Anger: Haman, Because Mordecai did not Salute Him
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In the biblical narrative found in the Book of Esther, Haman's anger towards Mordecai serves as a significant turning point in the account of the Jewish people during their exile in Persia. Haman, an Agagite and a high-ranking official in the court of King Xerxes (Ahasuerus), becomes incensed when Mordecai, a Jew, refuses to bow down or pay him homage. This incident is pivotal in understanding the destructive nature of unchecked anger and pride.

The account begins in Esther 3:2, where it is noted that "all the royal officials at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage." Mordecai's refusal is rooted in his Jewish faith, which prohibits idolizing any man, thus setting the stage for Haman's wrath.

Haman's anger is not merely a personal affront but quickly escalates into a genocidal plot against the entire Jewish population within the Persian Empire. Esther 3:5-6 states, "When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow or pay him homage, he was filled with rage. And when he learned the identity of Mordecai’s people, he scorned the idea of laying hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he sought to destroy all the Jews, Mordecai’s people, throughout the kingdom of Xerxes."

Haman's reaction exemplifies how anger, when fueled by pride and a desire for personal honor, can lead to irrational and extreme actions. His inability to tolerate Mordecai's perceived disrespect blinds him to the moral and ethical implications of his plan. Haman's anger is further exacerbated by his sense of entitlement and his position of power, which he abuses in an attempt to annihilate an entire people.

The narrative continues to unfold as Haman's plot is ultimately thwarted through the courage and wisdom of Queen Esther, Mordecai's cousin, who intercedes on behalf of her people. The account highlights the providence of God in protecting His people and the eventual downfall of Haman, whose anger leads to his own demise. Esther 7:10 records, "So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided."

Haman's anger serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of allowing pride and wrath to dictate one's actions. It underscores the biblical principle found in Proverbs 16:18 : "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." The account of Haman and Mordecai is a powerful reminder of the importance of humility, self-control, and the consequences of letting anger fester unchecked.
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Esther 3:5
And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
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Concerning Salutations and Recreations, &C.
... punctually, or be overtaken with hastiness or anger, they presently ... them to be more
like unto proud Haman, than the ... good effect of it: for there because of the ...
/.../proposition xv concerning salutations and.htm

Resources
How can I know for sure that my anger is righteous indignation? | GotQuestions.org

Was Jesus ever angry? | GotQuestions.org

Does God get angry? | GotQuestions.org

Anger: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Anger

Anger in Prayer be Free From

Anger of Cain Slaying Abel

Anger: A Characteristic of Fools

Anger: A Work of the Flesh

Anger: Ahab, Because Naboth Would not Sell his Vineyard

Anger: Ahasuerus, Toward Vashti, for Refusing to Amuse his Courtiers

Anger: Anger of God

Anger: Asa, Because the Prophet Rebuked Him

Anger: Avoid Those Given To

Anger: Balaam, Toward his Ass

Anger: Balak, Toward Balaam

Anger: Be Slow To

Anger: Brings Its own Punishment

Anger: Children should not be Provoked To

Anger: Connected With: Clamour and Evil-Speaking

Anger: Connected With: Cruelty

Anger: Connected With: Malice and Blasphemy

Anger: Connected With: Pride

Anger: Connected With: Strife and Contention

Anger: Elihu, Because Job had Beaten his Friends in Argument

Anger: Ephraimites, Toward Gideon, for not Soliciting Their Help Against the Midianites

Anger: Forbidden

Anger: General Scriptures Concerning

Anger: Grievous Words Stir Up

Anger: Haman, Because Mordecai did not Salute Him

Anger: Herod, Toward the Wise Men Who Deceived Him

Anger: Jews, Against Stephen

Anger: Jonah, Because the Gourd Withered

Anger: Jonathan, on Account of Saul's Persecution of David

Anger: Justifiable: Jacob

Anger: Justifiable: Moses

Anger: Justifiable: Nehemiah

Anger: Justifiable: Our Lord

Anger: May be Averted by Wisdom

Anger: Meekness Pacifies

Anger: Moab

Anger: Moses, Toward Pharaoh

Anger: Naaman, Because Elisha Directed Him to Wash in the Jordan

Anger: Nebuchadnezzar, on Account of the Insubordination of the Three Hebrews, Who Refused to Worship his Idol

