queen has disobeyed the king. What shall be done with her?"
If ever there was a loaded question, this is it. He clearly wants to quietly and quickly execute Vashti for disobedience and have the whole matter put behind him. And if he ruled alone, that's what would have happened. But since he genuinely wants to give off the impression of a fair and balanced ruler, he must consult with his advisors. And it's a good thing he did.
Memuchan, an advisor to the throne, sees things slightly differently. He understands that Achashverosh is a power-hungry king and he finds a solution that will not only put the matter behind them, but do it in a way that will make Achashverosh's power increase. His plan goes something like this:
"Vashti has disobeyed the king over the very small matter of appearing before him. If word of this gets out, women across the empire will begin to disobey their husbands. The reasoning being 'Vashti refused the king over a small matter, my husband is no king, so I can certainly refuse him as well.' Luckily, as it is now, only the people in the palace know of the circumstances that occurred. Instead of hushing it up, thereby allowing the truth to seep out to the far corners of the empire as all rumors do, the opposite should be done. Make it public knowledge that the queen has upset the king. Don't say what she did, just let everyone know that the king is angry with Vashti. And her punishment? Don't kill her like a petulant tyrant; banish her. Her punishment should be the stripping of her rank as queen and her banishment from the face of the king for all time. This way, not only will she NOT be a martyr to the case of women's rights, but the entire kingdom will know that the king has the controlling power, not Vashti. Let everyone know that king Achashverosh is the ruler of this realm, and no one else."
Achashverosh loves it. Not only does he send this message to every corner of the empire, but he repeals the standing order that all royal correspondence be in the king's language and sends it in every spoken and read language in the kingdom. This way, there is no room for confusion: Vashti may no longer appear before the king because she had incurred his anger (no mention is made of the fact that she didn't want to see him in the first place). As an addendum, the king adds that every man is the master in his own house. In those times it was a given, but every man reading it would appreciate seeing it in a royal edict and will love Achashverosh even more.
As the first chapter of the megilla closes, Achashverosh is the uncontested, unquestioned, all-powerful ruler of 127 provinces in the Persian empire, and everyone either loves him or fears him. Not a bad situation for a guy who started out as a stable boy.
Achashverosh wasn't born into royalty; he didn't become king because his father or some other relative was king before him. He became king on his own. Consider that for a moment. This is no small thing. To become a king on one's own means that you've got to be ambitious, wealthy, charismatic and bold; you must be all these things moreso than everyone else around you. You also have to be able to climb above everyone and everything in your path; it takes a clarity of direction and dedication that few people have. Again, no small thing.
But he did it. He rose from the lowest of stations (some say a stable-boy) to the ruler of an empire. The natural reaction of everyone around him - courtiers, advisors, subjects, etc.- would be to question his legitimacy to the throne. "Who is this guy, and why should I accept him as my king? What's he done? He rose to power quickly, he could just as quickly fall." So what can an Achashverosh do? How can he quiet those who question his position on the throne?
Marry royalty.
This is exactly what he does. He marries Vashti, a direct descendant of the great and terrible king Nevuchadnetzar. By marrying her, he immediately silenced all questions that would get in the way of his meteoric rise to power. But in doing so, he's trapped himself in a paradox.
On the one hand, as someone who did NOT inherit his throne, Achashverosh wanted to set himself apart from all the kings before him. He wanted everyone to appreciate him as king based on HIS accomplishments, not based on the long and storied past he replaced. But by marrying Vashti to legitimize his position, he's lined himself up, as it were, in the very same hereditary line of kings from which he was trying to distance himself. So what can he do now? What can he do to uniquely express himself now that he's another link in the chain?
A lot.
The first thing he does is transfer the seat of power. All the kings before him had ruled from Bavel. It's where the empire started, and it was where the dynasty had flourished. But Achashverosh needed to distance himself from that dynasty. So in a stunning move, he relocates the capital city from the Babylonian city of Bavel to the Persian city of Shushan.
The next thing he does is an even more brilliant move to consolidate his power. He declares a party in his honor. Not a long weekend or even a month-long celebration will do. For his inauguration bash, he has one hundred eighty days of revelry. Six full months for the whole empire to celebrate the majesty that is their king. And who picks up the tab for all this? He does. Sure, it's the taxpayers' own money, but they don't think that way. As far as the average citizen is concerned, the king himself is paying for everything. He will use their own money for half a year of drinking, singing, dancing, and debauchery...and they will love him for it.
