ויאמר המלך מי בחצר
“The King said, ‘Who is in the court?’” (Esther 6:4)
Why in the middle of the night when his sleep is disturbed does he suddenly ask, “Who is in the court?”
The Alshich explains: It cannot be expected that the King himself should attend to all the details of his government. Therefore, in all governments there are chiefs of staff who see to it that the protocols are properly maintained and that nothing happens which can embarrass the King. When the book of records was being read, Achashveirosh was reminded of the great favor Mordechai had done for him. Upon inquiring what honor and dignity had been done to Mordechai for this, he was told that nothing had been done for him. This shocked him greatly, and he asked: מי בחצר — “Who is in the court? Who is the one in charge of making sure that such things do not go unnoticed?”
Not knowing what was going on earlier in the night in the palace, Haman gleefully came to the King to get him to agree to his vicious plan. The King’s young men said to him: הנה המן עמד בחצר, and with this they meant, הנה המן - Behold Haman - Haman is the chief of staff over the court. He is responsible to see that such oversights do not occur, and also עמד בחצר — it happens that he is currently in the courtyard.”
