The Bible provides a wealth of villains, some more memorable than others (Satan), but most commit heinous acts of destruction. One such antagonist is Haman, the Agagite.
He follows the classic traits from raising up the ranks of power, plotting not only the destruction of one righteous man but a whole ethnic group. But, like many classic stories, his bloodlust and pride lead to his demise.
Ruthlessly ambitious, inflated with pride, and morally bankrupt, he raises through the ranks to become King Xerxes’s minister of state.
“After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him. And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him” Esther 3:1-2 ESV.
Haman is the second most powerful person in the vast Persian empire. He wields power and uses that power for his self-interest. And his pride is tested. As the minister of state, he expects the King’s servants to bow before him but faces resistance when Mordecai refuses to comply. Perhaps to Haman, the refusal wasn’t just a blow to the ego, but an act of subversion. In a kingdom where assassinations and power struggles were common, Mordecai’s act could’ve communicated a potential threat to Haman’s power.
In the book of Esther, you don’t get an in-depth narrative like a novel, so you have to research their history and piece together clues to understand the motives and deeper issues. For instance, why wasn’t Haman satisfied with killing Mordecai? Why did Haman want to purge the Jews from Persia?
He’s an Agagite, descendants of the Amalekites. The Israelites and Amalekites have a contentious history starting with Moses and the Israelites marching toward the Promised Land. Unprovoked, the Amalekites attacked the Israelites, inciting the Battle at Rephidim. Later, during the reign of King Saul, God ordered the King to exterminate the Amalekites even their livestock. But Saul disobeyed, sparing Agag, the Amalekite king. Although Samuel killed King Agag, perhaps the Amalekites had descendants in other regions the Israelite army didn’t attack.
With the malignant history between the two nations, Haman loathes the Israelites and their Jewish descendants. He successfully campaigns the Persian King to annihilate the Jewish people. The deal is sealed by the King’s signet ring on the proclamation of death; thus, the proposition can’t be reversed, not even by the King himself. The Jewish genocide is in motion.
Further feeding Haman’s ego, Queen Esther invites him to her banquet. He doesn’t realize she’s Jewish, so he receives the invitation with joy.
“And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai. Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh. And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king. Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king. Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast.” This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made” Esther 3:11-14 ESV.
Despite Haman’s best efforts to use his power to destroy Mordecai, he’s not as powerful as God. Haman’s plots are thwarted at every step. The King honors Mordecai and asks Haman for the reward. It’s almost comedic to watch Haman come up with a grand celebration but only to realize the King orders him to execute this celebration in Mordecai’s honor.
Imagine what Haman must’ve felt as he leads Mordecai on the horse through the main thoroughfares of Susa? The very man he’s planning on hanging? Stomach churns? Anger festers? Anxiety elevates? I wonder if Haman is rethinking his plot against his enemy? Wouldn’t look very good to hang the very man the King’s honoring in the same week, would it?
This is the turning point for our villain, as the threads of his plot begin to unravel against him, culminating at Queen Esther’s second banquet.
“Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered. And Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, ‘If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him’ While they were yet talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared” Esther 6:12-14 ESV.
Queen Esther exposes her ethnicity and how Haman’s plot is against her people. Haman must’ve seen his life pass before him as the shock of her revelation reverberates through his mind and body. The scene probably unraveled slowly as if in slow motion: the King, in his belligerent anger, leaves the room. Haman throws himself at Queen Esther’s feet, begging for his life. The King returns accusing Haman of assaulting his wife, and the eunuch announces Haman’s plot to hang Mordecai on the gallows. The King orders Haman to hung on those same gallows.
How Haman’s fortune changed in an instant! If only he had known Proverbs.
“Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way
will fall into his own pit,
but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance ” Proverbs 28: 10 ESV.
Haman and Mordecai experience the rightful fate. Haman is hung on the gallows he has built; Mordecai replaces Haman as the minister of the state. And we, as the readers, enjoy a thrilling story with a righteous ending.
What other Biblical character is a classical villain? Please share in the Comments below. Thank you.
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