The Daily Ma’amar of our Rebbe Rav Eliezer Berland shlit”a, from 26 Sivan 5783, courtesy of the “Hashem Hu HaElokim” leaflet:
“The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor” (Esther 8:16), is said about the twenty-third day of Sivan, that then the king’s scribes were called on to write and to sign with the king’s signet, as it is written (ibid. 8): “You may write concerning the Jews whatever is favorable in your eyes,” that they have authorization to attack those who seek to kill them, who come to kill them.
For until now, it was forbidden for Jews to bear a sword or a spear to defend themselves, and no sword or spear was found in the possession of Jews, as it is written [in I Shmuel 13], that no sword and no spear is found in the possession of the Children of Israel; they are only found in the possession of Shaul and his son Yehonatan.
Rabbi Chagai said: From where did Shaul and Yehonatan have a sword and spear? Rather for the sake of their honor, an angel came and brought to them sword and spear. And the Sages said: That this fell from heaven, a sword and a spear.
And so in the merit of Queen Esther, who was son after son from Shaul, and it is written about her: “Esther yet again spoke to the king, she fell at his feet, and wept and implored him” (Esther 8:3) to avert the evil counsel of Haman, who decreed to destroy and annihilate all the Jews, from lad to elder, infant and women in one day, which is the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. And only in the merit of Queen Esther, the terrible decree was nullified. And therefore, the Megilah is called “Megilat Esther” and not “Megilat Mordechai.”
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