Nevuchadnetzar's Statue and Haman's Decree: Part 1 (Facts and Questions)

This evening (3/2/22), in lieu of our usual "Chumash Exploration," we decided to take up a Purim topic. The midrash in Megilah 12a deals with the question of why the Jews at the time of the Purim story (seemingly) liable for destruction. The answer takes us back to an event recorded in Sefer Daniel. The midrash is perplexing in a number of ways, but since it promises to shed light on the entire Purim salvation, I've long desired to understand its meaning and implications. Tonight we went through all the facts and raised the question. Next week (בג"ה) I hope we will discover answers.