Simple explanation of purim story?

amother

Tue, Mar 10 2020, 8:53 am

1. Why didn't mordechai bow down to Haman? It seems he was the only person who refused and literally almost caused the entire Jewish population to be killed out. I'd imagine if there was imamother back then we'd be bashing mordechai. Imagine the talk on the street in between the time of the decree and when it was intended to be carried out. I would think mordechai didn't have many friends.

2. When Esther told achashvairosh about Haman's plot to kill the Jews, why couldn't haman tell the king that he didn't know the queen was a jew? Seems reasonable. The king himself signed off on killing ty he Jews for the very same reason- he wasn't aware the queen was a jew.

avrahamama

Tue, Mar 10 2020, 9:21 am

1. There are several reasons given. One reason is that Haman had an idol around his neck. Another reason is that years earlier Haman and Mirdechai were both generals in army. Haman used up all his supplies and asked for supplies from Mordechai. Haman sold himself as a slave to mordechai in exchange for more supplies. The most important reason to me however, is that Mordechai was making a true Kiddush Hashem. He was making a statement that he only bows or gives any chashivut to Hashem. Mordechai was a tzaddik and a member of Sanhedrin he had his chasidim and he had those that didn't agree with him. At the end. His dveikut to Hashem and his dedication to true ahavat Yisrael is what gave him and Esther the zechut to save us all. They are the last story in the tanach and they open up Torah sheh Baal peh for us.

avrahamama

Tue, Mar 10 2020, 9:24 am

2. Sources say the king wanted to be rid of Haman anyway. It was clear to him that Haman was trying to take the crown. And he was happy to find a way to do away with him. There are other reasons but that's all I can share for now

amother

Natural

Tue, Mar 10 2020, 12:22 pm

When Esther invited Haman to the mishteh with Achashveirosh, Achashveirosh was suspicious of both of them. In the end, she made it clear that her part in it was only in order to save her people, but Achashveirosh still suspected Haman, and Haman's own behavior did nothing to reassure Achashveirosh.

PinkFridge

Tue, Mar 10 2020, 1:33 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Re 2, good question. But once Haman was in a comprising position, it was too late for anything.

Re 1, yes, we can all imagine the askanim telling us that it was important politically to go to the party, bow down to Haman, etc. But I'm reminded of what Rabbi Moshe Sherer, zt"l, said about askanim, or at least, himself. There were situations where he was sure he was correct, and kind of reluctantly followed dass Torah. Eventually, he realized that his daas wasn't theirs (and his was no small potatoes). You can be sure that Mordechai was politically savvy but also genuine daas Torah.

amother

Saddlebrown

Tue, Mar 10 2020, 3:11 pm

1. Theres a medresh or gemara that says that Mordechai came to be misaken the sin of Yaakov and his sons bowing down to Eisav. The only one who didn't bow was Binyamin (who wasnt born yet at the time). Haman was the spiritual heir and descendant of Eisav, and since the other shevatim bowed down to Eisav, Haman had power over them. Mordechai, who came from Binyamin was the only one who was able to overcome Haman, since his ancestor didnt bow to Eisav.

paperflowers

Tue, Mar 10 2020, 3:23 pm

Also for #2, Esther set it up to look like she was in a relationship with Haman by inviting him to the party. Then, while Achashverosh went out into the garden to stew, Haman fell on Esther (either in her bed or at her feet, not sure) pleasing with her to forgive him. Achashverosh saw this when he came back in, confirming his suspicions. That’s why he wanted Haman dead. He cared much less about the Jews, as we see by Mordechai and Esther needing to go back to point out to Achashverosh that the Jews were still in danger after Haman was killed.