Difference between revisions of "Achashverosh's Shock and Fury/2"
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<category name="">Unaware and Fickle | <category name="">Unaware and Fickle | ||
<p>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.</p> | <p>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.</p> | ||
| − | <point><b>Haman's request</b></point> | + | <point><b>Haman's request</b> – 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.</point> |
<point><b>10,000 pieces of gold</b></point> | <point><b>10,000 pieces of gold</b></point> | ||
<point><b>How did Esther hide her identity?</b></point> | <point><b>How did Esther hide her identity?</b></point> | ||
| Line 17: | Line 17: | ||
<category name="">Misled by Haman | <category name="">Misled by Haman | ||
<p>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.</p> | <p>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.</p> | ||
| − | <point><b>Haman's request - "יֶשְׁנוֹ עַם אֶחָד"</b></point> | + | <point><b>Haman's request - "יֶשְׁנוֹ עַם אֶחָד"</b> – These commentators point out that throughout Haman's speech he never mentions which nation it is that he is referring to, and only explains why they are problematic.  Achashverosh, either due to trust in his closest adviser,<fn>See Reggio who defends Achashverosh, painting him not as a foolish king but as one who understandably relied on trusted advisers to act in his kingdom's best interests.</fn> or from pure stupidity,<fn>See R. Avraham Saba who views Achashverosh negatively, critiquing him for not questioning Haman and not desiring to know which nation was to be decimated or why.</fn> does not ask questions and just gives his stamp of authority.</point> |
| − | <point><b>Haman's request - "יִכָּתֵב לְאַבְּדָם"</b></point> | + | <point><b>Haman's request - "יִכָּתֵב לְאַבְּדָם"</b> – According to most of these commentators, Haman was purposefully ambiguous in choosing the language of "לְאַבְּדָם", a word which can sustain more than one meaning.  They differ, though, in</point> |
<point><b>10,000 pieces of gold</b></point> | <point><b>10,000 pieces of gold</b></point> | ||
<point><b>Different letters</b></point> | <point><b>Different letters</b></point> | ||
Version as of 10:53, 4 February 2015
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, and only explains why they are problematic. Achashverosh, either due to trust in his closest adviser,1 or from pure stupidity,2 does not ask questions and just gives his stamp of authority.
Haman's request - "יִכָּתֵב לְאַבְּדָם" – According to most of these commentators, Haman was purposefully ambiguous in choosing the language of "לְאַבְּדָם", a word which can sustain more than one meaning. They differ, though, in
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.
