Today the rabbis complete their retelling of the Megilla. They digress to discuss Benjamin and his brothers and they end with a discussion of the importance of Torah study.
Our Sages go to great effort to create back-stories to flesh out the Megilla. One example follows Haman's humiliating walk through the streets. As we know, that march was intended for Mordechai by Haman. Our rabbis elaborate in order to explain why Haman ended his march with his head covered, in mourning. Apparently his daughter was watching from a top story, watching for Mordechai. Thinking that she was seeing that Jewish enemy of her father, she threw feces on his head. When she realized that this was her father, this daughter threw herself from the upper balcony to her death. Thus Haman was forced to cover his head, and was in mourning due to his loss.
These are impressive stories! Why the rabbis felt it necessary to create such elaborate stories is beyond my understanding. And why certain narratives, like the Megilla, is expounded upon in such depth while other stories (whether Biblical, Tamudic, or otherwise significant) are left is a mystery to me.
At the very end of today's daf, the rabbis offer reasons that Torah study is more important than other pursuits. In particular, Torah study is more important than saving lives, building the Temple and honouring one's father and mother. I find this absolutely compelling. How could our Sages advocate Torah study ahead of saving a life? Clearly their agenda - to promote their own profession - is at the heart of such statements.
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