Topical Bible: Revenge by Haman

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Introduction:
The account of Haman's revenge is a pivotal narrative found in the Book of Esther, a historical text within the Old Testament. This account unfolds during the reign of King Xerxes (Ahasuerus) of Persia and highlights themes of pride, hatred, and divine providence. Haman, an Agagite and high-ranking official, becomes a central antagonist whose desire for revenge against the Jewish people sets the stage for dramatic events that underscore the sovereignty of God and the deliverance of His people.

Background:
Haman's animosity towards the Jews, particularly Mordecai, stems from a personal affront. Mordecai, a Jew residing in Susa, refuses to bow down to Haman, as recorded in Esther 3:2, "All the royal officials at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had commanded this. But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage." This act of defiance infuriates Haman, who is described as a man of immense pride and ambition.

Haman's Plot:
Haman's desire for revenge extends beyond Mordecai to encompass the entire Jewish population within the Persian Empire. In Esther 3:5-6, it is written, "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."

To execute his plan, Haman manipulates King Xerxes by presenting the Jews as a threat to the kingdom. He offers a substantial bribe to the king's treasury to secure a decree for their annihilation. Esther 3:9 records Haman's proposal: "If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the royal treasury for the men who carry out this business."

The Decree:
King Xerxes, unaware of the full implications, grants Haman the authority to proceed. The decree is issued, as seen in Esther 3:13, "Letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces with the order to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—and to plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar."

Divine Intervention:
The narrative takes a turn as Esther, the Jewish queen and cousin of Mordecai, becomes instrumental in thwarting Haman's plot. Through a series of providential events, Esther gains favor with the king and reveals Haman's scheme. Esther 7:3-6 captures her plea: "If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, grant me my life as my petition, and my people as my request. For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, killed, and annihilated... The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman."

Haman's Downfall:
Haman's plans unravel as the king orders his execution on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Esther 7:10 states, "So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided." This reversal of fortune is a testament to the biblical principle that pride precedes destruction (Proverbs 16:18).

Aftermath:
Following Haman's demise, Mordecai is elevated to a position of honor, and a new decree is issued allowing the Jews to defend themselves. Esther 8:11-12 details this decree: "The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and defend themselves, to destroy, kill, and annihilate any armed force of any nationality or province that might attack them and their women and children, and to plunder the property of their enemies."

Significance:
The account of Haman's revenge and its ultimate failure serves as a powerful reminder of God's providential care for His people. It illustrates the dangers of unchecked pride and hatred, while also highlighting the courage and faithfulness of individuals like Esther and Mordecai. The Feast of Purim, established in Esther 9:20-22, commemorates this deliverance and is celebrated by Jews to this day.

Nave's Topical Index

Esther 3:8-15
And Haman said to king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Questions.
... 6. What benefit did Mordecai do the king? 7. How did Haman seek revenge for
Mordecai's scorn? 8. How did Esther conduct her intercession? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/questions.htm

The Sixth Commandment
... hast shed the blood of the children of Israel.' Ezekiel 35:5. Haman hated Mordecai
because he would not bow to him, and presently sought revenge, by getting a ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 6 the sixth commandment.htm

The Saint's Heritage and Watchword
... Haman had conceived a hatred to Mordecai, and for his sake the whole race of Jews ...
how readily he obtains the consent of the king, how sure is he of revenge. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 50 1904/the saints heritage and watchword.htm

The Later Hebrew Histories.
... the palace; and the dead bodies of the ten sons of Haman, weltering in ... Bleek is entirely
justified in his statement that "a spirit of revenge and persecution ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter vi the later hebrew.htm

Presumptuous Sins
... in a moment is wrong; but to sit down and deliberately resolve upon revenge is cursed ...
To deliberate carefully how the crime is to be done, and, Haman-like, to ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/presumptuous sins.htm

The Important Question
... Haman, Yet "all this profiteth me nothing, while I see Mordecai sitting in the gate."
Poor Human! One unholy temper, whether pride, envy, jealousy, or revenge, ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 84 the important question.htm

Book 5 Footnotes
... 83:7; and, above all, the most barbarous of all cruelties, that of Haman the Agagite ...
as set down in Josephus, that he had abstained from just revenge, puts me ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 5 footnotes.htm

Christ's First and Last Subject
... them all up"if thou art not willing now to hang them on Haman's gallows a ... not to
me and say thou are forgiven, when thou still harboureth revenge and malice ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/christs first and last subject.htm

Concerning Peaceableness
... naturally armed with some kind of weapon wherewith they are able to revenge themselves ...
Because Mordecai would not give Haman the cap and knee, he gets a bloody ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/18 concerning peaceableness.htm

Letter Liii. To Paulinus.
... to the obedience of Christ; and being in a readiness to revenge all disobedience ...
church, frees her people from danger and, after having slain Haman whose name ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter liii to paulinus.htm