He’s painted them as law-breakers, as different, as a threat to the kingdom. Basically, the worst sales pitch ever.
But then, bam! God steps in—in a manner of speaking, that is. As we read in Legends of the Jews, God says to Haman, essentially, "You know, you did a pretty good job listing the Jewish holidays. But you forgot something really important." What did he forget? The holidays that would be created to celebrate Haman's downfall: Purim, and Shushan Purim. Talk about adding insult to injury! Can you imagine the look on his face?
It's like God is saying, "Thanks for the reminder! We'll add your demise to the calendar!"
But the story doesn't end there. Haman's accusation, as awful as it was, also opened a door for the Jews' defense. According to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, while Haman was busy bad-mouthing the Jewish people, he made a key admission. He said, "O Lord of the world! Thou knowest well that the Jews are not accused of idolatry, nor of immoral conduct, nor of shedding blood; they are accused only of observing Thy Torah."
Essentially, Haman admitted that the Jews' only "crime" was following God's laws. He framed it as a bad thing, of course. But it also meant they weren't being accused of truly heinous acts. And that gave the archangel Michael, their heavenly defender, an opening.
The story goes that while Haman was ranting, Michael was pleading on behalf of the Jewish people. And God, hearing both sides, reassured Michael with the powerful words: "As thou livest, I have not abandoned them, I will not abandon them."
Think about that for a moment. Even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, even when a powerful enemy is making his case against them, God's promise remains.
What's so fascinating about this little snippet from Legends of the Jews is the layers of irony and hope woven into it. Haman, in his attempt to destroy the Jews, inadvertently sets the stage for their salvation. God's response highlights the enduring nature of the Jewish faith, and the unwavering divine protection. It reminds us that even when things look bleakest, there's always the possibility of redemption, of a twist in the plot, of Purim rising from the ashes of despair.