בהראתו את עשר כבוד מלכותו ואת יקר תפארת גדולתו ימים רבים שמונים ומאת יום
“Where he showed the great wealth of his kingship and the honor of the splendor of his greatness, many days - a hundred and eighty days.” (Esther 1:4)
Why did Achashveirosh celebrate specifically for 180 days?
The Vilna Gaon in Kol Eliyohu explains: According to the Medrash Rabbah (2:1), Nevuchadnetzar hid 1,080 treasures in the Euphrates River. They were revealed to Koresh as a reward for permitting the rebuilding of the Beis HaMikdosh, and they were later inherited by Achashveirosh. The purpose of his making a celebration was to impress everyone with his vast riches. Each day he showed six of the treasures, as is indicated by the six expressions in this pasuk, which says that he displayed “oisher” - “riches”, “kavod” - “glory”, “malchus - “kingdom”, “yekar” - “splendor”, “tiferes” - “excellence” and “gedulah” - “majesty” (see Yalkut Shimoni 1046).
Consequently, the celebration stretched over 180 days since 180 x 6 = 1,080.
Alternatively, the Likutei Anshei Shem explains: In the Beis HaMikdosh there was a total of 5,400 vessels, as stated in Ezra (1:11): “All the vessels of gold and silver were 5,400; Sheshbazzar brought them up when the exiles were brought up from Bavel to Yerusholayim.” All these vessels were taken in captivity by Nevuchadnetzar when he destroyed the Beis HaMikdosh and ultimately acquired by Achashveirosh. During the festivity he displayed daily six treasures of the Beis HaMikdosh which were in his possession.
According to the Gemara (Shabbos 126b) a grouping of at least five items constitutes an “otzar” — treasure. Consequently, at the rate of six treasures per day (a total of thirty vessels), it took 180 days to show the entire 5,400 vessels (180 x 6 x 5 = 5400).
