Q: Yaakov Avinu dealt with Eisav by sending him gifts in order to appease him. Why in the time of Purim didn’t we try to do our hishtadlus by trying to bribe Achashveirosh?
A: Achashveirosh was so wealthy that you couldn’t bribe him. Haman offered him ̇∆ר∆ׂ ֲ̆ﬠ ף∆ס∆ּכ רַּכƒּכ יםƒפָלֲ‡, ten thousand silver talents, and Achashveirosh said: ¿ךָל ןּו ָ̇נ ף∆ס∆ּכַה – You take it (Esther 3: 9,11). Now a kikar is a talent, and a talent is a big amount of silver. Ten thousand heavy talents! And Achashveirosh said, “I don’t need it.” So they couldn’t bribe Achashveirosh – he was too wealthy.
Q: So why didn’t they follow the other lesson of Yaakov and try to escape to another country?
A: In the ancient times you couldn’t just escape. Nobody was able to move around freely the way you imagine today. Every country had its ruler. Today in America, it’s somewhat easier. You just get into a car and you travel. But in those days you couldn’t just make a fast escape from the country. And therefore, they were caught in a trap with no way out.
