Haman (Bible)
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Haman (or Haman the Agagite ??? ?????) (possibly Persian "magnificent") was a 6th Century BCE Persian noble and vizier of the empire under Persian King Ahasuerus, generally identified as Xerxes I.
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Haman in the Hebrew Bible
Haman is the villain in the Book of Esther. He is described as the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, presumably indicating his descent from Agag, king of Amalek.
In the story, Haman and his wife Zeresh instigate a plot to kill all the Jews of ancient Persia. Haman attempts to convince Ahasuerus to order the killing of Mordechai 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 and his 10 sons are hanged from the gallows that had originally been built to hang Mordechai.
- After these things king Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, 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 Mordechai did not bow, or do him obeisance. (Esther, 3:1-2)
- And When Haman saw that Mordechai did not bow or do him obeisance, then Haman was full of wrath. But he disdained to lay hands on Mordechai alone; for they had told him of the people of Mordechai; so that Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, the people of Mordechai. (Esther, 3:5-6)
Haman in other sources
Midrash
In Rabbinical tradition, Haman is considered an archetype of evil and persecutor of the Jews. Having attempted to exterminate the Jews of Persia, and rendering himself thereby their worst enemy, Haman naturally became the center of many Talmudic legends. Being at one time in extreme want, he sold himself as a slave to Mordechai (Meg. 15a). He was a barber at Kefar Karzum for the space of twenty-two years (ib. 16a). Haman had an idolatrous image embroidered on his garments, so that those who bowed to him at command of the king bowed also to the image (Esth. R. vii.).
Haman was also an astrologer, and when he was about to fix the time for the massacre of the Jews he first cast lots to ascertain which was the most auspicious day of the week for that purpose. Each day, however, proved to be under some influence favorable to the Jews. He then sought to fix the month, but found that the same was true of each month; thus, Nisan was favorable to the Jews because of the Passover sacrifice; Iyyar, because of the small Passover. But when he arrived at Adar he found that its zodiacal sign was Pisces, and he said, "Now I shall be able to swallow them as fish which swallow one another" (Esth. R. vii.; Targ. Sheni iii.).
Haman had 365 counselors, but the advice of none was so good as that of his wife, Zeresh. She induced Haman to build a gallows for Mordechai, assuring him that this was the only way in which he would be able to prevail over his enemy, for hitherto the just had always been rescued from every other kind of death. As God foresaw that Haman himself would be hanged on the gallows He asked which tree would volunteer to serve as the instrument of death. Each tree, declaring that it was used for some holy purpose, objected to being soiled by the unclean body of Haman. Only the thorn-tree could find no excuse, and therefore offered itself for a gallows (Esth. R. ix.; Midr. Abba Gorion vii., ed. Buber, Wilna, 1886; in Targum Sheni this is narrated somewhat differently).
Josephus
Haman is mentioned by Josephus in his Antiquities of the Jews. Josephus' account of the story is drawn from the Septuagint translation of the Book of Esther and from other Greek and Jewish sources, some no longer extant.
Qur'an
Haman is also mentioned six times in the Qur'an, as an intimate of Pharaoh and a sinner in the time of Moses. For more on the personage of Haman in the Islamic tradition, including possible relationships to the Biblical Haman of this article, see the article on Haman (Islam).
Purim traditions
The Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates the story of the deliverance of the Jews and the defeat of Haman. On that day, the Book of Esther is read publicly and much noise and tumult is raised at every mention of his name. A special noisemaker called a Grogger is used to express disdain for Haman. Pastry known as Hamantaschen are traditionally eaten on this day.
Modern usage
To "hang higher than Haman" is a phrase that has come to mean someone who has committed an act so egregious as to be destined for a very terrible punishment.
Haman is also mentioned in South Park episode #309, Jewbilee.
This article incorporates text from the 1901–1906 Jewish Encyclopedia, a publication now in the public domain.
References
- Adapted from the Wikipedia article, "Haman_(Bible)" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haman_(Bible), used under the GNU Free Documentation License