As for the invitations to this shindig, he intentionally snubs the nobles and princes of the old regime in favor of the men of rank that he's appointed. The message is crystal clear: Achashverosh decides who is important in the world. He dictates rank, inherited titles are worthless.
Politically, Achashverosh has played this out perfectly. In the eyes of the nobility, he has shown that they live their lives of comfort and luxury thanks only to his whims. If he so desires, he can strip them of their precious rank and title. And as for the common man, he's the king that gave him the best party anyone can ever remember, so they love him. So he's done, right? He can just sit back and rest on his laurels at this point, right?
Wrong. He has one more master stroke left to play.
After six full months of rousing celebration, he issues a decree for another party. This time, it's just for the people of Shushan. His new capital is to be set apart from all other cities in the empire. Bavel is no longer relevant. Shushan stands alone because Achashverosh has deemed it so. And not only is the whole city invited, but each person is granted access to the palace itself for the entire week the party is to last. Nobles, princes, and governors alongside commoners, citizens, and the rabble - all are equal under the mighty rule of Achashverosh.
But then a small problem arises. Vashti wants a party of her own.
This is not good for Achashverosh's plans. If Vashti has her own party, then everyone will think that she and her husband are on equal ground, exactly what Achashverosh was trying to avoid. What can he do? He can play another brilliant political stroke, that's what he can do.
Vashti can have her party, but not in the palace. She is restricted to the queen's residence, and her guest list is restricted to women only. Not a very respectable situation for the granddaughter of an emperor, and certainly not what she had planned. Vashti is not pleased with this.
As the week-long celebration comes to an end, Achashverosh wants to finish it all off with one last show of power. One last way to distinguish himself from his wife's family's dynasty and show himself to be greater than they ever were. He sends for his wife. He doesn't ask her to join him. He sends for her. Like he would send for his chambermaid. And for what? To show off her beauty. The point is very clear: he wants everyone to know that she's a trophy wife, married for her looks and nothing more. Again, Vashti is not pleased. And she shows it with her answer.
She clearly and publicly refuses to obey the king.
All of Achashverosh's plans and schemes and maneuvers to consolidate and demonstrate his uncontested power have been dashed in one curt response from his wife. His entire delicate house of cards he'd been building had come crashing down around him. She has brought him down from his untouchable seat of power to one who is answerable to his wife.
Immediately, he summons his advisors (who were apparently always close at hand) to consult on the issue. He presents it something like this:
"The queen has disobeyed the king. What shall be done with her?"
If ever there was a loaded question, this is it. He clearly wants to quietly and quickly execute Vashti for disobedience and have the whole matter put behind him. And if he ruled alone, that's what would have happened. But since he genuinely wants to give off the impression of a fair and balanced ruler, he must consult with his advisors. And it's a good thing he did.
Memuchan, an advisor to the throne, sees things slightly differently. He understands that Achashverosh is a power-hungry king and he finds a solution that will not only put the matter behind them, but do it in a way that will make Achashverosh's power increase. His plan goes something like this:
"Vashti has disobeyed the king over the very small matter of appearing before him. If word of this gets out, women across the empire will begin to disobey their husbands. The reasoning being 'Vashti refused the king over a small matter, my husband is no king, so I can certainly refuse him as well.' Luckily, as it is now, only the people in the palace know of the circumstances that occurred. Instead of hushing it up, thereby allowing the truth to seep out to the far corners of the empire as all rumors do, the opposite should be done. Make it public knowledge that the queen has upset the king. Don't say what she did, just let everyone know that the king is angry with Vashti. And her punishment? Don't kill her like a petulant tyrant; banish her. Her punishment should be the stripping of her rank as queen and her banishment from the face of the king for all time. This way, not only will she NOT be a martyr to the case of women's rights, but the entire kingdom will know that the king has the controlling power, not Vashti. Let everyone know that king Achashverosh is the ruler of this realm, and no one else."
Achashverosh loves it. Not only does he send this message to every corner of the empire, but he repeals the standing order that all royal correspondence be in the king's language and sends it in every spoken and read language in the kingdom. This way, there is no room for confusion: Vashti may no longer appear before the king because she had incurred his anger (no mention is made of the fact that she didn't want to see him in the first place). As an addendum, the king adds that every man is the master in his own house. In those times it was a given, but every man reading it would appreciate seeing it in a royal edict and will love Achashverosh even more.
As the first chapter of the megilla closes, Achashverosh is the uncontested, unquestioned, all-powerful ruler of 127 provinces in the Persian empire, and everyone either loves him or fears him. Not a bad situation for a guy who started out as a stable boy.
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