Why does it say "va'Yomer" twice?
Rashi citing Megilah 16a: First he addressed her through a translator. When she told him that she descends from Sha'ul, a king, he addressed her himself 1 .
Malbim: First he asked everyone in the house, including Haman, like one who is astounded - who is this?! After no one answered, he asked Esther ha'Malkah.
Ohr Chadash: Achashverosh was a Rasha. The Ge'ulah could come only when he left his evil via a proper connection to a Tzadik (Esther).
Why did he say "Mi Hu Zeh v'Ei Zeh Hu"?
Vilna Gaon: "Mi Hu Zeh" - who dared to take (kill) the queen. "V'Ei Zeh Hu" refers to her nation (which nation is it)? This was difficult, for she said that she does not know her nation! "Mi Hu Zeh" is like "Mi Hu Naki Avad v'Eifo Yesharim Nichchadu" (Iyov 4:7).
Malbim: He asked two matters. (a) Who did such a lowly matter? (b) What aroused him to this? "Asher Mela'o Libo" - what reason moved his heart to do so?