Anger: Paul, Toward Ananias

Anger: Pharaoh, Toward Moses

Anger: Saul, Toward Jonathan, on Account of his Sympathy With David

Anger: should not Betray Us Into Sin

Anger: Simeon and Levi, on Account of the Humbling of Their Sister, Dinah

Anger: Sinful: Ahab

Anger: Sinful: Asa

Anger: Sinful: Balaam

Anger: Sinful: Cain

Anger: Sinful: Esau

Anger: Sinful: Haman

Anger: Sinful: Herod

Anger: Sinful: High Priest

Anger: Sinful: Jews

Anger: Sinful: Jonah

Anger: Sinful: Moses

Anger: Sinful: Naaman

Anger: Sinful: Nebuchadnezzar

Anger: Sinful: Saul

Anger: Sinful: Simeon and Levi

Anger: Sinful: Uzziah

Anger: The People of Nazareth, Toward Jesus

Anger: Uzziah Toward Azariah, the Priest, Because of his Reproof of

The Anger of God is Averted from Them That Believe

The Anger of God is Averted Upon Confession of Sin and Repentance

The Anger of God is Righteous

The Anger of God is Slow

The Anger of God: Against: Apostasy

The Anger of God: Against: Idolatry

The Anger of God: Against: Impenitence

The Anger of God: Against: Sin, in Saints

The Anger of God: Against: The Wicked

The Anger of God: Against: Those Who Forsake Him

The Anger of God: Against: Unbelief

The Anger of God: Aggravated by Continual Provocation

The Anger of God: Averted by Christ

The Anger of God: Cannot be Resisted

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Aaron and Miriam

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Abimelech

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Builders of Babel

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Cities of the Plain

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Egyptians

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Enemies of Israel

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Five Kings

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Israelites

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Korah

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Men of Bethshemesh

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Nadab

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Saul

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Saul's Family

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Sennacherib

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: The Old World

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: The Spies

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Uzzah

The Anger of God: Extreme, Against Those Who Oppose the Gospel

The Anger of God: Folly of Provoking

The Anger of God: Manifested in Judgments and Afflictions

The Anger of God: Manifested in Terrors

The Anger of God: Removal of, should be Prayed For

The Anger of God: should Lead to Repentance

The Anger of God: Specially Reserved for the Day of Wrath

The Anger of God: Tempered With Mercy to Saints

The Anger of God: The Justice of, not to be Questioned

The Anger of God: To be Born With Submission

The Anger of God: To be Deprecated

The Anger of God: To be Dreaded

Related Terms

Compassionate (22 Occurrences)

Provoking (29 Occurrences)

Provocation (20 Occurrences)

Abounding (28 Occurrences)

Burneth (67 Occurrences)

Vanities (14 Occurrences)

Slow (43 Occurrences)

Provoked (70 Occurrences)

Kindle (25 Occurrences)

Provoke (64 Occurrences)

Kindled (83 Occurrences)

Aroused (29 Occurrences)

Mightily (36 Occurrences)

Stirred (64 Occurrences)

Merciful (53 Occurrences)

Burns (34 Occurrences)

Stir (57 Occurrences)

Devouring (20 Occurrences)

Malice (24 Occurrences)

Passionate (6 Occurrences)

Practiced (22 Occurrences)

Plenteous (16 Occurrences)

Ba'asha (26 Occurrences)

Choler (2 Occurrences)

Angered (13 Occurrences)

Baasa (26 Occurrences)

Selleth (17 Occurrences)

Quenched (22 Occurrences)

Devoureth (27 Occurrences)

Slander (34 Occurrences)

Backsliding (19 Occurrences)

Perpetually (10 Occurrences)

Consuming (26 Occurrences)

Scatter (65 Occurrences)

Amazi'ah (37 Occurrences)

Angry (269 Occurrences)

Shattered (42 Occurrences)

Strife (71 Occurrences)

Baasha (26 Occurrences)

Accomplished (64 Occurrences)

Displeased (39 Occurrences)

Burned (587 Occurrences)

Blot (23 Occurrences)

Blast (28 Occurrences)

Ba'al (55 Occurrences)

Alas (62 Occurrences)

Streets (83 Occurrences)

Abundant (124 Occurrences)

Spend (54 Occurrences)

Mischief (64 Occurrences)

Sown (45 Occurrences)

Vile (59 Occurrences)

Spared (45 Occurrences)

Devoured (81 Occurrences)

Quarreling (17 Occurrences)

Zeboiim (7 Occurrences)

Kindleth (9 Occurrences)

Astonishment (51 Occurrences)

Dissension (18 Occurrences)

Divined (6 Occurrences)

Disobey (15 Occurrences)

Displeasure (12 Occurrences)

Dismissed (22 Occurrences)

Discharged (8 Occurrences)

Drifting (3 Occurrences)

Mediums (10 Occurrences)

Pitied (19 Occurrences)

Practised (13 Occurrences)

Provoketh (7 Occurrences)

Pardoneth (2 Occurrences)

Blotted (15 Occurrences)

Ban (12 Occurrences)

Brood (19 Occurrences)

Befall (25 Occurrences)

Choosing (6 Occurrences)

Crouch (7 Occurrences)

Consumeth (37 Occurrences)

Consumes (21 Occurrences)

Chastise (21 Occurrences)

Anger: Grievous Words Stir Up
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