Topical Bible: Slander: Haman

◄ Slander: Haman ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Haman, a prominent figure in the Book of Esther, is a prime biblical example of slander and its destructive consequences. As an Agagite and a high-ranking official in the Persian Empire under King Xerxes (Ahasuerus), Haman's account is a cautionary tale of pride, hatred, and the misuse of power.

Background and Rise to Power

Haman's rise to power is documented in Esther 3:1, where he is promoted by King Xerxes above all other officials. This elevation fuels his arrogance and sets the stage for his malicious actions. Haman's enmity towards the Jews, particularly Mordecai, stems from Mordecai's refusal to bow down to him, as recorded in Esther 3:2-5. This personal vendetta against Mordecai quickly escalates into a plot against the entire Jewish population within the empire.

Slander Against the Jews

Haman's slanderous campaign is vividly illustrated in Esther 3:8-9. He approaches King Xerxes with deceitful words, saying, "There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom whose laws are different from those of all other peoples, and who do not obey the king’s laws. So it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them." Haman's accusations are a blend of half-truths and outright lies, designed to incite fear and justify his genocidal intentions. By portraying the Jews as a threat to the empire, Haman manipulates the king into issuing a decree for their destruction.

The Consequences of Slander

Haman's slanderous actions set off a chain of events that ultimately lead to his downfall. Esther, the Jewish queen, courageously intervenes by revealing Haman's plot to the king, as seen in Esther 7:3-6. Her plea exposes Haman's deceit and the danger it poses not only to her people but also to the integrity of the king's rule. The king's wrath is kindled against Haman, and in a dramatic turn of events, Haman is executed on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai (Esther 7:9-10).

Moral and Theological Implications

Haman's account serves as a powerful reminder of the destructive nature of slander. His actions are rooted in pride, hatred, and a desire for power, which ultimately lead to his ruin. The biblical narrative underscores the principle that God is just and sovereign, protecting His people and bringing justice to those who seek to harm them. As Proverbs 10:18 states, "He who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool."

Haman's legacy is a testament to the biblical truth that slander not only harms its victims but also ensnares the perpetrator in a web of deceit and destruction. His account is a sobering illustration of the consequences of allowing pride and malice to dictate one's actions, and it serves as a warning to guard against the sin of slander in all its forms.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Esther 3:8
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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Listen, My Brethren, to Death, Mocking the Evil One: that Caused ...
... D., Slander not the living dead, for he came not up: thou wast he that came ... head,
Hater of man: as his wickedness was returned on the head, of Haman thy fellow ...
/.../hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn lvii listen my brethren.htm

The Saint's Heritage and Watchword
... Haman had conceived a hatred to Mordecai, and for his sake the whole race of Jews ...
low on the ground; but we can not so easily recover from slander; that lays ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 50 1904/the saints heritage and watchword.htm

Letter xvi. Charity.
... character and happiness are strikingly illustrated in the story of Haman, which
I ... and be indulging a morbid appetite for fault-finding and slander, while we ...
/.../a practical directory for young christian females/letter xvi charity.htm

The Sixth Commandment
... We injure others in their name, when we calumniate and slander them. ... and hast shed
the blood of the children of Israel.' Ezekiel 35:5. Haman hated Mordecai ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 6 the sixth commandment.htm

Let Him Deliver Him Now
... upon the Lord in poverty, in sickness, in bereavement, in persecution, in slander,
in contempt ... In the long run he will be beaten, as Haman found it with Mordecai ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 34 1888/let him deliver him now.htm

The Church as She Should Be
... of the world if they can, or to bespatter them with slander if they ... Remember how
Haman's wife enquired concerning Mordecai whether he belonged to the seed of ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the church as she should.htm

Concerning Salutations and Recreations, &C.
... And do not persecuting and reviling us upon this account show them to be more like
unto proud Haman, than the disciples or followers of the meek, self-denying ...
/.../proposition xv concerning salutations and.htm

Letter xxii. To Eustochium.
... [497] Then Haman"whose name means iniquity"was once more burned in fire of his own
kindling. ... Speak against nobody, and do not slander your mother's son. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter xxii to eustochium.htm