Rabbi Ḥiya Raba and Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta were walking in the valley of Arbel and they saw the breaking of the dawn’s light. Rabbi Ḥiya Raba said to Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta: So is the greatness of Israel. First a little and then, as it proceeds, it continuously increases. What is the explanation? “Although I sit in darkness, the Lord is a light for me” (Micah 7:8).14Even while Israel sits in darkness, God is already setting in motion the chain of events that will lead to their redemption. So, too, the midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) cites the verse from (Esther 2:21) in which Mordekhai sits at the king’s gate and hears the plot of Bigtan and Teresh. This event leads to the eventual salvation of the Jewish people. So initially “Mordekhai was sitting at the king’s gate…” (Esther 2:21) and afterwards, “And Mordekhai went forth from the presence of the king [in royal dress of blue and white wool, and with a great crown of gold]” (Esther 8:15), and afterwards, “For the Jews there was light and joy and jubilation and honor” (Esther 8:16).