Haman, a prominent figure in the Book of Esther, is a central antagonist whose actions and eventual downfall are pivotal to the narrative. He is introduced as an Agagite, a descendant of Agag, the king of the Amalekites, who were long-standing enemies of Israel (Esther 3:1). Haman's rise to power as a high-ranking official in the Persian Empire under King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I) sets the stage for his conflict with the Jewish people.

Haman's animosity towards the Jews is ignited by Mordecai, a Jew who refuses to bow down to him (Esther 3:2-5). In response, Haman devises a plan to annihilate all the Jews in the Persian Empire. He casts lots, or "Purim," to determine the date for this genocide and secures the king's approval by offering a large sum of silver to the royal treasury (Esther 3:7-11). The decree is issued, causing great distress among the Jews (Esther 3:12-15).

Unbeknownst to Haman, Queen Esther, the king's favored wife, is herself a Jew and the cousin of Mordecai. Mordecai urges Esther to intercede with the king, warning her that her royal position will not shield her from the impending destruction (Esther 4:13-14). Esther courageously approaches the king, risking her life, and invites him and Haman to a banquet she has prepared (Esther 5:1-8).

Haman's pride swells after being invited to the queen's banquet, but his joy is marred by Mordecai's continued refusal to honor him. At the suggestion of his wife Zeresh and friends, Haman constructs a gallows, fifty cubits high, intending to hang Mordecai on it (Esther 5:9-14).

The turning point occurs when King Ahasuerus, unable to sleep, has the royal chronicles read to him and learns of Mordecai's earlier act of loyalty in foiling an assassination plot (Esther 6:1-3). Seeking to honor Mordecai, the king consults Haman, who, believing the honor is meant for himself, suggests a lavish public display (Esther 6:4-9). To Haman's humiliation, he is ordered to lead Mordecai through the city in royal apparel (Esther 6:10-11).

At the second banquet, Esther reveals her Jewish identity and exposes Haman's plot to destroy her people (Esther 7:1-6). The king, enraged, steps out into the palace garden. Upon returning, he finds Haman pleading with Esther for his life, which the king misinterprets as an assault (Esther 7:7-8). Harbona, one of the king's eunuchs, informs the king of the gallows Haman had prepared for Mordecai. In a dramatic reversal of fortune, the king orders Haman to be hanged on the very gallows he had built for Mordecai (Esther 7:9-10).

Haman's execution marks the deliverance of the Jewish people from imminent destruction. His estate is given to Esther, and Mordecai is elevated to a position of power, ensuring the safety and prosperity of the Jews in the empire (Esther 8:1-2). The festival of Purim is established to commemorate this great deliverance, celebrating the triumph of God's providence and justice over the schemes of the wicked (Esther 9:20-22).Esther 3:1
After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
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Esther 4:1
When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;
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Esther 5:1
Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
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Esther 6:1
On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.
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Esther 7:1
So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
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Esther 8:1
On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy to Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was to her.
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Esther 9:1
Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)
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Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther.
... Ch.6. 5. Esther's plea granted and Haman hanged, Ch.7,. 6. The Jews allowed defense
and Mordecai advanced, Ch.8. III. The Jews' Deliverance, Chs.9-10. ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter xi ezra nehemiah and.htm

Esther
... passed a sleepless night, the unexpected accusation of Haman by Esther, the swift
and complete reversal of the situation by which Haman is hanged upon his own ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/esther.htm

Esther, the Queen.
... They hanged the ten sons of Haman, and destroyed their enemies by the king's
permission, so that they had rest from persecution. ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxxiv esther the queen.htm

Queen Esther's Love for Her People
... seventy-five feet high, which Haman built for Mordecai, who spoke a good word for
the king." The king said, "Hang him on them." So they hanged Haman on the ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/queen esthers love for her.htm

The Net Broken
... Haman's wife knew that he had only to 'speak to the king,' and Mordecai would be
hanged; Haman had no difficulty in securing the royal mandate for the murder ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the net broken.htm

Concerning Esther and Mordecai and Haman; and How in the Reign of ...
... from the punishment which the former epistle, which was sent by Haman, ordered to ...
Accordingly, I have hanged up the man that contrived such things against them ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 concerning esther and.htm

Esther Before the King.
... The king graciously held out the golden sceptre to her, accepted her invitation
to a banquet, and finally ordered the wicked Haman to be hanged, and measures ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/esther before the king.htm

The Later Hebrew Histories.
... king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to-morrow also,
according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter vi the later hebrew.htm

On the Opposing Powers.
... of his great deeds should be read to him; whereon, being reminded of the benefits
received from Mordecai, he ordered his enemy Haman to be hanged, but splendid ...
/.../origen/origen de principiis/chapter ii on the opposing powers.htm

The Life of Mr. Hugh M'kail.
... of God had been persecuted both by a Pharaoh on the throne, a Haman in the ... first
ten, who were arraigned and sentenced on Wednesday Dec.5. to be hanged on the ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr hugh 2.htm

Who was Mordecai in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Feast of Purim? | GotQuestions.org

Summary of the Book of Esther - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org

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