Achashverosh's Shock and Fury/2

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Achashverosh's Surprise

Exegetical Approaches

Unaware and Fickle

Achashverosh had been unaware of Esther's Jewish identity, and being both drunk and foolish, did not immediately make the connection to Haman's edict.

Haman's request – This position assumes that Haman was upfront when discussing his plan to annihilate the Jewish people and that Achasherosh knew from the beginning both which nation was referred to and what haman planned to do them.
10,000 pieces of gold
How did Esther hide her identity?
Honor to Mordechai
Significance to hanging?
Esther's tactics

Misled by Haman

Achashverosh had been deceived by Haman, who had hidden the identity of the nation he was planning on destroying and/or misled him regarding what he intended to do to that nation.  Thus, it was with Esther's comment that Achashverosh first realized that Haman planned to annihilate the Jews.

Haman's request - "יֶשְׁנוֹ עַם אֶחָד" – These commentators point out that throughout Haman's speech he never mentions which nation it is that he is referring to,1 and only explains why they are problematic.  Achashverosh, either due to trust in his closest adviser,2 or from pure stupidity,3 does not ask questions and just gives his stamp of authority.
Haman's request - "יִכָּתֵב לְאַבְּדָם" – According to most of these commentators, when speaking to the king, Haman was purposefully misleading in choosing the language of "לְאַבְּדָם", a word which can sustain more than one meaning. Only in the official letters to the various states does Haman disambiguate, adding ‎"‏‎לְהַשְׁמִיד לַהֲרֹג וּלְאַבֵּד‎".4 The exegetes disagree, though, regarding what it was that Haman meant for Achasheverosh to understand:
  • Religious persecution – Malbim asserts that the word "לאבד" can refer not only to physical destruction, but to spiritual destruction as well.5 Haman convinced the king that the nation's observance of different religious customs were detrimental to the kingdom and that they should be forced to act like the other religions.6
  • Enslavement – R.  S. Astruc7 suggests that Haman told Achashverosh that the nation was rebellious8 and that they should therefore be subdued and enslaved.9
  • Exile – Y"S Reggio points to the verse, "וּבָאוּ הָאֹבְדִים בְּאֶרֶץ אַשּׁוּר "‎10 as evidence that the root can refer to exile and suggests that Haman told the king that it was best to banish this lawless nation from his empire.11
  • Despoling - alternatively, Haman thought the king would assume he simply wanted to plunder the -- nation
10,000 pieces of gold
Different letters
Did Achashverosh know Esther was Jewish?
Honor to Mordechai
Mordechai's report
Esther's tactics - "וְאִלּוּ לַעֲבָדִים וְלִשְׁפָחוֹת נִמְכַּרְנוּ הֶחֱרַשְׁתִּי"
Significance to hanging?
Biblical Parallels

Playing Innocent

Achashverosh immediately understood that Esther was referring to Haman's plan which he himself had approved, but he feigned innocence so as to cast the blame solely on Haman.