Fighting to the Death

          This week in Megillot we discussed the rapid downfall of Haman. Perakim ה-ז discuss the details that eventually lead to Haman's demise. Perek ו begins with Achashverosh finding difficulty in falling asleep. He was anxious of Esther and Haman's motives, so he tells his servants to read him a story from his chronicles. It seems like he is looking back among the people who helped him in the past to find someone who could help get him information on Haman and Esther. Lo and behold, he comes across the story of Mordechai and finds and even better opportunity. He can honor Mordechai in front of the whole city, as he hadn't rewarded him for saving his life, thereby showing the people of the city what would happen to someone who helped the king.

         As Achashverosh comes up with this brilliant plan, none other than Haman shows up at his door. Achashverosh becomes immediately suspicious- why would Haman be coming to him in the middle of the night? Meanwhile, Haman believes that the king has the utmost respect for him. Achashverosh decides to ask Haman what he should do for someone he wants to honor- emphasis on "someone". He is purposely being ambiguous, as he knows that Haman will think he is talking about him. How Haman responds to the question will reveal whether is planning to kill the king or not. Unfortunately for him, Haman answers exactly how Achashverosh expected him to.

         Haman tells the king that he should give this person clothing that the king has already worn, the horse that the king has ridden on, and the king's own crown. He should have a servant bring this person around the city crying, "this shall be done the man whom the king wishes to honor!" The king understands this to mean that Haman is secretly wishing to be king himself. What he says next throws Haman completely off: Haman himself should take all of those things and do them to Mordechai. Haman unwillingly carried out the king's wishes and returned home with his face covered. Haman told his wife what had happened, though unlike before, when she suggested that he hang Mordechai, she now tells him that if he has started to fall before Mordechai the Jew, he will lose. As this is happening, the king's servants arrive to take Haman to Esther's second party.

         Perek ז contains the last of Haman's downfall, which doesn't take long at all. Achashverosh again asks Esther what it is she really wants, and this time, Esther replies truthfully. She says that if it is good in the eyes of the king, she wants her life and her people as her request. She is playing on Achashverosh's love for her by making it all revolve around her and her life and her people. She continues that they were sold to be killed, though if they had only been sold, she wouldn't have said anything.

         Esther is hinting to the decree about the Jews. She uses the same words in the decree when saying they had been sold to be killed, showing Achashverosh that his name was on a decree that he did not really agree with. The king was reasonable in agreeing to Haman's initial request, to simply punish the Jews, which could have been taken as enslavement. However, his chief adviser has decreed genocide, which the king did not want.

         Near the end of Perek ז, Esther tells the king that it was Haman who had done this. The king leaves the room in fury, unable to think of what to do. Haman, in the meantime, begged Esther for forgiveness, though the king returns to see Haman lying on top of Esther. The king freaks out and commands that Haman be hanged on the gallows he had built for Mordechai, which Chavona, who popped up out of nowhere, graciously pointed out. The last pasuk says that the king's anger subsided when Haman was killed, implying that all he really cared about what his power, as nothing had been done about the decree.

         So, it seems like Achashverosh was an insecure, paranoid king who simply killed anyone that made him nervous. This brought The Hunger Games to my mind. In both stories there is a power hungry leader who watches as many people are put to death (or are supposed to be put to death) and who kills anyone who causes any trouble. As we know, (*spoiler alert*) President Snow has Seneca Crane, the original Gamemaker, put to death after allowing Katniss and Peeta to survive. Achashverosh has Haman, his chief adviser, put to death for threatening his power. In both stories, there is a law that people must die. In both stories, there are power hungry leaders. One story is set in the past and one in the future. In seems that in this we can see that people like that and situations like that are timeless. What do you think?