ובהקבץ נערות רבות...אל יד הגי ותלקח אסתר אל בית המלך אל יד הגי
“And when many young girls were being brought together... under the charge of Heigai, Esther was taken into the palace, under the charge of Heigai, guardian of the women.” (Esther 2:8)
Originally, he is called Heigeh (הֵגֶא) (2:3). Why now in the same pasuk is his name first spelled with a kamatz (הֵגָי) and then with a patach ?(הֵגַי)
The Nachal Eshkol explains: The word “patach” is related to the word “petach,” which means “opening.” To pronounce the patach vowel, one must open the mouth. On the other hand, kamatz literally means “close,” and to pronounce the kamatz vowel (in the Ashkenazi pronunciation) the mouth is in a “closed, rounded” position.
The two different spellings and pronunciations of the name “Heigai” relate to the hopes of the girls who were chosen to be potential replacements for the Queen.
Each of the other girls came to the house of the women hoping that it would be closed for admission to all her rivals. Thus, she would be assured the opportunity to become Queen. Each one expressed this feeling by referring to the chief supervisorהֵגָי with a kamatz. Esther, on the other hand, came reluctantly and hoping that the doors would be flung open wide (patach) with multitudes of beautiful girls seeking entrance, so that she would not even be considered for the position or have only a very slim chance of being accepted. Therefore, in connection with her the pasuk refers to the supervisor in charge asהֵגַי , with a patach.
For a similar idea see dvar Torah titled “The Difference Between Esther and All the Other Girls (2)”.
