Haman son of Hammedatha

Haman son of Hammedatha is the Esther official whom King Ahasuerus promoted above the other officials. He is first named at Esther 3:1, and is named in at least 45 verses in Esther. The passage identifies him as Hammedatha’s son and calls him an Agagite.

The king’s servants at the gate were commanded to bow to Haman, but Mordecai did not do so. When Haman saw this, the text says he was filled with rage; it then states that he sought to destroy all the Jews throughout Ahasuerus’s kingdom (Esther 3:2, Esther 3:5, Esther 3:6). The king gave Haman his signet ring, and an edict was written as Haman commanded (Esther 3:10, Esther 3:12).

Haman attended feasts Esther prepared for the king and himself (Esther 5:4, Esther 5:5). He made a tree for Mordecai, but the king later instructed him to honor Mordecai publicly (Esther 5:14, Esther 6:10, Esther 6:11). Harbona identified the tree in Haman’s house, and the king ordered Haman to be hanged on it (Esther 7:9, Esther 7:10).