Haman

HAMAN, the son of Hammedatha the Amalekite, of the race of Agag; or, according cording to other copies, the son of HamadathSee the Comment on Esther iii. 1, 2. the Bugæan or Gogæan, that is to say, of the race of Gog. Lastly, it may be read, Haman the son of Hamadath, which Haman was Bagau or Bagoas, that is to say, Eunuch or Servant to the King of Persia, in the text of Esther called Ahasuerus, who in all probability is the same as Darius the son of Hystaspes.

We have no other proof of Haman’s being an Amalekite, besides what is said in the third chapter and first verse of the book of Esther, that he was of the race of Agag; nevertheless in the Greek, chap. ix. and ver. 24. of the same book, and in the Latin, chap. xvi. 6.¹ he is called a Macedonian by nation and affection; Animo & gente Macedo: which makes it dubious, whether he were by extraction an Amalekite. However this may be, King Ahasuerus having taken him into favour, gave him rank above Esth. iii. 2, 3.all the Princes of his court. And all the King’s servants who were at the palace-gate, bent the knee before Haman, and worshipped him, because the King had so commanded.

Mordecai, Queen Esther’s Uncle, but who had not yet discovered himself to be thus related to her, was the only one who refused to worship him. Haman had notice of it, and knowing him to be a Jew, he had a mind to see whether he would persist in this resolution. When he found, that Mordecai continued firm in refusing to pay those honours to him, which all the court shewed him, he determined to be revenged of him, and not of him alone, but likewise of the whole nation of the Jews, who were within the extent of Ahasuerus’s kingdom.

According to the superstition of the Persians, he proposed first to draw lots, that he might know on what day he should destroy them. Wherefore on the first month of the In the year of the World 3495 before J. C. 505, before the Vulgar Æra 509.year, in the way of reckoning the festivals, which was the seventh of the civil year, and answered to the moon of March, Haman began to cast lots, that he might know in what month, and upon what day of the month, he should begin to accomplish his design of extirpating the Jews. God, who governs all lots and chances, and sports with the vain projects of mankind, so permitted it, that the lot should determine the thirteenth day of the month Adar, which was the last of the sacred year, for the execution of his pernicious design, and so defer it for a whole year.

Haman did not omit to speak of it to the King. He told him, that there was a certain people dispersed over all his Provinces, who were Jews, people who kept very little correspondence with others, had laws and ceremonies very different from the rest of mankind, and despised his orders; that he knew very well of what importance it was to the tranquillity of his kingdom, to take care, that indulgence should not render them more insolent. He desired therefore that he would give orders for destroying this people; and to indemnify the King for any loss, which he might hereby sustain, he promised to pay ten thousand talents out of his own fortune into the treasury.²This is a prodigious sum for a private person; but Haman reckoned, in all probability, that the King would grant to him the confiscation of the goods belonging to the Hebrews, or that he would not accept the offer, which he made him.

Hereupon the King took the ring, which he was used to wear upon his finger, and gave it to Haman, telling him, that he might keep his money; and as for the people he mentioned, he might do as he pleased with them. Wherefore upon the thirteenth day of Nisan, Haman sent for the King’s Secretaries, and directed them to dispatch the Order, which commanded the extirpation of the Jews throughout the whole kingdom of Persia, and was to take place upon the thirteenth day of Adar following; that is to say, a year after the date of the Edict. The order was sent into all the Provinces by the King’s couriers, and permission given to the people to fall upon them, exterminate them, and pillage their Goods. The Edict was posted up at Shushan, where Ahasuerus kept his ordinary residence. Haman was overjoyed at his success, and the Jews were in the utmost consternation.

Mordecai, who had been the occasion of this terrible storm, rent his clothes, put on Esth. iv. 1, 2, 3, &c.sackcloth, and ashes on his head, and came full of sorrow to the palace-gate. But he was not permitted to come in with all those marks of affliction upon him. Two Eunuchs went immediately to Esther, and informed her of his condition; she sent a more proper habit for Mordecai, but he refused it. She deputed afterwards an Eunuch to him, who was in her service, to know the cause of his great grief; Mordecai related what Haman had done against the Jews, sent her a copy of the King’s Edict, and desired her to go to the King, and intercede for her country-men.

