1)

Whose sleep was disturbed?

1.

Torah Temimah citing Megilah 15b #1: Hashem's 1 sleep was disturbed

2.

Torah Temimah citing Megilah 15b #2: Achashverosh's sleep was disturbed; also the angels were up (provoking him to reward Mordechai, or requesting mercy).


1

Refer to 1:10:1:1*. Kad ha'Kemach - this is just a metaphor, for "Hine Lo Yanum v'Lo Yishan Shomer Yisrael" (Tehilim 121:4).

2)

Why was the king's sleep disturbed?

1.

Rashi citing Megilah 15b: Achashverosh wondered, why is Esther inviting Haman? Perhaps they are plotting to kill me! If so, why didn't anyone tell me? Perhaps I neglected to reward someone for a favor, therefore, no one is telling me! Immediately, the king asked to bring the chronicles.

2.

Rashi: This was a miracle.

3.

Vilna Gaon: He saw that she risked her life, and asked the king and Haman to come to a Mishteh. Surely she need not request for herself. What does she lack in Beis ha'Melech?! Presumably, she wants to request for someone else. She has no family or nation at all 1 ! It must be for Mordechai, who raised her in his house. Perhaps also Haman loves Mordechai 2 , and both of them want to request for him. It must be a big matter. Surely they will claim that he benefited the king. Without this, one may not request. He asked to bring the chronicles, to see if he did such a benefit worthy of a great reward.

4.

Malbim: He saw that she was fervent to come to him. She must have a great request. This is why he said "Ad Chatzi ha'Malchus" (5:6)! She said, "if I found grace in your eyes" and "if it is good for the king" (5:8). He understood that the request is good for the king himself - he rules in straightness, and his throne is founded on Chesed. Surely he must pay reward to someone. Therefore, he asked to bring the chronicles.


1

I.e. presumably, she was an abandoned baby, who does not know her family or nation. (PF)

2

Did Achashverosh not know that Haman wants to wipe out the Jews? Haman said, they avoid work, saying 'today is Shabbos'

3)

Why did he ask to bring the chronicles?

1.

Refer to 6:1:2:1, 3-4.

2.

Rashi: Normally, when the king's sleep is disturbed, people say in front of him parables and conversations until he falls asleep again.

4)

Why does it say "Sefer ha'Zichronos Divrei ha'Yamim"?

1.

Vilna Gaon: He did not ask for Divrei ha'Yamim itself. It is great. It includes everything from creation! Rather, everything was written concisely in Sefer ha'Zichronos.

2.

Malbim citing Meforshim: Everything is written at length in Divrei ha'Yamim. Sefer ha'Zichronos is brief chapter headings, like an index, from which one finds what to seek in Divrei ha'Yamim.

3.

Malbim: There were two Seforim of Divrei ha'Yamim. (a) One was for later generations - events of the king, and his good and bad deeds. This was in the hand of the second to the king. (b) Divrei ha'Yamim written in front of the king himself. It is called Sefer ha'Zichronos Divrei ha'Yamim; it was to remember things. The king forgot who saved him from Bigsan and Seresh. Therefore, he aggrandized Haman 1 , for he led to the king marrying Esther, via whom the king was saved. Also, Haman made it seem that it was he who told 2 [about the plot]. Surely in Haman's Divrei ha'Yamim, he erased Mordechai and wrote that he told the king. The Emes was in the king's chronicles.


1

Why didn't he ask then what is written in Sefer ha'Zichronos? (PF)

2

If so, why did he tell via Esther, and not directly to the king? Surely he was allowed to come to the king when he wanted. His friends and wife counseled him to go to the king before the Mishteh, to ask him to hang Mordechai. There was no concern for coming without being called, and it does not say that the king raised his scepter for him! (PF)

5)

Why does it say "va'Yihyu Nikra'im"?

1.

Torah Temimah citing Megilah 15b: They were being read by themselves! (The servant asked to read them did not want to mention that Mordechai saved the king's life.)

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