טו הָרָצִים יָצְאוּ דְחוּפִים בִּדְבַר הַמֶּלֶךְ וְהַדָּת נִתְּנָה בְּשׁוּשַׁן הַבִּירָה וְהַמֶּלֶךְ וְהָמָן יָשְׁבוּ לִשְׁתּוֹת וְהָעִיר שׁוּשָׁן נָבוֹכָה
15. The runners went out rushed according to the word of the king. And the law was given in Shushan the capital. And the king and Haman sat to drink, and the city of Shushan was confused.
- R’ Dovid Feinstein gives a practical reason for the runners to be rushed; Achashverosh’s empire was huge. With communication being as impaired as it was then, Haman rushed the runners to avoid having anything less than 100% success.
- Rav Galico says they were rushed in order to prolong the agony of the Jews (who, according to him, knew of their impending annihilation) from Nisan to the next Adar – eleven frightening months away.
- Based on his theory that Achashverosh did not know what the decree said, the Malbim says Haman rushed the runners so that Achashverosh would not change his mind.
