Our tale begins with a king, rattled from his sleep. He asks for water, a simple request. But something feels off. His servants, his eunuchs – the ones whose job it is to care for him – bring him a golden jug. But here's the twist: it contains sam hamavet, deadly poison.
Now, you might ask, why didn't the king just drink? What saved him? It's subtle, but crucial: he demands they pour the water out first. They try to dissuade him, singing praises of the water's supposed excellence. "O our lord, O king, this water is excellent, good, even choice. Why should we pour it out before thee?" they plead. Their protestations only deepen the king's suspicion. He insists. And when they pour, the poison is revealed.
The king, now realizing the depth of the betrayal, orders the eunuchs to be hanged. The text emphasizes, "They were both hanged on one tree, one after the other… it is not written, 'Upon trees.'" This detail, seemingly small, underscores the swift and decisive nature of justice. As Esther 2:23 states, "They were both hanged on a tree."
But the story doesn't end there. This is where it connects to the larger narrative of the Book of Esther, and Mordecai's role in saving the king's life.
Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer emphasizes that all events that transpired before the king were meticulously recorded. These records were kept in the king's "box," a sort of royal archive. Whenever the king needed to recall past events, he consulted these documents. This act of record-keeping becomes pivotal. It's how Mordecai's act of loyalty, his warning that saved the king from assassination, gets preserved. "And it was written in the book of the chronicles" (Esther 2:23).
So, what are we to make of this story? It's more than just a near-miss assassination attempt. It speaks to themes of divine providence, the importance of heeding one's intuition, and the enduring power of truth. It also highlights the significance of remembering, of documenting the past, so that acts of both treachery and loyalty are never forgotten. It reminds us that even seemingly small acts of vigilance can have monumental consequences. It’s a powerful moment that sets the stage for the unfolding drama of Esther and the salvation of the Jewish people. And it all starts with a king, a drink of water, and a very bad dream.