Haman's hatred, first directed against Mordecai alone, grew apace until
it included Mordecai's colleagues, all the scholars, whom he sought to
destroy, and not satisfied with even this, he plotted the annihilation
of the whole of Mordecai's people, the Jews. (106)
Before beginning to lay out his plans, he desired to determine the most
favorable moment for his undertaking, which he did by casting lots.
First of all he wanted to decide on the day of the week. The scribe
Shimshai began to cast lots. Sunday appeared inappropriate, being the
day on which God created heaven and earth, whose continuance depends on
Israel's existence. Were it not for God's covenant with Israel, there
would be neither day nor night, neither heaven nor earth. Monday showed
itself equally unpropitious for Haman's devices, for it was the day on
which God effected the separation between the celestial and the
terrestrial waters, symbolic of the separation between Israel and the
heathen. Tuesday, the day on which the vegetable world was created,
refused to give its aid in bringing about the ruin of Israel, who
worships God with branches of palm trees. Wednesday, too, protested
against the annihilation of Israel, saying: "On me the celestial
luminaries were created, and like unto them Israel is appointed to
illumine the whole world. First destroy me, and then Thou mayest
destroy Israel." Thursday said: "O Lord, on me the birds were created,
which are used for sin offerings. When Israel shall be no more, who
will bring offerings? First destroy me, and then Thou mayest destroy
Israel." Friday was unfavorable to Haman's lots, because it was the day
of the creation of man, and the Lord God said to Israel, "Ye are men."
Least of all was the Sabbath day inclined to make itself subservient to
Haman's wicked plans. It said: "The Sabbath is a sign between Israel
and God. First destroy me, and then Thou mayest destroy Israel!" (107)
Baffled, Haman gave up all idea of settling upon a favorable day of the
week. He applied himself to the task of searching out the suitable
month for his sinister undertaking. As it appeared to him, Adar was the
only one of the twelve owning naught that might be interpreted in favor
of the Jews. The rest of them seemed to be enlisted on their side. In
Nisan Israel was redeemed from Egypt; in Iyar Amlek was overcome; In
Siwan the Ethiopian Zerah was smitten in the war with Asa; in Tammuz
the Amorite kings were subjugated; in Ab the Jews won a victory over
Arad, the Canaanite; in Tishri the Jewish kingdom was firmly
established by the dedication of Solomon's Temple, while in Heshwan the
building of the Temple at Jerusalem was completed; Kislew and Tebet
were the months during which Sihon and Og were conquered by the
Israelites, and in Shebat occurred the sanguinary campaign of the
eleven tribes against the godless children of Benjamin. Not alone was
Adar a month without favorable significance in Jewish history, but
actually a month of misfortune, the month in which Moses died. What
Haman did not know was, that Adar was the month in which occurred also
the birth of Moses. (108)
Then Haman investigated the twelve signs of the zodiac in relation to
Israel, and again it appeared that Adar was the most unfavorable month
for the Jews. The first constellation, the Ram, said to Haman, "'Israel
is a scattered sheep,' and how canst thou expect a father to offer his
son for slaughter?"