אסתר, פרק ט׳, פסוק ט״ו

The Jewish community in the capital city of Shushan unites for a second consecutive day of battle to defeat their remaining enemies. An emphasis is placed on their act of gathering together on this specific day, a detail not highlighted during the initial day of fighting. On the first day of the conflict, God placed such overwhelming fear upon the enemies that the Jews could have easily achieved victory without organizing into a united front. However, guided by the principle that one should not rely on miracles, they chose to gather and operate through natural means [אור חדש].

The historical record of this event subtly highlights a profound spiritual completeness among the fighters [מנחת שי]. In the other provinces of the empire, the Jews were forced to fight out of a pure existential need to protect their lives. In Shushan, however, the situation was entirely different. The powerful presence of Esther and Mordecai, combined with the king's backing, had already removed any immediate threat of death. Therefore, the fighting on this second day was not an act of necessary self-defense, but rather a deliberate choice to completely eradicate their enemies. Because this was a voluntary campaign, only those who were entirely whole and complete in their faith and dedication stepped forward to fight [אור חדש].

Over the course of the day, the fighters killed three hundred additional men, yet they strictly avoided taking any of the spoils [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This restraint served as a powerful testimony to the purity of their motives. They completely distanced themselves from the desire for wealth, understanding that the pursuit of money distracts a person and prevents them from achieving true character perfection. By refusing to take material advantage of their victory, the Jews mirrored the behavior of the great prophets, who consistently declined to derive personal or financial benefit from their actions or from the property of others [מחיר יין].