Haman (biblical figure)
| Haman | |
|---|---|
Haman Begging the Mercy of Esther, by Rembrandt
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| Grand Vizier of the Achaemenid Empire | |
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In office c. 486 BCE – c. 475 BCE |
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| Monarch | Xerxes I |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 520 BCE Achaemenid Empire |
| Died | c. 475 BCE Achaemenid Empire |
| Spouse(s) | Zeresh |
| Children | Parshandatha Dalphon Aspatha Poratha Adalia Aridatha Parmashta Arisai Aridai Vaizatha |
Haman (also known as Haman the Agagite המן האגגי, or Haman the evil המן הרשע) is the main antagonist in the Book of Esther, who, according to the Hebrew Bible, was a vizier in the Persian empire under King Ahasuerus, traditionally identified as Xerxes I. As his name indicates, Haman was a descendant of Agag, the king of the Amalekites, a people who were wiped out in certain areas by King Saul and David.
Haman is described as the son of Hammedatha the Agagite. In the story, Haman instigates a plot to kill all of the Jews of ancient Persia. Haman attempts to convince Ahasuerus to order the killing of Mordecai and all the Jews of the lands he ruled. The plot is foiled by Queen Esther, the king's recent wife, who is herself a Jew. Haman is hanged from the gallows that had originally been built, on the advice of his wife Zeresh, to hang Mordecai. The dead bodies of his ten sons Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai and Vaizatha (or Vajezatha), are also hanged after they die in battle trying to kill the Jews (Esther 9:5-14). Haman is upset that Mordecai refuses to bow down to him, as told in chapter 3:
. . . and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. And all the king's servants, who were in the king's gate, bowed, and did obeisance to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow, or do him obeisance. (Esther, 3:1-2)
And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or do him obedience, then Haman was full of wrath. But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had told him of the people of Mordecai; so that Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, the people of Mordecai. (Esther, 3:5-6)
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