Esther replied, that she was not allowed to visit the King, unless she was sent for. But Mordecai insisted, telling her, that God in all probability had raised her only that she might be in a condition to act upon such an occasion as this. Esther therefore gave directions to tell him, that he should pass three days and three nights in the synagogue in fasting and prayers; that she with her servants would do the same: and that after this, she would wait upon the King at the hazard of her own life. The three days Esth. v. 1, 2, 3.of fasting being over, she dressed herself in all her finest ornaments, and presented herself before the King. Ahasuerus stretched out his scepter, as an indication that he was pleased with her appearing; and told her, that she might ask what she would, it should be granted her. Esther replied, that she had one favour only to beg of the King; which was, that he would be pleased to come with Haman to an Entertainment, which she had provided for him.

The King came; and after the banquet was over, he once more desired Esther to ask whatever she pleased of him. Esther answered, that she humbly begg’d his Majesty to come again with Haman the next day to another Entertainment, which she would prepare for him, and then she would declare what she desired of him. Haman therefore left the palace with great pleasure; and observing that Mordecai, whom he met with, did not stand up before him, he was very much inraged; came home, related to his wife and his friends, the particular honour which Esther had done him, by inviting him alone to bear the King company at her banquet. But then he added, all this I shall reckon as nothing, while I see Mordecai sitting at the King’s Gate, without rising up before me. Hereupon Zeresh his wife, and all his friends, advised him to erect a Gallows fifty cubits high, and desire the King the next morning that Mordecai might be hanged upon it. This advice was agreeable to him; and immediately he gave orders for preparing the Gallows.

The next day early in the morning, Esth. vi. 1, 2, 3.Haman came into the King’s anti-chamber, to desire the death of Mordecai. Ahasuerus call’d him in to him, and said, What would the man have, whom the King delighteth to honour? Haman believing that he was the person whom the King meant, said, Let him be clothed in the King’s royal robes, be mounted upon the horse which the King is used to ride, let the royal diadem be put upon his head, and let the chief of all the Grandees belonging to the Court conduct him through the streets of the City, and cry before him, Thus shall it be unto the man, whom the King delighteth to honour. Ahasuerus answered him, Go, do as thou hast said unto Mordecai the Jew, who has discovered a conspiracy against my person, and has received no reward for it. Haman executed this command with all the reluctancy which may be imagined; and returning to his own house, related what had happened, to Zeresh his wife, and his friends; who, looking upon this to be an happy omen for the Jews, told him, it was their opinion, that if Mordecai, before whom he had fal’n, were a Jew, there couldbe no resisting him, and that he must be subject to him.

Esth. vii. 1, 2, 3, &c.While they were yet talking, Haman was called to the Entertainment prepared by the Queen. When Ahasuerus was in good humour, and had partaken plentifully of the good cheer provided, he desired the Queen to ask what she pleased of him. She answered, If I have found favour in thy sight, O King, I conjure thee to grant me my own life, and the lives of my people, for whom I implore thy clemency. Ahasuerus hereupon said to her, Who is there then so daring as to attempt thy life?

Esther answered, this Haman whom thou seest, he it is, who is our mortal enemy. Haman hearing this, was quite stunned, and could not support the looks which both the King and Queen cast upon him. At the same time Ahasuerus in great rage going out into a Garden joining to the room where they dined, Haman threw himself at the Queen’s feet, who was lying upon a bed belonging to the table, after the mode of that country: at the same time the King returning into the room, and seeing Haman on the bed, on which the Queen was, cried out, What would he too offer violence to the Queen in my presence, and in my house? Scarce were the words out of the King’s mouth, before Haman was seized on, and his face covered, like one going to be executed.

Esth. ix. 6.Hereupon Harbonah, one of the King’s Eunuchs, said, that he had seen a Gibbet at Haman’s house fifty cubits high, which he had prepared for Mordecai; and upon this the King commanded Haman to be hanged; which was done accordingly that very day: his house was given to the Queen, and his employments together with the dignity, which this Favourite possessed, to Mordecai. His ten sons were likewise put to death; and an Edict published, revoking the first, and permitting the Jews to take vengeance of their enemies. This happened in the year of the World 3496, before Jesus Christ 504, before the Vulgar Æra 508. See the Articles ESTHER and MORDECAI.

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