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When exactly did Esther's three-day fast occur, and why does the timeline matter? The shiur establishes that the fast spanned the 14th-16th of Nissan, meaning Esther approached Achashverosh on Pesach (פסח) itself. This chronology explains key details like why Mordechai was learning kemitzah sa'omer laws and connects the Purim (פורים) miracle to the festival celebrating our original redemption.
This shiur provides a meticulous chronological analysis of the events in Megillas Esther, particularly focusing on chapter 4 verse 12 and the subsequent timeline. Rabbi Zweig establishes that Haman's letters were sent out on the 13th day of Nissan (yud gimel) to take effect eleven months later on the 13th of Adar. On this same day, Mordechai has his crucial conversation with Esther about approaching the king. The analysis centers on understanding Esther's declaration of a three-day fast - 'shloshas yamim tzumu layl v'yom.' Rabbi Zweig calculates that since the 13th was already 'layl v'yom,' the three-day fast would encompass the 14th, 15th, and 16th of Nissan (yud dalet, tu vav, tu zayin). This places 'vayhi bayom hashlishi' (and it was on the third day) on the 15th of Nissan, meaning Esther approached Achashverosh on the first day of Pesach (פסח).
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Esther 4:12
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