Megillat Esther: Haman's beloved advisors

By Rabbi Avi Billet

There is a very subtle change in the way Megillat Esther refers to Haman’s family and advisors before he is disgraced leading Mordechai through the street on a horse, and how they are presented immediately after the episode.

At the end of chapter 5, when Haman feels so confident of his success in the king’s court, he speaks to “Ohavav” (those who love him) and his wife Zeresh, who tell him his best move would be to suggest to the king that he hang Mordechai. (5:10,14)

After the horse incident, Haman speaks once again to his wife Zeresh and to “Ohavav” about his woes with Mordechai, and the same people respond, but they are now called “Chakhamav” –– his wise advisors –– and they tell him since Mordechai is Jewish Haman will fail. (6:13)

The simplest explanation for the difference in how they perceive themselves –– for Haman continues to perceive them as “those who love him –– is they are fair weather fans. When Haman is riding high, they love him. Being “in” with Haman is a great thing. But when Haman is disgraced and seems to be on a downward turn, they become “advisors,” wise people with a keen insight that says “Haman is no longer at the top of the world.” And they create distance from him.

On a deeper level, let us examine the specific details of the words Haman’s “beloved advisors” use, to see if their advice was ever useful at all, and if not, how did Haman get duped by them in the first place?

In 5:14, he is told “Make a tree (wood) 50 cubits high, and in the morning tell they king they should hang Mordechai on it, and then you’ll come joyfully with the king to [Esther’s] party.” Haman perceives the plan to be a good one, and he makes the tree.

After the turn of events of the evening and early morning, and right before Haman is ushered to Esther’s second party, he is told (6:13) “If this Mordechai, in front of whom you have begun to fall, is of the seed of the Jews, you will not defeat him. You will fall before him.” As they are speaking with him, the officers of the king enter and rush to bring Haman to Esther’s party. (6:14)

The commentary Yosef Lekach (Rabbi Eliezer Ashkenazi, 1512-1585) raises a number of questions to the lead up to 6:13 and the nature of the advice Haman received. Why are they called “Ohavav” and “Chakhamav?” Why do they change their opinion now based on information that Mordechai is Jewish? Haman told them he is Jewish back in 5:13! How do they conclude from one setback that Mordechai will defeat Haman? What kind of confidence boost do they give him with “you will not defeat him”? And why the premonition that Haman will fall? These are his friends?

Apparently, Haman told over everything that had happened, from his excitement to build the tree to his rushing to the king’s palace, to his efforts to honor himself on the king’s horse, down to giving Mordechai the royal treatment with his own plan.

Despite all this, Haman felt now that Mordechai had been repaid by the king, his later infractions and disobedience, namely through not bowing to Haman, would be enough to convince the king that Mordechai could still be eliminated, despite today’s royal treatment.

Haman’s advisors, who gave him what Rabbi Ashkenazi calls “foolish advice” when they suggested he build a 50-cubit tree (could he not hang Mordechai on a regular gallows to satisfy his desire to kill Mordechai?), told him he should give up the plan and take down the tree.

He refused. They were still arguing about the tree when the officers of the king arrived to collect Haman for the party and overheard the conversation. Charvona was one of these officers, and he mentioned it to the king at the party, and personally hanged Haman on it as per the king’s command in 7:9-10.

Sometimes those who love you need to take a step back from saying the things you “want” to hear, to tell you, with good counsel, the things you “need” to hear. Haman’s friends and advisors may have been fair weather fans. But they were appointed to their positions because they were bright. Hatred can consume a person to the point he can hear nothing else. Haman’s advisors were meant to be the voice of reason in his head. He turned to them, but they answered with “We love you, but we are putting our feelings for you aside so you understand the political and professional implications of the hatred you are looking to act upon. Give it up.”

He couldn’t, so he didn’t. And indeed, he fell because of it.

May we continue to celebrate Purim forever, and may we as per the Magen Avraham (on Shulchan Arukh - 686:5) find reasons to celebrate other Purims due to the miracles that may yet happen in our days.

Avi Billet welcomes your comments and thoughts at avbillet at gmail.com.