והמן אל המשתה אשר אעשה להםיבוא המלך ומחר אעשה כדבר המלך “Let the King and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do the King’s bidding.” Esther HaMalka invited Achashveirosh and Haman to a banquet. At the banquet, she requested that Achashveirosh and Haman come again “tomorrow” for another banquet where she would do his bidding. Rashi explains that Esther was telling Achashveirosh that she would finally reveal her lineage to him. Esther was attempting to save Klal Yisroel from the wicked Haman HaRasha. The plan was for her to tell Achashveirosh that she was Jewish and that the wicked Haman wanted to kill out all the Jews. Why didn’t Esther just tell Achashveirosh at the first banquet? What was the purpose in waiting for “tomorrow”?
The Gemara in Megillah 15b says that when Esther arrived in Achashveirosh’s room, she felt the Shechina leave her because the room was filled with avodah zarah. Esther knew that it would take a miracle for Klal Yisroel to be saved from this terrifying decree. The Shechina had to be with her during her appeal to Achashveirosh. When Esther realized that the Shechina had left her, she postponed her request of Achashveirosh until the next day. She invited Achashveirosh and Haman to her room, the only room in the palace devoid of avodah zara. There was still a problem with this plan. Haman walked around wearing an avodah zarah on him, which would still cause the Shechina to leave. The Ribbono Shel Olam, with His great plan, resolved this issue. Haman had been leading Mordechai through the streets on the king’s horse before coming to the feast. Haman, acting as Mordechai’s servant, was required to wear a standard servant’s uniform and not his royal attire, which would be a disgrace for the kingdom. He, therefore, was not wearing his avodah zara. The king’s messengers arrived to escort Haman to Esther’s feast immediately after he completed leading Mordechai around town. Haman came without his avodah zara, and Esther, with the Shechina with her, appealed to Achashveirosh. (יערות דבש)
Esther was waiting for the success of her proposed mission to be revealed to her. At the first feast, she had yet to see a sign that her plan would work, so she delayed speaking to the king until the next day. After the first feast, Haman was humiliated by having to lead Mordechai through the streets. That was her sign that her plan would succeed. (מנות הלוי)
Esther went to Achashveirosh with the midas hachesed of the Ribbono Shel Olam. She recognized that there was only one thing that could save Klal Yisroel, the great chesed of the Ribbono Shel Olam. The Ribbono Shel Olam took Klal Yisroel out of Mitzrayim with great chesed, and He will take us out of this golus as well with great chesed. Esther had complete emunah that the Ribbono Shel Olam would save them. She delayed her plan until she saw that the Ribbono Shel Olam was completely with her. “מחר” is a time of the geulah asidah. The great Yom Tov of Purim is a time for us to attain complete emunah that with the infinite chesed of the Ribbono Shel Olam, He will bring the geulah asidah.
May we be zoche to see the rebuilding of the everlasting Bais Hamikdash במהרה בימינו אמן!
RABBI YAKOV YOSEF SCHECHTER
