Achashverosh's Shock and Fury/2

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, Haman was purposefully misleading in choosing the language of "לְאַבְּדָם", a word which can sustain more than one meaning.  They disagree regarding what it was that Achasheverosh understood:

• Religious persecution
• Enslavement
• Despoiling
• Exile

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.

¹ According to most of these commentators Haman knew that the king admired the Jews for their wisdom and would never agree to harm them.   The Gr"a and -- add that Haman was thinking specifically about the kings feelings towards Mordechia.  After his role in saving the king's life it would not be easy to convince Achashverosh to kill off his nation.

² 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.

³ 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.