Introduction: The Vilna Gaon on the Book of Esther

The Hidden Meaning of the Book of Esther

Everywhere, where the scripture mentions “the king”, its intention is the Almighty One, blessed be He. Everywhere, where the scripture mentions “the king Ahasuerus”, its intention is literally king Ahasuerus.

Esther Rabba 3:10‍‍

Every person is created with two inclinations – a good inclination and an evil inclination [1].These two dispositions of the soul are constantly at odds with one another, each one trying to exert maximum influence on its possessor. Man’s main goal and purpose in life is to overcome the lure of the evil and to carry out the bidding of the good. However, this requires not only considerable willpower, but also much cunning. He, who wants to overcome the evil that is in him, has to exert effort to understand its ploys.

The king, mentioned in this book, is really two kings. Wherever just a “king” is mentioned, the scripture’s intention is our G-d, the Master of the Worlds. Wherever it mentions “king Ahasuerus,” the intention is man’s evil inclination.

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^{[1] In fact, those two inclinations are the very reason we exist in this world. Presence of good and evil in each person’s soul gives us the possibility to choose; freedom of choice makes it possible to receive reward for making the right choice. This reward is the Ha-Shem’s ultimate goal in creating the world – to do good to His created beings.}

Death is His Ultimate Goal

Samuel said that the faces of Israel were blackened in his days like the sides of a pot.

Megillah 11a

From the outset, the world was created with a potential for sin. And for man, who is immortal by design, sin entails death. Ha-Shem said to Adam[i]: “Of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you must no eat; for on the day you eat of it, you shall surely die”. The sages teach us, that death lies at the very foundations of the cosmos. The second verse in the Torah reads: “the earth was bewilderment and desolation, and darkness over the void”. “’Darkness’ is death that blackens men’s faces”, says the medrash[ii].

The Talmud associates Ahasuerus’ name with the color black[2].This further corroborates that what is hidden behind his personage is the evil inclination that propagates death by causing man to sin. In fact, evil inclination is the Angel of Death himself. “The Satan, the evil inclination and the Angel of Death are one and the same; first he goes down into this world to tempt men; then he goes up to heaven and accuses them of their transgressions, then he goes back down into this world and takes their souls, thereby carrying out the sentence, that was given to them[iii]”. Thus, one who yields to the temptation of evil and follows his desires, ultimately causes his own death.

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^{[2] This is based on the fact that the name Ahasuerus, “אחשורוש” contains the letters “שחור”, which means “black”; the last syllable of this name sounds like “אש”, which means “fire”. Just like the sides of a pot become blackened by fire, so too the faces of people of Israel became blackened with suffering. –  Maharsho}

Sinners Are Full of Regrets

Rabi Yohanan said: everyone, who thought of him, said: “alas for my head”.
Megillah 11a

Often a transgression seems alluring and enjoyable – much more so, than performance of a commandment or a good deed. However, in retrospective, as a person remembers his misdeeds, he is devoured by regret! “Akeidas Yitzchok” writes, that sinners are never happy, because the fear of eventual punishment always lurks in the backs of their minds.

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The Price of Greed

Rabi Hanina said: all became destitute in his days, as it says: “And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute.”
Megillah 11a

The son of David will not come … until the [last] coin is gone from the purse.
Sanhedrin 97a

Simple logic tells us that if a person will devote less time to Torah learning in order to invest a greater effort into earning a living, he will surely prosper. However, the sages teach us otherwise. “If he casts off the yoke of the Torah, the yoke of government and the yoke of worldly affairs will be placed upon him[i].” It is none other than the evil inclination that entices us to abandon our Torah studies partially or completely, promising material rewards. But, in fact, this only makes us poorer. “Who is truly wealthy? The one who is happy with his lot[ii].” Abandonment of spiritual pursuits in favor of material ones makes us destitute both spiritually, and physically. This is the tribute that evil inclination lays upon us.

The Holy Zohar[iii] tells us, that this principle appears in the Torah itself. It says[iv]“and he saw a resting place, that it was good, and the land that it was pleasant, and he bent his shoulder to bear and he became an indentured laborer”. Once a person notices the nice land that surrounds him, and the resting place that will give him respite from his efforts, he becomes enslaved to his material needs. His evil inclination places the burden of heavy taxation upon him.

Before the coming of the messiah, people will be so ensnared in their material needs, real or imaginary, that a sense of lacking will become their constant peeve. The fuller their pockets, the stronger their feeling that they don’t have a penny to spend even on most basic necessities.

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_{[i] Genesis 2:17}

_{[ii] Shmos Rabba 2}

_{[iii] Based upon Bava Bathra 16a}

_{[iv] Avos, ch. 3, § 5}

_{[v] Avos, ch. 4, § 1}

_{[vi] Vol. I, folio 242b}

_{[vii] Bereishis 49:15}‍